Therapy Jobs

Also known as psychotherapy, therapy helps people find ways to deal with stressful and difficult life situations and their psychological effects - depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other mood disorders. Most therapists are trained psychologists. Unlike psychiatrists, psychologists cannot prescribe medication; instead, they focus on behavioral and cognitive therapy.

According to the American Psychological Association, 9 out of 10 Americans feel that psychotherapy is significantly helpful. Therapy has also been shown to improve overall health status. About two-thirds of Americans said they are likely to seek help for stress, an increase from earlier decades and a testament to greater awareness of the mental health community. Because the stigma of mental illness and mood disorder is beginning to subside, more people feel comfortable seeking therapy.

Education - Therapy jobs require a high level of education, including a bachelor's degree in psychology or a related field, a doctorate (either a Ph.D. or a Psy.D. degree) and licensure/certification in the state of practice.

Trends in psychotherapy - Therapy jobs may include working one-on-one with patients, or working behind the scenes in testing, research, or administration. Many therapists become writers or teachers, helping to train the next generation of therapists. Therapy jobs also can be found in hospitals and other health care facilities. About 34% of all trained psychologists choose to start their own therapy practice.

Managed care and insurance - With activists lobbying hard to secure mental health care insurance rights, more people have access to psychotherapy and its benefits. In 2008 Congress passed the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, requiring health insurance to cover both mental and physical health equally. Because of this, therapy jobs now resemble medical jobs, in that you need to understand and work within insurance guidelines for your patients.