4 Types of Therapy Degrees

Are you considering becoming a therapist but are not sure which types of therapy degrees are best for you?

There are four types of therapy degrees that you can consider by reading this post.

Therapists are specialized to treat their patients through therapy. They consistently meet with clients and work to help them accomplish a goal.

If you are looking into obtaining one of these types of therapy degrees, you should know that therapists are specialized in their training. Therefore, their field of expertise requires a master’s degree at a minimum and possibly a doctorate. There are two types of doctoral degrees, which are a PsyD that is a little shorter than a Ph.D. A doctor with a PsyD are geared toward the psychological piece of a doctoral degree.

Occupational therapy

There are two options when obtaining a degree in occupational therapy. Occupational therapists work to help individuals with daily living skills such as writing, eating, etc. They may work in schools, clinics, or rehabilitation centers. You can choose to get a master’s degree or a doctorate. At the master’s level, you will complete at least two years of coursework with around six months of fieldwork like an internship.

Speech and Language Pathology

Most speech therapists receive a master’s degree in speech therapy. However, a doctorate is optional. Speech and Language Pathologists work to help with one’s communication skills and swallowing disorders. At the master’s level, you will need a bachelor’s degree in speech and language pathology. You will also need to complete around two years of coursework with practicum requirements usually ranging between 300-400 hours. However, not all states require these hours. SLPs can work in school settings, hospitals, and clinics. Their focus is to help individuals overcome communication disorders. For example, some individuals may not talk at all, have poor language structure, or stutter. SLPs work toward helping individuals gain independence in their communication.

Physical Therapy

Licensed Physical Therapists are required to have a doctorate. Previous physical therapists may not have a doctorate, but it is now required, and most states will not offer a master’s program. Physical therapists may have received their associate degree as a physical therapy assistant. To become a physical therapist, you will have three to five years of coursework. The program includes clinical with hands-on training as Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). DTPs help patients become physically healthy through daily exercise. They work on one’s posture, coordination, muscle strength, and physical abilities. Moreover, DTPs can work in hospitals, schools, and other centers.

Marriage and Family Therapy

Licensed Marriage Family Therapists usually have a master’s degree but can move forward with their doctorate by obtaining a PsyD. LMFTs work to help the family unit. They can own private practice to meet with couples, children, and families through times of difficulty. Their main goal is to counsel families and fill in the gaps and bring them back together.

The master’s level includes two to three years of coursework depending on the program as a full-time student. Internship hours may vary per state, but an average of 3,000 hours of hands-on experience is required.

I hope you have a general idea of types of therapy degrees, how long the program is, and what each therapist focuses on.

These are well-known four types of therapy degrees that all require at least two years of experience to master the coursework. Most master’s programs will require an entrance exam and an exit exam or thesis. Throughout each program, you will have an internship that provides hands-on experience to ensure that you have well-rounded knowledge to provide therapy to individuals. At this level, a grade letter “C” is no longer sufficient for your understanding. Graduate and doctorate level programs have high expectations and require A LOT of focus. You can learn more about what to expect as a graduate student in this post if this is something you are looking to move forward in.