The recent rise in awareness of the need for mental health support has made the work of trained therapists more relevant than ever. People today, more than ever, recognize that mental health concerns can affect how they work, study, build relationships, and handle major changes in their lives.
If you are interested in learning what it takes to enter this field professionally in the state of Colorado, this article can give you a clear starting point.
In it, we will outline the main requirements future therapists need to meet to become eligible for offering professional therapy and counseling services and show you how to become a therapist in Colorado with an easy to follow step by step guide.
General Overview of the Therapist Profession
Therapists are trained mental health professionals who help people work through emotional, behavioral, personal, and relationship-related challenges through structured therapy and counseling sessions.
Their job involves providing the clients with a safe and supportive space where they can talk about what they are experiencing, understand their concerns more clearly, and develop healthier ways to manage the problems affecting their lives.
Professional counselors do this effectively by relying on their clinical training, sound professional judgment, and evidence-based methods they developed throughout their education and supervised practice.
These tools allow them to help clients examine their thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and relationships more closely, identify harmful patterns, understand what may be contributing to their difficulties, and work toward healthier choices and coping strategies.
Depending on the area of practice they choose to pursue, therapists may help clients work through different concerns, including anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, substance use, family conflict, relationship problems, and major life transitions.
It is also important to point out that therapy can take different forms, so it may support individuals, couples, families, or groups, depending on its role and the type of therapy they are trained to offer.
However, because therapy involves working with people who may be dealing with serious personal and emotional difficulties, the therapist profession is closely regulated.
This means that every mental health professional must hold the appropriate license to demonstrate that they have the necessary education, training, judgment, and ethical integrity to provide services safely and responsibly.
Therapists, Counselors, and Different License Types
The field of mental health support is very broad, and in it, there are several different professional roles that practice therapy and counseling at a professional level. As a result, the state of Colorado recognizes multiple mental health license paths that can lead to counseling or therapy work, the most common of which are the following professions:
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), who helps clients address mental health concerns, emotional difficulties, and behavioral patterns through counseling and therapy services.
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), who can provide therapy while also considering the client’s environment, support system, family situation, and access to community resources.
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), who focuses on relationship patterns, family dynamics, communication issues, and concerns affecting couples and families.
- Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC), who focuses on substance use, addiction recovery, relapse prevention, and the mental health concerns that may appear alongside addiction.
As you can see, the term therapist does not refer to one, single profession, but rather, it is a broader term that refers to multiple professions, including therapists, counselors, and even clinical social workers.
We would also like to point out that psychologists are also broadly considered to be therapists, though becoming a psychologist includes earning a doctoral degree, such as a Psy.D. or Ph.D.
In this article, we will focus on the four therapy and counseling paths that we highlighted above, as they follow relatively similar educational and licensing pathways and can easily be covered in one guide.
Professional Work Settings for Therapists
Considering the growing need for professional mental health support, licensed therapists may apply their professional expertise in a variety of settings where people seek help, including:
- Mental health clinics, where they work with clients dealing with emotional difficulties, behavioral concerns, anxiety, depression, trauma, and other mental health conditions.
- Hospitals and healthcare facilities, where therapists may support patients as part of a larger care team and help them manage the emotional side of illness, recovery, or major life changes.
- Community organizations, where mental health counselors may serve individuals and families who need accessible mental health support, crisis services, or help connecting with other resources.
- Substance use treatment centers, where addiction counselors work with clients dealing with addiction, recovery, relapse prevention, and related mental health concerns.
- Schools, colleges, and universities, where counselors may support students dealing with academic pressure, social challenges, personal issues, and emotional difficulties.
- Correctional and justice-related settings, where licensed professional counselors may provide counseling and behavioral health support to people involved in the legal or correctional system.
- Private practices, where they may work as independent therapists, professional counselors, or marriage and family therapists.
And while there are many professional work settings where they can practice, all mental health professionals should always follow the ethical standards of their field, protect client confidentiality, and provide services only within the scope of their license, regardless of where they work.
Becoming a Therapist in Colorado: Qualifications Breakdown
As we mentioned earlier, therapists in CO need to obtain the proper qualifications before they can provide therapy and counseling services at a professional level. These include:
- A bachelor’s degree in psychology, counseling, social work, human services, or other related educational programs
- A master’s degree in the mental health discipline you want to practice therapy in professionally
- Passing scores in the national exams for your chosen license path, as well as the CO state jurisprudence exam
- 2,000 to 3,360 hours of post-graduate experience completed under an approved supervisor, depending on your license path
- A professional license that allows you to provide therapy or counseling services independently
In other words, aspiring therapists can start practicing as Colorado-licensed professional counselors only after they fulfill all the qualification and licensure requirements for their chosen career path.
How to Become a Therapist in Colorado: Step-by-Step Guide
Having explored the therapist role in detail and outlined the key requirements for entering the field professionally, we can move on to the practical segment of our article and show you how to become a therapist in Colorado one step at a time.
