How to Become a Therapist in Canada, best update of 2022

The choice of becoming a therapist can stream out of passion but can actually be puzzling while choosing a field.

However, in this piece, we shall detail to you how to become a therapist in Canada. You are in the right place if you are looking for the requirements to become a therapist in Canada.

Therapists in Canada are always engaged as the educational system makes it compulsory for every school to have a therapist in the form of a counselor or psychologist.

On the other hand institutions and individuals also employ the services of therapists for different mental or physical needs. Not to mention the ones that work at hospitals and clinics.

This goes a long way to show that therapists are actually among the most respected professionals in Canada.

Their job is very lucrative and is very essential to many parts of our life. With the help of our research associates, we shall detail for our readers how to become a therapist in Canada along with the requirements.

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How to Become a Therapist in Canada

For easy understanding, we shall detail in steps, what is needed for one to become a Therapist in Canada.

• Enroll for a Bachelor’s Degree

Before you can be certified as a therapist in any field in Canada, you must have completed and obtained your bachelor’s degree certificate.

You must also ensure that the institution is accredited. It will amount to a waste of time if the institution you obtained your degree is not recognized by the educational authorities.

It is going to cost quite a lot but, there are affordable and cheaper in-state colleges and universities one can obtain a bachelor’s degree in therapy. Program duration lasts for an average of 3 to 4 years.

• Obtain your Master’s Degree

A bachelor’s degree might be enough to get licensed to practice as a therapist but an M.sc solidifies your professional stand as a therapist.

The system is designed in a way that one can actually combine work with his/her Masters’ degree studies.

Additionally, an M.sc holder has a bigger opportunity of being hired for a job than a B.sc holder. The same applies to salary, as M.sc attracts higher salaries than B.sc. In Masters’s degree program, the student is exposed to more logical aspects in his/her chosen field.

They are paired with licensed therapists who put them through clinical experimental trials. Knowledge from these is what they apply to real-life clients.

• Apply for Licensure

Applying for a license is the last phase of becoming a therapist in Canada. These come after you have finished the mandatory internship with a licensed therapist. The process and requirements are not the same for all states and provinces in Canada.

Institutions tailor their own to the requirements of the states they are situated. Nonetheless, one will be required to take licensing exam peculiar to his/her chosen field in therapy.

Counselors, children therapists, psychologists, sex therapists, family therapists, occupational therapists don’t take the same exam while applying for licensing.

What Does a Therapist Do?

A therapist is integrally involved in the mental and physical well-being of people, especially those going through one issue or the other.

There are different therapists for different problems. The problems can range from drug abuse, anger issues, addictions, mental stress, emotional problems, family issues, and marriage problems among many other things.

The different fields in therapy deal with problems relating to that field.

• addictions Therapist
• alcohol addiction Therapist
• behavioral consultant
• bereavement Therapist
• child and family Therapist
• child and youth Therapist
• children’s Therapist
• clinical Therapist
• community mental health Therapist
• counseling program supervisor
• Therapists for persons who are intellectually impaired
• couples therapist
• crisis Therapist
• disability consultant
• drug addiction Therapist
• eating disorder therapist
• family therapist
• family therapist (FT)
• gambling addictions Therapist
• gambling addictions therapist
• genetic Therapist
• grief Therapist
• group home Therapist
• marital Therapist
• marriage Therapist
• mental health Therapist
• preretirement Therapist
• psychoeducational consultant
• registered clinical Therapist
• registered family therapist
• registered marriage and family therapist
• registered marriage therapist
• rehabilitation Therapist
• And others.

Qualities of a Good Therapist

Therapists form strong connections with their patients and clients. It goes beyond just a meeting of two people. One needs to deeply connect and listen to really help someone that needs therapy.

Therefore, there are so many skills and traits required to make a good therapist. The skills expected of therapists are analytical skills, communication skills, compassion, flexibility, interpersonal skills, leadership skills, listening skills, observational skills, organization, patience, resourcefulness, speaking skills, and writing skills among many others.

Good therapists are empathetic, active listeners, they are patient, and not judgemental. These traits and skills are what create a good rapport and relationship between the therapist and the client or patient.

You must also be good at compiling and utilizing data gathered from the experiences of your patient and clients. Tools like charts and data compiling apps must always be at the disposal of the therapist.

• How Much Do Therapists Make in Canada?

The basic salary for a therapist in Canada is $69,985 annually. Entry-level position therapists earn around $52,777 while the highly experienced ones earn as much as $88,740 per annum.

Other factors like state legislation, work hours, certifications, and level of experience also play a huge role in the amount a therapist can earn.

Conclusion on How to Become a Therapist in Canada

As simple as it might appear to be a Therapist, one should also bear in mind that the job is actually one of the most challenging to do.

It requires a deep understanding of the person’s situation to offer the needed help and therapy. Therapists are people with deep analytical skills and sense.

You will have to put yourself in the person’s position to understand how to profer a solution to the problem at hand.

The most important skill needed here is communication because, without communication, one cannot be able to effectively relate with his/her client.

Patience is equally a trait one needs to have because a good number of times you need to be really patient with the client while listening to arrive at the bottom root of the problem.

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