<p>Hi, im basically looking for a program (degree of some sorts) that would allow me to be a counselor/therapist. I want a program that DOES NOT require me to take general education courses(So all I study is my degree <em>Kinda like a 2 year degree</em>). The degree will allow me to counsel people on my own with out the supervision of someone else. Is there ANY type of degree/program like this? I dont mind what ever field of counseling marriage, spiritual, anything. </p>
<p>I’ve heard of pastoral and marriage therapist being short degrees… not real sure though if there is anything out there like what im looking for… it doesnt have to be a “real” degree i just want to be able to do the above.</p>
<p>If you want to be an independently practicing counselor/therapist, you will need a graduate degree. Therapists need to be licensed and there are various options. Several possibilities to consider:</p>
<ol>
<li>clinical social work --a Master’s degree and a certain amount of supervised practice will allow you to become an independent therapist. Some social work schools focus more on the macro level (groups, policy, systems, etc). However, some focus on training clinicians (i.e. therapists) and some focus on both. Two top social work schools for clinical training are Smith College and Simmons College (School for Social Work). There are many others as well.</li>
</ol>
<p>You can also study clinical psychology and earn a PhD or Psy.D. degree, though it sounds like this is more school than you are looking for. Other options exist as well–pastoral counseling, etc.</p>
<p>One thing to consider, though, is that excellent and experienced therapists welcome supervision from their peers or colleagues. Being a therapist is fulfilling but can be hard work, and IMHO, the good therapists get professional input around their patients --i.e. some sort of periodic supervision / learning with colleagues.</p>
<p>I don’t think what you want exists, at least not in any reputable form.</p>
<p>To “counsel” people without supervision is pretty much going to require a master’s degree. Which means you need a 4 year degree first, and in most cases that will require some General Ed requirements.</p>
<p>Sorry, there’s no shortcut here.</p>
<p>Ok, well than my question is… Are there any other programs/certifications out there like Pastoral counseling (I dont mind too much to be supervised every now and than but i just dont want to have to be REQUIRED to always be watched by someone?</p>
<p>Counseling supervision doesn’t work that way. I am a school counselor and have a Master’s Degree. Never anywhere in my training did any of my supervisors or mentors sit in on sessions with me. I did have to occassionally audiotape some of my sessions, with the permission of the student, and then the tapes were reviewed with me and my supervisor. I would meet with him once a month or so and discuss how things were going. I would call him if I had a situation that I had questions about. He visited my school once each semester and spoke with me, my principal and the other counselor in the district. It was a very supportive environment designed to allow me to develop my skills. </p>
<p>I also have several friends who became therapists and are eligible for medicare and insurance payments. These folks have to be supervised for 2000 hours to get licensed. Again, the supervisor never sat in sessions with them. Things were recorded and reviewed, discussions were held, etc, with the supervision decreasing over time. Hope this helps you to understand what supervision actually means.</p>