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Been wanting to become a therapist without a psychology degree? You’re not alone! A lot of people want to become therapists but have no knowledge or background in clinical psychology. It can be difficult to find the right training, especially if you have no experience. But don’t get discouraged…it’s possible.
Becoming a therapist without a psychology degree is possible, but it’s not easy. There are many steps you can take to make your way into this career path, but only if you have the right information.
The first step to becoming a therapist without a psychology degree is getting licensed. You can do this by passing the National Counselor Exam for Licensure and Certification (NCE).
Once you have passed this exam, you will need to complete an internship program before you are eligible for licensure. The next step is finding employment as a counselor in an area where they need therapists who don’t have degrees in psychology.
This is possible because there are many types of counseling that don’t require any degree at all – such as marriage and family therapy (MFT), school counseling (SC), clinical mental health counseling (CMHC), and rehabilitation counseling (RC).
How to become a therapist without a psychology degree
Making the switch to therapy if you have a psychology degree
A lot of people with a psychology degree want to become therapists. They may be interested in working with clients, but don’t necessarily have the time or money for a full-fledged training program. If you’re one of those people, it’s totally possible to practice as a therapist without having your license.
Here are some ways you can use your psychology degree:
- Use your degree to help others understand mental health issues and seek treatment for them without needing a license. This is called “consulting” or “therapeutic consultation.” You won’t bill insurance companies for these services (because they won’t reimburse you), but you can still earn money or get experience by offering this service on the side while working toward becoming licensed yourself one day.
Becoming an unlicensed therapist
If you want to become a therapist without a graduate degree, you can still practice therapy. However, in most states, you will need training and certification before practicing for compensation. This training is the same for licensed and unlicensed therapists.
The National Board for Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselors (NBCC) offers an alternative path to licensure that doesn’t require a master’s or doctorate degree in counseling or psychology. The NBCC website explains that its “certification exam is designed to assess knowledge and skills needed by competent mental health counselors.”
If you’re interested in becoming an unlicensed therapist and don’t have time or money for additional schooling right now, it might be better if you wait until more resources are available online instead of trying something that may not work out as well as expected
Become a life coach
- Have a passion for helping people.
- Be able to communicate clearly.
- Be able to listen and empathize with others.
- Have the ability to inspire, motivate, and give constructive criticism when necessary.
- Be non-judgmental toward others; you may be working with clients who are experiencing personal troubles or undergoing hard times in their lives, so it’s important that you don’t judge them based on their situation or past actions (e.g., if the client has cheated on his spouse).
Other ways to break into the therapy field without a psychology degree
- Shadow a therapist. One of the best ways to get into therapy without a psychology degree is by shadowing a therapist at their office or clinic. This will give you an idea of what it’s like being in therapy and what clients go through on a regular basis.
- Volunteer at mental health clinics or hospitals. Another alternative way to break into the field of therapy without having to complete graduate school is by volunteering at local mental health clinics and hospitals that have community outreach programs targeting certain populations such as veterans or teenagers going through depression, etc.
- Work in healthcare setting. Yet another option is getting involved in your local area where there are many jobs available working with patients who need assistance from someone who understands their situation since they may not be able to express themselves verbally due to illness or disability (i.e., dementia). For example: nursing homes for elderly care; hospice care for terminally ill patients; physical therapy centers; occupational therapists who help those recovering from injuries regain skills lost due to accidents/illnesses such as car crashes caused by drunk drivers – these are just some examples!
Volunteer
Volunteering is the best way to get experience without having a degree. You can volunteer at a hospital, community center, or even at your local school. Volunteering to help people with their problems so that you can get experience is the easiest way to become a therapist without a psychology degree.
Become a paraprofessional
If you’re interested in becoming a therapist but don’t have the money or time to go back to school, there are other ways of getting your foot in the door. One option is to become a paraprofessional and work with a licensed therapist at your local mental health agency. This position will require an entry-level degree, such as a bachelor’s degree in psychology or social work (both acceptable degrees for working at most agencies), as well as some supervised training. Your primary duty would be to provide support for clients while they continue to receive therapy from their licensed therapist. The best part? Paraprofessionals can earn upwards of $40 per hour!
You can work in therapy without a psychology degree by becoming a life coach or volunteer.
If you’re interested in becoming a therapist without a degree, you can look into life coaching and volunteer work. There are also several paraprofessional positions available that require high school diplomas or associate degrees:
- Therapy aide
- Therapy assistant
- Therapist technician