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Therapist Resume Examples
Use these clinical therapist resume examples as a guideline, or visit our extensive library of customizable free resume templates.
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Mental Health Therapist Resume Example (Text Version)
[Your Name]
[City, State ZIP Code]
[Email Address]
[Phone Number LinkedIn]
Resume Summary
[Insert your summary here. This should be a brief statement highlighting your core qualifications and career goals.]
Summary of Qualifications
- [Insert qualification #1]
- [Insert qualification #2]
- [Insert qualification #3]
- [Insert qualification #4]
[Type of] Skills
- [Add relevant accomplishment or responsibility related to Skill 1]
- [Add relevant accomplishment or responsibility related to Skill 1]
- [Add relevant accomplishment or responsibility related to Skill 1]
- [Add relevant accomplishment or responsibility related to Skill 1]
[Type of] Skills
- [Add relevant accomplishment or responsibility related to Skill 2]
- [Add relevant accomplishment or responsibility related to Skill 2]
- [Add relevant accomplishment or responsibility related to Skill 2]
- [Add relevant accomplishment or responsibility related to Skill 2]
Education
[Degree Earned]
[High School Name, Location]
[Graduation Date or Estimated Graduation Date]
- [OPTIONAL: Add relevant coursework or academic achievements]
- [OPTIONAL: Add any honors or awards received]
Work History
[Job Title #1 | Club or Employer Name #1]
[Location, Year]
[Job Title #2 | Club or Employer Name #2]
[Location, Year]
How to Format a Therapist Resume
Your resume format is as important as what you write in your resume. This therapist resume sample displays the best formatting hacks to pass ATS: 1-inch margins, bullet points and clear resume headings for each of the following sections.
Full name and contact info
Include your name, contact information, and a professional email address.
Write a summary statement
Highlight two or three of your top therapy skills or accomplishments with a brief resume summary or objective statement.
Highlight your skills
Create a dedicated section to showcase hard, soft and technical skills specific to mental health therapy, like active listening, critical thinking, treatment planning and crisis intervention.
List your work history
Detail your work experience in reverse chronological order, including job titles, company names, dates of employment, and key responsibilities and achievements for each role. Use bullet points to highlight accomplishments, duties, and skills.
Supporting education section
Detail your educational background, mentioning any relevant degrees, diplomas, or certifications obtained.
Additional sections
You can add resume sections for licenses, certifications, industry memberships or unions, awards, volunteer experience or spoken languages.
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Write Your Therapist Resume Summary
Your professional summary or resume objective is an elevator pitch for your top resume skills and achievements. A well-written resume objective will impress the reader with your qualifications and draw them into learning more about your career trajectory. Follow these simple steps to write an impactful professional summary.
Be concise
Your statement should be at most three sentences. Use the limited space to go straight into your highest credentials. Avoid including unnecessary details.
Spotlight your most impressive qualifications
If you’re a well-experienced therapist, lead with that. Discuss your years of experience, top skills and areas of expertise. Focus on what sets you apart.
Include notable accomplishments
Highlighting your most significant achievements will grab the recruiter’s attention. Show your value as a therapist.
Tailor it to the job description
Your resume objective must include keywords from the job description, as this will pass ATS scans and show the recruiter you’re a qualified candidate.
Strong and weak Mental Health Therapist summary
“Dedicated and empathetic therapist with eight years of experience guiding individuals toward mental wellness and personal growth. Proficient in utilizing evidence-based therapeutic techniques to address various emotional and psychological challenges. Committed to fostering a safe and supportive environment where clients can explore their feelings, gain insight, and develop effective coping strategies.”
This example showcases the candidate’s years of experience, proficiency in specialized skills and unique view of their profession.
“Experienced therapist looking to expand clientele and bring new therapeutic techniques to the forefront.”
This example discusses the candidate’s goals but fails to specify any impressive skills or accomplishments that could lead to the recruiter asking for an interview.
PRO TIP:
Use our chronological resume format to highlight your career progression and impress the hiring manager.
2
Include Your Work History
A well-written resume work experience section will show the employer your background working in clinical settings and how successful your therapy service has been. Follow these four steps when writing your professional history section:
Use reverse chronological order
When listing your past roles, start with your most recent job.
Highlight your accomplishments
Use quantifiable metrics like numbers and percentages to show the impact of your mental health therapy services.
Include relevant keywords
Incorporate industry-specific keywords throughout this section and focus on those listed in the job ad.
Describe the job duties
If there are specific roles without accomplishments to mention, discuss the therapeutic interventions you applied.
Strong and weak Mental Health Therapist work history
Therapist
Hopeful Horizons Counseling Center | Portland, OR
January 2016 - December 2023
- Implemented a trauma-focused therapy program, resulting in a 30% increase in client-reported improvements in coping skills and a 25% decrease in symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among participants over six months.
