Can I become an occupational therapist with a bad back?

How can I become a therapist on the side while avoiding going back to college?

• I'd like to become a therapist, but the last thing I want to do is waste more years of my life paying for exorbitantly overpriced college classes where I learn nothing, just to get yet another piece of paper just to say I have a "degree". I already wasted enough years of my life in college and really I would like to become a therapist only on the side, so I can help people. Not as a primary career. So how can I do this?

• Answer:

  The rules regarding the certification and licensing of mental health professionals differ from state to state. However, in most states, titles such as "psychologist" and "psychotherapist" are reserved for professionals with specific licenses. Acquiring these licenses almost always requires a Masters or Doctoral level degree. Some states allow people to provide therapy-like services without a license as long as they don't misrepresent themselves; other states do not allow this. You can find links to the state licensing boards' websites http://www.americanpsychotherapy.com/about/licensure/. That said, I would strongly encourage you not to practice psychotherapy without a degree and license. I would argue that the uninformed practice of psychotherapy is irresponsible at best and immoral at worst. Many clients seek therapy from a very vulnerable place and need the help of a professional with years of training and experience. The coursework leading to licensure may be expensive in some cases, but it isn't something you do "just to say you have a degree." It involves careful study of the theory and practice of psychotherapy and, most importantly, it involves lots of supervision hours. However well-intentioned and well-read a new therapist might be, they will make many mistakes at first. Supervision is essential to recover from these mistakes and to develop into a more effective therapist. If your desire is to help people in your spare time, I would encourage you to devote yourself to volunteer work. There are many opportunities with no educational requirements that would put you in a position to positively influence peoples' lives. Therapy isn't something you "do on the side" any more than surgery is.