2 answers
Anais
Student
Garfield, Washington
2
Questions
Updated
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What type of classes do you have to take in college to become a therapist?
I am asking this question because I am going to begin running start and would love to know what classes I could take to knock off a few years of college that I would have to pay for.
#therapists #running-start #College-classes
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2 answers
Dr. Kelly Desso
Protective Services
235
Answers
Somers, Connecticut
Updated
Dr. Kelly’s Answer
The exact courses you'll need to undertake to become a therapist can differ based on the specific therapy field you want to focus on and the criteria set by the program or school you choose to attend. Likewise, each course structure will vary depending on the school, state licensing rules, and program objectives.
Nonetheless, there are certain common courses that are generally part of most therapy-related degree programs:
Psychology: This is a key course that delves into the fundamental concepts of psychology, such as developmental psychology, abnormal psychology, cognitive psychology, and social psychology.
Counseling or Therapy Techniques: These courses offer a broad view of different therapeutic methods and techniques, like cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, family therapy, and group therapy.
Human Development: This course delves into the various stages of human growth from infancy to old age, examining how factors like biology, environment, and culture influence development.
Counseling Ethics and Professional Issues: This course delves into the ethical guidelines and legal matters related to counseling and therapy practice, including aspects like confidentiality, boundaries, and professional behavior.
Assessment and Diagnosis: This course teaches you how to evaluate and diagnose mental health disorders using standardized assessment tools and diagnostic criteria as per the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders).
Research Methods and Statistics: Grasping research methods and statistics is crucial for understanding psychological research and carrying out your own research in the therapy field.
Cultural Diversity and Multicultural Counseling: This course investigates the influence of culture, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and other factors on the counseling process, and instructs on culturally sensitive counseling techniques.
Practicum or Internship: Many therapy programs necessitate students to complete a practicum or internship under the guidance of a licensed therapist, where they acquire practical experience working with clients in a clinical environment.
Electives: Based on your interests and career aspirations, you may get the chance to take elective courses in specialized areas like trauma counseling, addiction counseling, marriage and family therapy, or child and adolescent therapy.
It's crucial to investigate the specific requirements of the therapy program you're interested in to make sure that you're fulfilling all the necessary coursework and clinical experience requirements for licensure in your chosen field. Moreover, some states may have specific licensure requirements beyond those of the degree program, so it's vital to acquaint yourself with the licensure requirements in your state.
I concur with Misty's response though, there will always be basic coursework that can be completed early or concurrently with the major coursework. I always made an effort to pair a class I enjoyed in a term with one I didn't so I had something to anticipate.
Nonetheless, there are certain common courses that are generally part of most therapy-related degree programs:
Psychology: This is a key course that delves into the fundamental concepts of psychology, such as developmental psychology, abnormal psychology, cognitive psychology, and social psychology.
Counseling or Therapy Techniques: These courses offer a broad view of different therapeutic methods and techniques, like cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, family therapy, and group therapy.
Human Development: This course delves into the various stages of human growth from infancy to old age, examining how factors like biology, environment, and culture influence development.
Counseling Ethics and Professional Issues: This course delves into the ethical guidelines and legal matters related to counseling and therapy practice, including aspects like confidentiality, boundaries, and professional behavior.
Assessment and Diagnosis: This course teaches you how to evaluate and diagnose mental health disorders using standardized assessment tools and diagnostic criteria as per the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders).
Research Methods and Statistics: Grasping research methods and statistics is crucial for understanding psychological research and carrying out your own research in the therapy field.
Cultural Diversity and Multicultural Counseling: This course investigates the influence of culture, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and other factors on the counseling process, and instructs on culturally sensitive counseling techniques.
Practicum or Internship: Many therapy programs necessitate students to complete a practicum or internship under the guidance of a licensed therapist, where they acquire practical experience working with clients in a clinical environment.
Electives: Based on your interests and career aspirations, you may get the chance to take elective courses in specialized areas like trauma counseling, addiction counseling, marriage and family therapy, or child and adolescent therapy.
It's crucial to investigate the specific requirements of the therapy program you're interested in to make sure that you're fulfilling all the necessary coursework and clinical experience requirements for licensure in your chosen field. Moreover, some states may have specific licensure requirements beyond those of the degree program, so it's vital to acquaint yourself with the licensure requirements in your state.
I concur with Misty's response though, there will always be basic coursework that can be completed early or concurrently with the major coursework. I always made an effort to pair a class I enjoyed in a term with one I didn't so I had something to anticipate.
Misty Miller
ISM Rep @ AT&T DirecTV
121
Answers
Huntsville, Alabama
Updated
Misty’s Answer
Before you get into any core classes with any degree, you would first have to take all of your basics such as the maths, english, and other sciences and electives of what are called the "basics" before you got into core stuff for your degree. My suggestion would be to find out what basics you would need to get into therapy, decide it was going to be massage therapy or medical therapy or what therapy you wanted to go into and then see what the basic requirements are for that class and then you could start there.