Psychotherapist

Career path and progression

With experience, you could take on a training, teaching or mentoring role, or specialise in a particular therapeutic approach.

You might also become self-employed and set up a private practice, or move into academic research.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

• counselling skills including active listening and a non-judgemental approach
• knowledge of psychology
• the ability to understand people’s reactions
• sensitivity and understanding
• excellent verbal communication skills
• active listening skills
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• to enjoy working with other people
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

• pass enhanced background checks

Related subjects

Most relevant

• Psychology - Psychotherapists draw directly on psychological theory to understand how people think, feel, and behave. They use models from areas like cognitive, developmental, and abnormal psychology to guide their therapeutic approach and help clients make sense of their experiences.
• Sociology - Psychotherapists need to understand how social factors – such as family dynamics, culture, poverty, and inequality – shape a person's mental health and behaviour. This awareness helps them see clients' problems in a wider context rather than purely as individual issues.
• Biology - Psychotherapists benefit from understanding how the brain and nervous system influence emotions, stress responses, and mental health conditions. Knowledge of neuroscience and how factors like hormones and genetics affect behaviour helps them understand what their clients are experiencing.
• English Language - Psychotherapists rely heavily on language – listening carefully to how clients express themselves and choosing their own words with precision. They also write detailed confidential reports and case notes that need to be clear, accurate, and sensitive.

Also relevant

• Philosophy - Psychotherapists regularly engage with deep questions about identity, meaning, suffering, and what it means to live well. Some therapeutic approaches, such as existential psychotherapy, are rooted directly in philosophical traditions and ways of thinking.
• Religious Studies - Psychotherapists work with clients from diverse backgrounds and need to understand how religious beliefs and spiritual practices shape people's values, coping strategies, and sense of identity. This sensitivity helps them build trust and avoid misunderstanding.
• English Literature - Psychotherapists benefit from the deep understanding of human emotion, motivation, and relationships that comes from studying literature. Analysing characters and narratives builds the kind of empathy and interpretive skill that is central to therapeutic work.
• Mathematics - Psychotherapists who engage with research need to understand statistics in order to evaluate evidence about which therapies work and for whom. Keeping up to date with theory and research is a regular part of the role.