Psychotherapist

Psychotherapist Job Description

Clinical Therapists Identify psychological, emotional or behavioral issues and diagnose disorders. Counsel individuals, groups or families to help them understand problems and develop treatment plans. Provide for referrals and community contacts. Manage caseload and documentation.

Psychotherapist Salary Statistics as of 2015

Average annual salary for a Psychotherapist is $54531 based on statistics in the U.S. as of 2015. The highest salary recorded was $174147. The lowest salary reported was $34984. These figures will vary on a state to state basis as these are averages across all 50 states.

Median hourly wage for a Psychotherapist is $44.245 based on statistics in the U.S. as of 2015. The highest hourly rate recorded was $73.97. The lowest hourly rate recorded was $14.52. These figures will vary on a state to state basis as these are averages across all 50 states.

Bonuses for a Psychotherapist are based on the years of experience using statistics from the U.S. as of 2015. The average bonus recorded was $0 from people with 15+ years of experience. The average bonus recorded was $5 from people with under 1 year of experience.

These are the highest paying states for a Psychotherapist. These numbers are based of the median annual salary as of 2015.
California – $36,212 – $76,526
Colorado – $20,134 – $69,531
Minnesota – $33,221 – $119,195
New York – $35,493 – $100,000
Pennsylvania – $29,361 – $50,951
Texas – $35,061 – $76,025
Wisconsin – $29,799 – $70,637

These are the highest paying cities for a Psychotherapist. These numbers are based of the median annual salary as of 2015.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin –
Houston, Texas –
Denver, Colorado –
New York, New York –
Chicago, Illinois –
Los Angeles, California –
San Francisco, California –

This chart outlines the average annual salary of a Psychotherapist from the past 5 years. In 2015 the average annual salary was $54531 while in 2007 it was just $50571.09

How To Become a Psychotherapist

The student who is interested in psychotherapy, and has earned their bachelor’s degree cannot do anything with this degree, until they go forward and earn their master’s degree, and then doors of opportunity will open for them. They will need to obtain that master’s degree in psychology, counseling or social work. It is wise to obtain a major in psychotherapy. States have differing requirements for the psychotherapist. While some states may require the person have their PhD, other states do not. The master’s and PhD programs do require that the person have two years of clinical practice under a supervised, licensed psychotherapist. Some states require a license to practice, other states do not. Programs toward this degree include research into psychotherapy, psychotherapy and it’s relevance with medicine, and psychoanalytic psychotherapy. If the person wants to obtain their PhD, requirements generally include a written exam, and oral exam, two years of supervised clinical experience and a dissertation. Most psychotherapists are not medical doctors. Psychiatrists should not be confused with psychotherapists, because a psychiatrist is an M.D. with a specialty in psychiatry and they practice psychotherapy. A person who has earned their PhD will find even more doors of opportunity for them.

Job Outlook

The profession of psychotherapy is on an increased demand. Years ago doctors did not know how to diagnose and treat mental health conditions and problems. Diagnoses are now being more readily recognized along with proper treatment. The Bureau of Labor anticipates that there is going to be an increased need for counselors and school psychologists over the next eight to ten years.