What does a Therapist do?

Therapists conduct regular sessions with their clients to help them to overcome mental health problems such as negative thoughts or behaviour patterns. They also work with them to address sources of stress and anxiety and develop coping strategies to help clients improve their personal and professional relationships. Therapists can specialise in certain types of clients such as children, families, individuals with eating disorders or other specific issues. Some Therapists specialise in specific problems such as substance abuse, managing chronic pain or coping with trauma.

Therapist skills and qualifications

To provide the most effective treatment for their clients, Therapists need a range of skills. A successful Therapist will also have various prerequisite skills and qualifications that typically include:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong organisational and time management skills
• The ability to maintain a calm and professional demeanour even in stressful situations
• Excellent active listening skills
• Comprehensive therapeutic knowledge
• Problem-solving skills
• Critical thinking skills
• The ability to establish and maintain healthy boundaries

Therapist experience requirements

Therapists typically need experience of working with clients in private practice or a clinical setting. For roles with a specific client base, such as addicts or those managing long-term health conditions, the experience of working with clients with similar issues will be an advantage. Exposure to working in a similar setting will be beneficial for some roles, particularly those in hospitals or residential facilities. Therapists that may be working with acute or emergency cases benefit from having experience in delivering front-line care in high-pressure situations.

Therapist education and training requirements

There are no specific education or training requirements for Therapists, but they typically complete a diploma or other certification in a relevant therapeutic discipline before beginning to practise. An advanced diploma gives an in-depth guide to the ethics and theory of counselling and usually includes supervised practice placements covering at least 400 hours. Some roles require a degree in psychology, social sciences or a related subject. Many Therapists register with the British Psychological Society who offer a range of certification and qualification options, including reaching chartered status.

Therapist salary expectations

According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Therapist in the UK is £36,333 per year. This salary depends on the type of therapy offered, the setting in which they work and the degree of specialism required.

Job description samples for similar positions

If a Therapist isn’t quite the role you are recruiting for, then these job description samples for similar positions may be more help:

• Counsellor
• Psychologist