Can I become a therapist without a psychology degree?

Question

Are there any career paths open to me in counseling people without going back to school to become a psychologist? I am at a career crossroads due to a medical condition and have found a love for helping people cope with emotional issues. But I really can't afford to go back to college. I would volunteer some, especially to get a start but unfortunately eventually I 'd need to get paid. Are there any paths which don't involve going back to school?

Answer 1

No. All states have a specific guideline and state exam in order to be a therapist. You can get an associate's degree in some states and work under a therapist but to open your own practice, you need a Master's or possibly squeak by with a bachelor's depending on the state's requirements.

Answer 2

Why certainly !...... Due to internet capabilities I've been doing it for over 6 years now..  

Answer 3

Contrary to what others have written above, YES, you can achieve qualifications and accreditation without any form of degree, as a Psycholtherapist / Counsellor ....And any further answers / suggestions regarding this would depend very much upon where you are living (the Country itself).

Sash.

Answer 4

i dont believe so. you could always become a mentor or work for department of mental illness for your county, that would build into experience to possibley become a counselor, not a therapist. that requires a degree.

Answer 5

i really don't think so.

therapists usually need to even have M.A. degree

Answer 6

Yes. There are many different types of counseling/therapy jobs, and not all of them require advanced degrees.

To have your own practice AND be able to have your fees paid by people's health insurance plans, you would need to be a licensed psychologist (PhD) or social worker (MSW). However, there are counseling and therapist jobs that are paid in other ways.

You could be a drug & alcohol counselor and work in a program where you are paid a salary. You'd probably report to a psychologist. The program might be paid through health insurance, but it might also be government funded. Some programs require certification, which might be a 1 year program; others do not.

Activity therapy and recreation therapy require two-year degrees, but some nursing homes, rehab places and mental health programs may not require specific certification. You would get a salary at these jobs.

There are also advocacy programs. For example, if you are a cancer survivor or an amputee and want to help others deal with similar conditions, you might only need the personal experience. You'd have t research what's out there. Some of these things are on a volunteer basis, but advocacy programs do exist that pay the people who work for them.

Finally, there are a host of New Age and alternative therapies out there. You could have your own practice using any method you like, though you'll have to convince people to pay out of their pockets for your help.