How do you become a psychotherapist?

The course of study and the process of licensure varies from state to state.

Psychiatrists (medical doctors with a psychiatric specialty), Licensed PhD Psychologists, and Master's-level licensed therapists can all perform psychotherapy.

Licenses that require a Master's degree, internship, and licensing exams include Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT's), Licensed Clinical Social Workers, and Licensed Professional Counselors.

Not all states have licensure for MFT's or for LPC's.

Some states (California is an example) have parity between licensures, and in that case, have parallel CLINICAL training training requirements.