Around 20% of American adults live with a mental illness, and many others struggle with mental health issues. If it breaks your heart to see your loved ones struggle, and you have an interest in therapy, then becoming a behavioral therapist might be a good career choice.
Behavioral therapists work with patients to identify unhealthy and potentially self-destructive behaviors. Then, they give them the necessary tools to change them. This can be a powerful experience that makes you feel like you’re actually making a difference.
Interested in hearing more? In this article, we’ll discuss how to become a behavioral therapist so you can pursue a fulfilling career.
The Types of Behavioral Therapists
In general, there are three types of behavioral therapists:
- Board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA)
- Board-certified behavior analyst with a doctorate (BCBA-D)
- Board-certified assistant behavior analyst (BCaBA)
The requirements for each are different, for this may affect which one you choose. For example, in order of the list above, the degrees you need for behavioral therapist schooling are a master’s, doctorate, and bachelor’s.
Obtain a Bachelor’s Degree
Regardless of which type of behavioral therapist you want to be, you’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree. If you don’t already have one, then this is the perfect time to go back to school.
If you’re wondering, “is psychology a good major for this profession,” then the answer is “yes”. Other great options include counseling, social work, and other related fields.
Your bachelor’s program will provide you with foundational education. It’ll teach you essential knowledge about human behavior and mental health.
Pursue Advanced Education
If you want to be a board-certified behavioral analyst (with or without a doctorate), then you’ll need to pursue advanced education. Ideally, you should get your degree in psychology or counseling. Try to find graduate programs that specifically focus on behavioral therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), or applied behavior analysis (ABA).
If necessary, you’ll have to enroll in a doctorate program after receiving your master’s degree. This is more for people who wish to do research, work in academia, or become a clinic supervisor.
Gain Clinical Experience
While you’re pursuing higher education, gain clinical experience if you can. Look for internships or practicum experiences in behavioral therapy settings. Some places to try include schools (you can work with children with autism or ADHD), hospitals, and private clinics.
These opportunities will allow you to work under the supervision of licensed therapists. With this type of hands-on experience, you’ll develop essential skills quicker.
Get Your Behavioral Therapist License and Certifications
While you won’t need a specific behavioral therapist degree, you’ll have to obtain a license. The requirements will differ depending on not only the type of behavioral therapy you want to practice, but also where you’re located. They can range from only a graduate degree and supervised experience to these two things, plus passing an exam and writing out a care plan for a patient.
If you need to take the Behavior Analyst Certification Board exam, then there are several subjects you should study. They include:
- Experimental design
- Behavior change systems
- Identification of problems
- Assessment
- Intervention
- Client-centered responsibilities
You should get your credentials through the National Association of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists (NACBT) if you want to be a certified cognitive-behavioral therapist or diplomate in cognitive-behavioral therapy.
In any case, you’ll usually need to accumulate a certain number of supervised clinical hours and pass a licensing exam. And if you want to get certifications to stand out from the crowd, this is possible too. For instance, you can obtain certifications in CBT or ABA, which can enhance your professional credentials.
Specialize and Continue Education
There are so many behavioral therapists out there that it’s very possible your area is saturated with them. This can make it difficult to break into the industry, so investing some time in specializations can be worth it.
Determine what’s lacking locally and tailor your studies toward a niche.
For example, you can focus on child and adolescent therapy if you love working with kids. Or you can do substance abuse counseling if you want to help with the drug epidemic. Or you can go into marriage and family therapy if you want to create better family settings.
Whatever you choose, you should attend workshops and conferences to keep learning. Additional training will be useful too, as you’ll be up-to-date with the latest research and techniques.
Considering that you have to work closely with individuals and families, developing your soft skills is an excellent idea too. Work on communication, empathy, and problem-solving skills so it’s easier to build trust and rapport with patients.
Seek Employment
Now that you have your behavioral therapist qualifications, it’s time to seek employment. You can check the following places for job postings:
- Private practices
- Clinics
- Hospitals
- Schools
- Mental health centers
- Rehabilitation centers
If you’re not finding many opportunities, then networking and building relationships in the mental health community can be beneficial. You never know when someone may pass along perfect job openings.
Obtain Supervision
In some instances, you won’t be able to work independently as a therapist at first. The licensing requirements may obligate you to work under the supervision of a licensed therapist for a certain number of hours.
Make sure to specify this when you’re applying for jobs. That way, the employer understands and can make arrangements if needed.
Now You Know How to Become a Behavioral Therapist
If you were curious about how to become a behavioral therapist, then hopefully, this article’s given you all the necessary information.
Generally, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree, and you may need to pursue higher education in some fields. Then, you’ll have to get your license and certifications. Obtaining a specialization can be beneficial, as you’ll differentiate yourself from other therapists.
Lastly, even if you find employment, you should keep up with education. That way, you’ll be up-to-date with the latest in the industry.
If you’re interested in other career and education posts, then keep browsing our blog page.
