Becoming a therapist is a fulfilling career path that many choose. Whether you’re considering a change of career or making decisions for your future, there is a wide range of occupations in the therapy field to choose from.
If you’re still figuring out whether therapy is the right career path for you, here are some reasons why it might be.
You can help others
Therapy is a rewarding job for many because it gives therapists the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. You may have been told before that you’re a great listener, and you might enjoy helping your friends solve their problems. If this sounds like you, therapy could be a truly fulfilling career.
While some therapists start their training at university in their teens or twenties, many become therapists later in life by taking advantage of online therapy training in the UK, such as that made available by reputable course providers like nscience. If you want to help others by training to become a therapist, it doesn’t matter how old you are or where you are in life.
You can choose from many paths
Not all therapy involves analysing patients lounging on a sofa. Today, therapy has many faces and therapists can choose from many paths. Many therapists have specialisms, such as substance abuse or marriage and family. Some therapists become school or workplace counsellors.
The level of training and education required for each therapy career path varies. Psychotherapists need an undergraduate degree in a relevant subject and an accredited postgraduate qualification, as well as hours of practice in order to be registered as a licensed psychotherapist by the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP).
Would-be counsellors, meanwhile, aren’t subject to any particular compulsory training requirement. However, those wishing to enter this field would be expected by most employers to have completed professional training, in addition to being registered with a relevant professional body.
Mental health is a growing field
LinkedIn has suggested that the mental health profession is seeing some of the fastest job market growth in the UK. The top jobs in the field include clinical psychologist, mental health practitioner, mental health counsellor, mental health specialist, psychiatric nurse, occupational therapist, psychologist, and psychotherapist. This means if you’re considering a career in therapy, you can expect to enter an increasingly thriving and varied sector.
It offers flexibility
While working as a school or workplace mental health counsellor has specific hours, many jobs in therapy offer considerable flexibility. If you run your own practice, you can decide on opening hours and the times of your clients’ appointments.
This isn’t to say a career in therapy is easy. It requires years of training and a lot of hard work – especially if you want to run your own, independent practice. All that hard work will almost certainly pay off, though, as a career in therapy is arguably one of the best when it comes to work-life balance.
Next steps
If you’re fully convinced that a career in therapy is right for you, it’s time to take the next steps. Do your research to figure out what kind of therapist you want to become, what education and training are needed, and how long it will take.
If you plan on changing careers and training as a therapist, you may need additional financial backing, as it will be some time before you can start charging for therapy. Once the training is complete, however, you will be able to embrace a rewarding career path.
Leave a Reply