A Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts will include coursework in basic psychology, developmental psychology, child psychology, statistics and other courses related to child therapy. Indeed is not a career or legal advisor and does not guarantee job interviews or offers. The vastly different approach that is necessary for working with a child in therapy, when compared to working with an adult, begs for the need for an entire subset of child therapy. Then the therapist composes a care plan for dealing with the child’s problems. Therapists must have good writing skills for documenting cases. When proposals are granted, students carry out their proposed studies under the supervision of their advisors and graduate committees. This site is for informational purposes and is not a substitute for professional help. Students arrange with members of faculty to be their advisors and help them submit research proposals. Students should check catalogs, discuss their goals with faculty and school counselors, and come up with a plan for their education in advance of applying to a university. The next step is becoming board certified or licensed to practice child therapy. What is active listening, why is it important and how can you improve this critical skill? The future looks bright for aspiring professionals in all health care fields. What Can You Do With a Child Psychology Degree? Child therapists can have private practices where they provide therapy in offices or travel to children's schools or homes. Still, at the bachelor's level, most of them provide a concentration in counseling or psychology. Some graduate level courses students might encounter include: hospitalized infant and toddler development, grief and loss, play therapy, crisis intervention, child abuse, family theory, social ecology, and child life, to name a few. He or she must be able to communicate a positive, caring attitude, and actively listen to the patient, his family, and others concerned with the case. In therapy, children talk out their feelings and work through problems. Child therapists or child counselors may provide service to children and adolescents in these ways: The average annual salary is $54,296 for a family therapist, which is not the same as a child therapist but the closest job title accessible. The last step is to defend their studies before their graduate committees. Salaries vary from state to state and among various employment settings. Not all universities offer undergraduate programs in childhood therapy, but most offer courses in psychology and counseling. Child therapists can work for school systems, pediatric hospitals, pediatricians, juvenile detention centers, camps for handicapped children, and probation offices. Once a dissertation is approved, the student officially has his or her PhD. Child therapists see children with emotional disturbances from a variety of causes. You can set professional and personal goals to improve your career. Some Master’s programs are composed of entirely coursework, while others require original research and a thesis. California, too, licenses Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors. To get started in the child therapist career path, first get a bachelor's degree in psychology, behavioral science or social science. If you adore children and enjoy helping people, then a career as a child therapist might be a great fit for you. In May 2019, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for all psychologists (excluding clinical, counseling, school, and industrial-organizational psychologists) was $98,230. If you want a start at child counseling, you want to at least have a bachelor's degree in counseling, child psychology or social work to start. 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