When you’re looking for a way to earn a living while giving back and supporting more positivity and healing in the world, therapy is a profession that arises often. Of course, like any job, there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to pursuing a career in therapy. The following will explore some of the quintessential responsibilities a therapist has to help you discern whether this role is right for you.
There Are Many Types of Therapy
In the world of therapy, there are countless different methods and techniques available to therapists. Often, a therapist will have a preference for certain types of therapy based on their own research and experiences as well as their education. You will need to be able to succinctly explain what type of therapy you’re offering to potential clients as well as the processes you use so that they can determine whether or not you seem like a good fit for them.
Certification Is Required
Offering therapy requires that you have at the minimum a certification, but in many instances and specializations, it can require an undergraduate or even post-graduate degree. If you’re someone who is looking into becoming a therapist later in life or don’t have a lot of relevant work experience in the field. It’s a good idea to research the educational requirements for the type of therapy you want to offer.
Confidentiality
There are, of course, a few instances where a therapist is legally required to report a situation. In most cases, you are going to be required to keep what is shared with you confidential. It is of the utmost importance that you have a disposition that allows you to keep secrets if you want a job in therapy. You will be told crazy, funny, interesting, and scary stories, and you need to be able to keep them to yourself.
Trustworthiness
Another key component to a successful career as a therapist is being trustworthy and skilled at building trust with strangers. If a client cannot feel safe with you, they cannot open up and trust you to guide them through their therapy session. In many cases, people seeking out therapy have been in unsafe situations in the past (or present) or have encountered people who betrayed their trust. This often makes it harder for them to trust people, and you need to have the skillset to meet them where they are and build trust.
Nonjudgemental
A therapist also needs to not judge their clients. If a client feels judged, that trust bond discussed above is going to dissipate. Not only will you benefit from being naturally open and tolerant, but you will likely have to practice pushing the boundaries of no judgment if you want to cultivate a safe space where someone can heal.
The above information should have revealed to you some of the responsibilities of a therapist. Of course, each client is going to be different and will require you to adapt to their needs and fears for progress to be made. Further, each branch of therapy has an additional set of skills and responsibilities that produce positive interactions between therapists and clients. You’ll need to consider your natural disposition, the demeanor that you can learn, and the education required to help you find a good specialty.