Psychotherapist Resume Example & Writing Guide

Why use this psychotherapist resume example?

This example of a psychotherapist resume is concise and focuses on highlighting the best skills, experience, and expertise. The resume summary gives a good overview of the experience and certifications and also includes solid examples of the professional areas in which they worked.

Being a psychotherapist requires a lot of education and training. There are also a lot of professional certifications as well as organizations they can belong to. All of these should be included on your psychotherapist resume because they show the depth and breadth of your expertise. You can include your certifications in your summary (as this example did) or professional experience sections, or you can have them in a separate section on your resume. Either is appropriate, it just depends on where you want to place them and how much space they will take. Include the certification name, the issuing organization, the credential number, and the date earned. If you have any state licenses, you should include those too.

If you belong to professional organizations, you can include those on your resume. It can be in a separate section, usually at the end of your resume, as the example shows. Membership in various organizations demonstrates your involvement in the community and may help you create networking connections with the hiring managers. Highlight any leadership positions and put them towards the top of your list. For each membership, list the organization name, date joined, and role.

How to write a great psychotherapist resume

As a psychotherapist, it may be difficult to come up with quantifiable achievements. Don’t just think about your interactions with patients, you can include anything significant that is relevant to the profession like awards, published papers or articles, presentations at professional conferences, important research projects, and speaking engagements. Having additional achievements will make your resume stand out from other candidates. For each accomplishment, provide the title, the date completed or awarded, a brief description, and, if needed, some context for the accolade.

When working in certain states or with governmental bodies, there are different certifications and clearances that are required. If you've provided some of these things like your background check, fingerprints, or reporter training, don’t forget to mention those on your resume. For each item, list the type of clearance, the organization the clearance is for, and the date you received it. It is also acceptable to add a line on your resume that says “clearances available upon request”. This can save space, especially if you have a number of them and most of these usually require additional proof.

Finally, make sure your psychotherapist resume is tip-top by proofreading it very carefully. You must ensure there are no spelling or grammatical errors. Have someone else proofread your resume, if possible. This will give a more objective view and may spot things you did not see.

One of the most common mistakes on resumes is to make them too long. People tend to want to put a lot of details on their resumes. This is unnecessary and will make your resume boring and more difficult to read. Your resume needs to be very concise. One page is best, two pages are okay. No more than that. It must be easy for hiring managers and potential employers to quickly scan and recognize you are someone they want to interview. Use just your most relevant and impressive information. You can provide some additional details on your cover letter and on supplementary application documents. On your resume, it is best to be brief and brilliant!

Which key skills are relevant for a psychotherapist resume?

Being a psychotherapist requires a lot of education and skills. Your resume should include all the relevant skills for the profession. Look at the job description that you are applying for and tailor your list to match the skill set that they are looking for.

Below are some of the best hard and soft skills to put on your psychotherapist resume:

• Counseling (addiction, family, marital)

• ABA techniques

• Process psychology

• Interpersonal

• Communication

• Active listening

• Detail oriented

• Compassion and empathy

• Time management

Psychotherapist resume example