- Developed and facilitated a weekly support group for adolescents struggling with anxiety disorders, receiving positive feedback from participants and their families for creating a nurturing and empowering space for personal growth and resilience-building.
This example showcases the candidate’s impressive achievements as a therapist and uses quantifiable measures to back them up.
Therapist
Hopeful Horizons Counseling Center
2016 - 2023
- Offered weekly therapy sessions to all cases assigned to me.
This example lacks specific details about the candidate’s job duties and fails to mention any notable accomplishments that could set them apart.
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Add Your Education Background
Mental health professionals must have a formal degree in counseling or psychology and be licensed to practice in their state. When writing your academic background section, ensure you include all the necessary credentials for a resume for a therapist. Follow the steps below:
1Start with your formal degrees
List your highest educational degree. Add the institution’s name, field of study and attendance dates.
PsyD in Clinical Psychology
University of Oregon
August 2013 – June 2015
2Mention core certifications or licenses
Add any relevant specialized training and licenses required to offer therapy in your state.
Board Certified Clinical Psychologist
Oregon Board of Psychology
2015
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15 Skills to Boost Your Therapist Resume
Resume best practices indicate that you should organically weave skills throughout your resume. However, it’s equally important to craft a dedicated resume skills section with a mix of soft soft skills, hard skills and technical skills relevant to mental health therapy.
Soft skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Communication skills
- Analytical thinking
- Critical-thinking skills
- Emotional intelligence
Hard skills
- Cultural competence
- Crisis intervention
- Treatment planning
- Assessment and diagnosis
- Professional and legal code of ethics
Technical skills
- Group therapy
- Remote therapy software
- Evidence-based therapy techniques
- Psychopharmacology
- Proficiency in electronic health records
PRO TIP:
Double-check the job advertisement and add any skills listed that you possess to your skills section. An ATS resume will help you bypass applicant tracking system ATS scans and convince the employer you’re a top candidate.
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20 Translator Action Verbs
Unique resume power words can make your resume entries more impactful and engaging. Here are 20 resume action verbs to consider when describing your experience and achievements as a therapist.
- Assess
- Diagnose
- Develop
- Implement
- Facilitate
- Collaborate
- Listen
- Empower
- Guide
- Support
- Validate
- Encourage
- Educate
- Advocate
- Explore
- Normalize
- Validate
- Promote
- Strengthen
- Modify
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Additional Resume Sections to Consider
Consider adding the following sections to your therapist resume to enhance your qualifications:
Use a Cover Letter to Expand on Your Resume
A resume is a concise overview of your skills and experience — a cover letter expands on this foundation. Add a cover letter to share one or two examples of how you excelled in similar roles or how your expertise can help the company grow. Use this sample as a guide or visit our helpful resources to boost your application.
Therapist Resume FAQ
What is the role of a mental health therapist?
A mental health therapist assesses and treats mental and emotional health disorders. They are proactive listeners and outline coping strategies based on the individual’s specific needs.
A mental health therapist uses various psychotherapy so that clients can develop positive changes. Through their methods, these therapists help identify ways to cope with negative feelings, thoughts and behavior through their methods.
Mental health therapists are a critical step in their patient’s lives, helping them through:
- A death
- Insomnia
- Depression
- Substance abuse
- Sexual dysfunction
- Anxiety
- Eating disorders
- Personality disorders
- Dementia
What is the difference between a licensed professional counselor and a mental health therapist?
If you’re interested in becoming a professional in mental health, you must know the various available job functions. The most common are counselors, therapists and psychologists.
The difference between licensed professional counselors and therapists is their level of education and training. To be a therapist, you must complete a master’s degree or higher education in counseling.
While counseling requires a bachelor’s degree, depending on the state, some counselors can work under a state license or with an associate degree.
Another key difference is that counseling is usually a short-term approach. They provide resources and techniques so patients can move toward a healthy lifestyle. Therapy is often a longer-term process, identifying the cause and effect to reach a lasting outcome.
How much does a mental therapist make?
The annual salary for a mental health therapist in the United States can be up to $78,570. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the industries with the highest employment and pay are therapists specializing in substance abuse and behavioral disorders. Mental health counselors can range from $51,980 to $63,580.
The compensation for these health experts can vary by industry and the type of facility they work in. For instance, therapists that work in psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals can make an annual earning of $49,100. In contrast, professionals working in the offices of health practitioners can make an average of $57,520.
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Last edited by: Gabriela Barcenas, CPRW, Content Writer II - November 12, 2024
Gabriela Barcenas
CPRW, Content Writer IIGabriela is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and career adviser. With 10 years of digital media experience and five years of resume writing expertise, her publication history includes fashion, education, travel, social justice, equitable design and career advice.