Masters, PhD, and/or Licensed - Psychology - Private Practice ???
I have a BA in Business and will be taking the necessary psych courses to attain my BA in Psychology. After which I will be applying to a Masters program in Clinical Psychology
My future long-term goal is to have my own private practice, clinical psychotherapy, working w/ individuasl, family, + groups in New York. . The therapy would include anxiety, depression, communication +relationship problems, + many other issues.
I have read that one must have a PhD to be licensed +have a private practice. But I also see that there are private practitioners that have an MA in Clinical Psych as well as licensed as a Marriage +Family Therapist, +Do Not have a PhD.
If you have this license you are then able to have a private practice?
I was also told by a psychiatrist that there are social workers (only w/ a M.A.) who after their years of clinical experience are able to work up clientel and open a private practice.
If anyone knows more about this, or can shed some light… Thanks!
Posted in psychotherapy business
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May 24th, 2009 at 10:52 am
The key is whether you want to be a licensed psychologist or a therapist. In New York you must have a doctoral degree from a psychology program that meets the licensure requirements of the New York Board. Without such a degree you cannot be licensed as and cannot refer to yourself as a psychologist.
In New York, you can be licensed as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a master's degree in social work. You can be licensed as a Mental Health Counselor, with a master's in counselling or the equivalent. You can be licensed as a Marriage and Family THerapist, with a master's in marriage and family therapy, or the equivalent. You can open a private practice with licensure in any of these areas.
A very helpful website is the New York State Office of the Professions. It will provide you with the details of the requirements for various licensure: http://www.op.nysed.gov/proflist.htm
Good luck!
May 24th, 2009 at 10:52 am
You don't have to have a PH. D. to be a licensed therapist in NYC or NYS. But private practice is hard these days because most people can't afford private practice prices and managed care insurance does not pay as much for private practice. Most therapist including my brother who have private practice's also have some other kind of income which brings in the bulk of their income. My brother is a professor and does a lot of online teaching for the college that he teachers for. My daughter's psychologist also has a private practice but she also works in a school as the school psychologist and at the hospital that sends her to the school.
So yes, you can become a licensed therapist in New York but don't plan on your practice providing most of your income, It doesn't happen for the majority of therapist any more.