A therapist is a person who helps people deal with their troubled feelings, emotions and actions.
Becoming a therapist involves attending a special school where one is trained in understanding what triggers human feelings, thoughts and actions and how to deal with them.
Types of therapists
1. Psychologists – they specialize in counseling and therapy. They also carry out psychological researches, tests and assessments.
2. Psychiatrists – they are medical doctors who test and prescribe medication to patients suffering from depression and anxiety among other imbalances.
3. Social workers – they are trained to meet psychological needs of people through groups, organizations and support systems.
4. Counselors – they are people who are trained to deal with problems that are more defined like drug abuse or alcoholism.
5. Physiotherapists – These are experts who deal with physical ailments such as joint pains, back aches, problems related to nerves and more. They do not usually prescribe medicines to patients but use holistic systems with a touch of technology.
Steps to become a therapist
• Choose a college or university which appeals to them. Here, they will be guided through the course outline of their interest. They will be able to select what they feel comfortable studying and be able to pick their career path.
• They will have to major in psychology which is done besides another degree like in science or arts.
• After enrollment, people will have to pick their areas of interest. They can choose to specialize in child psychology if they have a thing for children.
• Other areas of specialization could be in sexual and substance abuse, marriage counseling, domestic violence, cognitive therapy, health psychology and teenage pregnancies.
• After four or more years of training which is dictated by their states, people will graduate with a degree in therapy.
• They should now get internship which will help them get first hand experience on the job.
• This will prepare them for employment with the necessary skills since they will be dealing with real situations on the ground.
• They should then find employment and engage in the demanding career.
• While still on the job, it is advisable to advance their training to have an edge in the job market and learn more about therapy.