Online therapy means e-therapy or e-counseling that provides mental health services and support through the internet. By sending an email, video conferencing, text messaging, online chat or messaging or internet phone. Online therapy occurs in real-time like a phone conversation and text messages in a time format through emails.
Who is a Therapist Online?
A therapist online is a well-trained professional who graduated in this field. They aspire to become a counselor, psychologist or family, and marriage therapist and provide counseling through online. A therapist online provides almost the same serves as a real-world setting.
Still, they are not considered a psychologist. Also, you need to realize that a therapist online can able to provide the same advice and guidance to their clients. But they cannot diagnose and do treatment for mental illness through the internet.
How to become a therapist online?
To become an online therapist is the same education and training they take as an offline therapist. This is governed by the State regulations and services that work for Family and Marriage Therapy. So those who want to work as a family and marriage therapist, they must be licensed under their State law and regulations. Before getting licensed, the candidate must pass their graduation degree as a therapist or psychologist or any related field from only an accredited school.
Moreover, the students are asked to complete the required hours of supervised education at the clinic and pass exam certification that a particular area of expertise. Each state differs in its terms of license requirements. They follow the separate licensing exam. Each state what follows in common is that all therapists and psychologists be licensed.
Steps to Become a Therapist Online!
1. Pursue a Master’s Degree in Therapy
To have a successful career as a therapist and get a license or certification, first, you need to earn a Master's Degree in Therapy. If you determine your personal therapy preferences and specialty before you submit your application, then it will help you prepare your future career as a therapist. Obtain the degree with license or certification demonstrated in your state. It must apply with all employers who are qualified to become therapists online and are competent in your specific scope of practice.
2. Complete Practicum and/or Internship Hours
To get license and certification, therapists must participate in documented hours under the supervision of clinics, as said earlier. They are:
Practicum: Practicum is required will range from 100 to 900 hours according to the programs. Students get the opportunity to work along with certified or licensed counselors during the session under supervision and independently. Also, they have to attend meetings, training, report writing, clinical notes, and reviews, engaging in professional development and a lot more.
Internship: The required hours to participate is calculated to be 600 hours. Students will work under supervision or independently both sessions online. A therapy intern has the same standard as a professional who practices. Interns must keep their clinical records, engaging in professional development, interact and collaborate with other counselors or family members, and chat with assigned clients online.
3. To Obtain Counselling License or Certification
Without getting licensed or certified, most of the state will not allow practicing or accepting health insurance from their clients. For meeting state requirements through practice, a therapist license or certification is necessary. Because a valid therapist license or certification is proof that a therapist has met all the state-determined standards.
4. Choose a career path
A certified therapist can become a therapist online or offline therapist. Online therapy has certain limitations. But today it is the quickest way to get counseling. So there are many reasons why people choose online therapy more than others. The field you want to choose in career opportunities like mental health, hospitals, a rehabilitation program for drug and alcohol, private practices, government agencies, nursing homes, and community agencies.
5. Advance your practice
A successful therapist can go-ahead to expand their knowledge for career progression. The field of counseling is constantly growing with new researches and findings. Also, a professional therapist is asked by the licensure to engage in continuous education credits and research.
- Join professional counseling organizations
- Explore by doing Ph.D. programs
- Understand about additional certification
- Find new ways to get continuous education or development credits professionally for license and certification