Without dedicated, caring therapists, our society would be a rather miserable one indeed. It’s the perfect career for people who want to improve the lives of other people. Another cool thing about therapy is new avenues are always being explored and new specializations crop up all the time, like the relatively new art and music therapy. If you desire a caring career, here are four therapy pathways to pursue.
1. Physical Therapy
Physical therapists take care of some of the more straightforward problems people have: the physical ones. Most commonly, their services are needed after injury or illness, though they also help patients with chronic conditions like arthritis. They devise plans and goals with their patients and help the patient reach those goals. Working as a physical therapist requires a doctorate and a license to practice in your state. Physical therapists are in high demand and are expected to grow much faster than other occupations per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. They can work for hospitals, rehabilitation centers or on their own.
2. Occupational Therapy
The main difference between occupational therapy and physical therapy is that occupational therapy is designed to help you perform everyday tasks again as easily as possible. They often work with the elderly, but can also work with disabled children and adults to give them better control over their daily lives. Sometimes patients even see both an occupational and a physical therapist, so both paths are good choices.
3. Relationship or Sex Therapist
The personal nature of this kind of therapy might turn off some people, but relationship and sex therapists play a vital role in helping couples understand each other and mend their failing or troubled relationships. They understand the similarities and differences between emotional and sexual relationships and that fixing one doesn’t always fix the other. They can be counselors or psychiatrists, but most of all, they want to mend one of the most vital relationships in their patients’ lives.
4. Behavioral Therapy
Behavioral or psychotherapists work on solving their patients’ mental and emotional disorders and problems, with an emphasis on curbing self-destructive behavior. These therapists often treat individuals with anxiety disorders, depression, OCD and more. They help patients modify their responses to stimuli, provide relaxation methods and discuss coping mechanisms. A Master’s degree in healthcare administration can go a long way towards preparing you to manage your own private practice.
There are any number of paths to follow as a therapist, and new methods are being tried and implemented every day. Listed above are just some of the options you can pursue, but one thing every type of therapy has in common is that it’s a very caring career with the singular goal of helping suffering and dissatisfied patients get better.