Start Your Academic Journey in Undergrad School
The first step toward becoming a therapist in Colorado is enrolling in a bachelor’s degree program from an accredited college or university. Undergraduate degree programs in the state may be offered on campus, online, or through a hybrid study formats.
At this stage of their education, students are not expected to choose a specific major yet, so they still have the flexibility to explore different subjects connected to mental health work.
That said, most students who want to become therapists tend to choose psychology, social work, or sociology as their major, as this can introduce them to topics such as human behavior, communication, and social factors affecting mental health, and help them build a strong foundation for the more advanced training they complete later in their academic journey.
For most full-time students, the time needed to earn a bachelor’s degree is around four years, however, the exact timeline can change based on factors like, course load, program format, and whether or not the student studies full-time.
Earn a Master’s Degree in One of the Mental Health Disciplines
After earning their bachelor’s degree, aspiring CO therapists need to continue their academic journey by enrolling in graduate studies. At this point, the therapist education becomes much more specific, as graduate students are required to enroll in a master’s degree program that will qualify them for licensure in the profession they want to practice:
- Students pursuing LPC licensure need to complete a CACREP-accredited graduate degree in professional counseling that comprises at least 60 semester hours
- Future LCSWs need to earn a Master of Social Work degree from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
- Aspiring LMFTs are required to obtain a graduate degree in marriage and family therapy from a COAMFTE-accredited program or another qualifying program recognized as equivalent.
- LAC candidates must complete a master’s or doctoral degree in the behavioral health sciences through an accredited institution
What’s more, given that graduate programs are directly connected to future clinical work, their curriculum is much more focused and practice-oriented, and includes courses in counseling theories, assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, and other subjects that prepare students for supervised work with clients.
In addition, as part of their master’s program, therapist students also need to complete supervised clinical training through practicum or internship experiences and start applying their education in real counseling settings.
Pass the CO Jurisprudence Exam and Register as a Candidate
Following their graduation, aspiring CO therapists have the necessary educational credentials and have successfully completed the academic stage of their preparation.
However, before they can start working towards their supervised experience requirement, they first need to register in the proper candidate status through the State Board of Licensed Professional Counselor Examiners.
To be eligible for registration, the board requires them to pass the Colorado Mental Health Jurisprudence Examination, which tests their understanding of Colorado laws, board rules, and professional responsibilities that apply to mental health practice in the state.
After passing the exam, graduates can submit their candidate registration application and supporting documents. Once they are approved, they can start working toward the post-graduate experience required for full licensure.
Gain Experience Working With Clients Under Supervision
Once their candidate registration is approved, aspiring CO therapists can begin working with clients under supervision and start accumulating the post-graduate experience required for licensure.
During the supervised experience period, candidates are allowed to provide counseling or therapy services but only under the oversight of an approved supervisor. This stage of their training is designed to help them develop their clinical skills, apply what they learned in graduate school, and receive feedback on the way they handle real client situations.
The exact amount of supervised experience they need to accumulate depends on the license path they are pursuing. For some licenses, they need 2,000 hours, while clinical social work candidates need 3,360 hours completed over at least 24 months.
In addition to working toward the hour requirement for licensure, candidates should try their best to make the supervision period a meaningful part of their professional development. Working under supervision can be a great opportunity to review difficult cases and strengthen clinical judgment, so they should use this stage to ask questions, accept feedback, and become more confident in their role.
Take the Final Exams and Apply for a Therapist License
Upon completing the required supervised experience, aspiring CO therapists are officially done with the major training requirements and can move toward full professional licensure.
However, unlike the candidate registration stage, when they only needed to pass the jurisprudence exam to begin supervised practice, this stage of the process also requires them to pass the national exam required for their license:
- LPC candidates need to pass the National Counselor Examination
- Aspiring LCSWs need to pass the ASWB Clinical Examination.
- Future LMFTs need to pass the National Marital and Family Therapy Examination.
- LAC candidates need to pass the NAADAC MAC exam or another board-approved addiction counseling examination.
After completing the required exams, they can send in their final licensure application to the Colorado board and await its review. If approved, the state will issue a license with their name and grant them authorization to start practicing independently within the scope of their credential.
Begin Practicing as a Fully Licensed Therapist in Colorado
As soon as their license is issued, therapists can start looking for employment opportunities in therapist roles that match their training, interests, and long-term career goals. Depending on their credential, they may work in mental health clinics, community organizations, substance use treatment centers, correctional settings, or even establish their own private practice.
However, newly licensed therapists should be aware that professional counseling also comes with ongoing professional responsibilities. To maintain their license, they need to complete any required continuing education requirements, follow Colorado’s legal and ethical standards, and provide services only within the limits of their training and professional competence.
Advancing to a Specialized Therapist Role
While the guide above covers the complete process of becoming a therapist in Colorado and outlines the qualifications needed to start working professionally, we must point out that there are options for therapists who want to go further and continue their professional development.
