The Guide to Becoming a Psychotherapist
- Ian Felton
- Jul 10
- 6 min read
by Ian Felton — https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianfeltonwrites/
Who is this for?
Anyone thinking about becoming a psychotherapist can get something from this guide. When I became a psychotherapist, I had been in an IT career for many years and could no longer contend with the feeling of meaninglessness I felt working for corporate behemoths.
I was in my early 40s when I went back to school to get my Master’s degree so I could become licensed and start my own private practice. I am incredibly grateful for my decision. That’s the perspective I’m writing this from.
Anyone can become a psychotherapist
When I say “anyone can become a psychotherapist,” I don’t mean to water down or minimize the importance of training and the seriousness of the job.
Treating people ethically, assessing risk, maintaining clinical documentation, and supervising others requires years of study and training under supervision to do well. It also requires doing your own psychotherapy both before and after becoming a psychotherapist yourself.
However, there are some simple skills that, when practiced, will allow someone to provide healing to others. Practically everyone who is open to learning them can. While I’ll get into some of the critical things to consider to become a licensed professional, I couldn’t write this guide without first bringing it down to earth and giving everyone permission to practice these simple skills now. They are gifts to yourself and others.
80 / 20
80%
80% of a healing interaction is actively listening. It’s harder than it sounds, but it also isn’t that difficult. Active listening can start with a stance toward just listening and not trying to think of something to say.
Thinking about something to say is a barrier to presence. Presence is a very large part of active listening.
That presence also means being present to the feelings happening in you as you actively listen, making room for them, and learning to separate your personal feelings from what the person you are listening to is feeling.
You can start practicing active listening in your life now and notice the difference in your personal interactions. This is a great place to start on your path to becoming a psychotherapist.
20%
The other 20% is comprised of a few things, but nothing most can’t do. After mainly listening to someone, you can give them a sincere reaction.
You don’t have to try to sound smart, enlightened, or well-trained. You can just react as a human being, still with the intention of putting the other person’s needs first.
For example, you might say, “That sounds awful. How did you get through it?” If you just do that after earnestly listening to someone’s heartfelt story, you’ve accomplished a fair amount of what a psychotherapist does to create a healing experience.
Being a psychotherapist
Being a psychotherapist entails a lot more than what was mentioned in the 80/20 sections, but that is the heart of it and what anyone can start doing now to enrich their lives and those around them.
Being a psychotherapist means learning about psychological theories, testing, the DSM, cultural competency, and various approaches and styles of therapy. However, these complement healing skills — they don’t replace them.
Motivation
If you’re planning on changing careers to become a psychotherapist, you’ll want to understand your motivation.
Getting a Master’s degree is required in most states to become licensed as a counselor or psychotherapist. While the cost of the degree doesn’t have to be prohibitive, depending on where you choose to go to school, tens of thousands of dollars is still a lot, and two to three years of full-time school is a significant commitment.
This isn’t said to be discouraging, but only to present the reality that unless you are sufficiently motivated, time and money might get in the way.
Most people who want to help others do so because of what the work means to them personally. Oftentimes, people want to help with problems similar to the ones they’ve experienced or have seen loved ones experience. That’s a perfect way to stay motivated since it ties directly into purpose and passion.
Values
While the field has room for all types of people — and needs all types of people — there are some common values that all therapists must have a desire to embody.
If the idea of incorporating these values into your work sounds appealing, you will likely enjoy becoming a psychotherapist.
Empathy - We genuinely care for the human beings who seek our help.
Curiosity - We are deeply interested in the people who come to us for help.
Patience - We work with people on their time and at their pace, not according to our personal agendas.
Ethics - We take responsibility for our actions and the impact of our decisions.
Working and going to school
Some people are in the position to focus just on school without worrying about maintaining some income. If that’s you, wonderful. But for many, they will need to work while also going back to school. That’s what I did, and so do many others.
Here are some things to look for in a school if you want to balance a job and getting a new degree:
Cost: There are huge differences in price but not necessarily in value.
Class times: Some programs focus on adult learners and offer all required classes in evenings or weekends.
Class location: Does the school require you to be in person, or can you attend online?
Accreditation: Most state laws require the program to be accredited. Make sure it satisfies the laws of the state where you plan to practice.
Path
There’s a typical path that people take to become a psychotherapist. It looks like this:
Student → Intern → Associate → Licensed → Private Practice (or Employee)
Student: Attend classes, write papers, read books.
Intern: Small caseload of real clients. Typically unpaid, usually two semesters before graduation.
Associate: Full-time work under supervision for 2,000–4,000 hours depending on license. Paid, but supervision cuts into income. Workplace cultures and type of supervision vary widely.
Licensed: Can work independently. No longer paying for supervision. Can start your own practice or stay an employee.
Private Practice: Maximum responsibility, autonomy, flexibility, and compensation.
Employee: Far less responsibility than private practice. Caseload, processes, and standards set by employer. Lower pay in exchange for fewer responsibilities, though employees may end up working more hours and longer days.
Steps to take
Research schools
Make a list of viable schools for you. Note costs per credit and class times. Verify that each school you are evaluating is accredited.
Create a budget
Figure out your cost of living and add on how much you will need each semester for tuition and books. Decide if you need to work and how much.
Create a timeline
Figure out how many credits you think you can take and estimate how many years it will take. Write out your timeline and note significant events like when you might start practicum.
Apply to schools
Apply to your top two or three schools. Prepare by getting previous school transcripts and letters of recommendation. Visit the schools ahead of time if you can.
Start reading now
There’s nothing stopping you from diving into the material you’ll explore in school and priming yourself for this new career. Start with whatever sparks your curiosity — you’ll find there’s a vast landscape of ideas, and you’ll never run out of topics to explore.
If you want an honest window into what this work feels like, I recommend The Gift of Therapy by Irvin D. Yalom and The Making of a Therapist by Louis Cozolino. They capture the joys, challenges, and deeply human nature of this calling.
Closing thoughts
While most people who become psychotherapists have had to deal with their own personal suffering, don’t become a psychotherapist just to deal with your own suffering. Do your own psychotherapy for that. I did years of psychotherapy before applying to school.
You need to be in a decent place yourself to be effective and ethical in this role. Even seasoned therapists still rely on ongoing consultation or peer supervision to stay clear-eyed and effective.
Major changes are always scary. Instead of dwelling on fears, acknowledge them, explore them, understand them, and then focus on what compels you to walk this path. Becoming a psychotherapist has many rewards, and our society needs you to listen to your calling.
Questions?
You can reach out to me on LinkedIn if you have questions you think I can help with:
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