Licensed therapists can always build on their general clinical training by pursuing specialization in a focused area of therapy, which can help them work more closely with a specific client group, concern, or treatment approach. Here’s a quick breakdown of what that process looks like.
Identify the Area of Mental Health You Want to Focus On
Considering that professional mental health support can involve many different client needs, concerns, and therapy approaches, there are many areas therapists can specialize in. This means that the logical first step for specialization is to decide exactly which area of mental health they want to focus on.
Some of the specialty areas that career counselors can advance into include:
- Child and adolescent therapy
- Trauma counseling
- Substance abuse and addiction counseling
- School counseling
- Grief and bereavement counseling
- Anxiety and depression treatment
- Career and life transition counseling
- Behavioral therapy
When making this decision, therapists should consider both their professional interests and their clinical strengths. A great therapist will not think only about their own personal goals, but also about the clients they are best suited to support and the kind of work they are prepared to do well when choosing their specialization.
Complete an Advanced Training Program for Your Specialty
Once they decide which area of mental health they want to specialize in, the next step for therapists who pursue specialization is to look for advanced training programs that can help them deepen their expertise in that area.
This type of advanced training can come through various certificate programs, continuing education courses, clinical workshops, professional seminars, university-based programs, or training offered by counseling and therapy organizations.
Unlike traditional academic programs, programs for specialists are usually shorter, more intensive, and focused. They may cover specialized assessment methods, treatment models, ethical considerations, case planning, and therapy techniques used with a particular population or mental health concern.
Completing this kind of training can help therapists move beyond general practice and become more confident in the specific type of work they want to do more often.
Accumulate More Experience With Your Target Clients
In addition to completing advanced training, therapists who want to specialize in a specific area of therapy also need to gain more direct experience with the type of clients they want to support.
However, unlike in graduate school, where their program arranges their experience through a practicum or internship placement, professional therapists need to create these opportunities on their own by looking for roles in settings where their target clients are more likely to seek care.
For example, a therapist who wants to focus on grief counseling can look for roles in hospice programs, hospitals, bereavement support organizations, or counseling practices that regularly work with clients dealing with loss.
By working with these clients more often, therapists can better understand the challenges that appear in this area of practice, strengthen their clinical judgment, and become more effective in the specialty they want to develop.
Seek Consultation From More Experienced Therapists
As therapists gain more experience with their chosen client group, they can also benefit from seeking consultation and supervision from professionals who have already developed expertise in that specialty.
Not to be confused with the mandatory supervision required before full licensure, this type of professional support can include case review, peer consultation, mentorship, clinical supervision, or professional discussion with therapists who have more experience in the same area of practice.
By consulting with more experienced therapists, specialists can get feedback on complex cases, recognize blind spots, and think more carefully about the way they approach difficult client situations.
Over time, this kind of professional support can help therapists sharpen their judgment, avoid working in isolation, and become more confident in the specialty area they are trying to develop.
Consider Earning a Specialization Certificate
Finally, the last optional step that therapists may consider when pursuing specialization is to earn a professional certificate for their specialty. This type of credential may not always be required, but it can help make their specialization easier for employers and referral partners to recognize.
Depending on the specialty they are pursuing, certificates may be offered by professional associations, universities, clinical training organizations, or specialty boards. Earning it may require therapists to complete approved coursework, document relevant experience, participate in supervision or consultation, or pass a specialty exam.
To sum it up, although it is not always mandatory, earning a certificate can help therapists strengthen their professional profile and show that they have taken additional steps to develop expertise in a specific area of therapy.
Closing Thoughts
Therapy and counseling give people a structured way to face difficult concerns with support, clarity, and direction. In that process, therapists can make a meaningful difference by helping clients understand themselves better and move toward healthier ways of living.
Becoming a therapist in Colorado takes patience and commitment, because the path is built to prepare future professionals for work that carries real responsibility. For those who are willing to stay with the process, it can lead to a career where skill, purpose, and service come together in a lasting way.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do therapists get paid in Colorado?
Therapist salaries in Colorado can vary based on license type, work setting, experience, specialization, and whether the therapist works for an organization or in private practice.
According to the BLS, marriage and family therapists in Colorado earn an annual mean wage of $80,100, while substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors earn $69,860 per year on average. Rehabilitation counselors fall lower on the salary scale, with an annual mean wage of $56,410. (BLS)
Can you practice counseling without a license in Colorado?
No, you cannot practice professional counseling in Colorado without the proper license, certification, or registration. While Colorado previously recognized unlicensed psychotherapists, DORA has recently discontinued new registrations for that category, so new counselors need to follow the appropriate licensing path.
What’s the difference between a counselor and a therapist?
There is no strict practical difference between a counselor and a therapist, as both terms can refer to professionals who provide conversation-based mental health support. The difference is mostly semantic and comes from how the words are used in different settings. Some roles are more commonly described as counseling, while others are more often called therapy, but the work itself can overlap heavily.