Therapist Resume Examples & Writing Guide

Therapist Resume Template (Text Format)

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FIRST AND LAST NAME

Email: your.email@email.com

Phone: (123) 456-7891

Address: Street, City, State

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yourprofile

RESUME SUMMARY

Dedicated mental health professional with [number] years of experience. Seeking to leverage my experience in [relevant abilities] to fill the [Job Title] position. Hold a [degree/diploma/certification] in [Degree/Diploma/Certification Title]. Skilled at [2–3 relevant skills]. A [adjective #1] and [adjective #2] worker aiming to contribute to the success of [Company Name].

WORK EXPERIENCE

Current Job Title (e.g., Mental Health Therapist)
Institution/Organization Name, City, State
Month 20XX–Present

• Include a bulleted list of your achievements as a mental health therapist
• Start each bullet point with an action verb (like “adminster” or “treat”) to grab attention
• Use the present tense for your current therapist role, unless describing a completed project or initiative
• Use hard numbers when possible to quantify your accomplishments as a therapist
• Mention how you’ve used some of the counseling skills listed in your skills section to demonstrate your mastery of these abilities

Previous Job Title (e.g., School Counselor)
Institution/Organization Name, City, State
Month 20XX–Month 20XX

• List relevant accomplishments from your previous role as a school counselor
• Assuming you’re no longer working in this role, use past tense verbs to describe your work
• Include 3–6 bullet points for each therapist role, both your current one and previous ones
• Skip the pronoun “I” and begin directly with a verb
• Although you’ll usually list work experience, feel free to include therapist-relevant internships as well as any volunteer work and extracurricular activities if you lack formal work experience

EDUCATION

Degree Name / Major
University, City, State | Graduation Month, Year
GPA: 3.X/4.0 (optional)
Latin honors (if applicable)

SKILLS & CERTIFICATIONS

• List skills and certifications relevant to the therapist job you’re applying for
• Look at the job description for ideas of the skills the employer wants and that are common among therapists
• Emphasize therapy-specific hard skills and technical skills in this section
• Be as specific as possible by including names of tools, equipment, and software you’ve mastered that are commonly used by mental health professionals

OPTIONAL RESUME SECTIONS

• Add any other relevant information about your background here
• For example, a separate section could be used to highlight any of the following information: therapy-relevant awards, publications, or coursework, as well as languages and volunteer experience

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Therapist resumes by experience level

To help you write a therapist resume tailored to your level of experience, we’ve prepared entry-level and senior-level examples for you to use as references:

Entry-level therapist resume

Ready to start your career as a therapist? Use this entry-level example to write a resume that lands you your first job:

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Example highlights

• Relevant experience: When you’re just starting out as a therapist, employers want to see what non-work related experience you have. Include practicum and internship experience on your resume to prove you have the background they’re looking for.
• Key qualifications: This applicant adds a license to their resume that proves they’re a professional counselor in training, which qualifies them to apply for entry-level roles in the field.

Experienced therapist resume

With several years of honing your skills as a therapist behind you, here’s how you should present your expertise on your resume:

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Example highlights

• Prominent certifications: List your therapist certifications and licenses at the top, like this applicant does, so hiring managers immediately know you meet the basic requirements of the role.
• Brief education section: Because they already have extensive professional therapist experience, the candidate keeps their education section concise by only listing essential information about their educational background.

Therapist resume samples by job title

If you’re looking for a resume example for a specific therapist role, this is where you’ll find it:

ABA therapist resume

ABA therapists require a highly specialized skill set. This sample shows you how to emphasize the right abilities on your own ABA therapist resume:

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Example highlight

• Language skills: Fluency in multiple languages will allow you to treat patients that most other therapists cannot, making you an invaluable asset to employers. Showcase your language skills on your resume in either your work experience or skills section.

Massage therapist resume

To secure your next job as a massage therapist, you’ll need to convince employers that you can blend technical massage abilities with interpersonal skills to provide clients with customized treatments. This massage therapist resume demonstrates how:

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Example highlight

• Focus on service quality: This massage therapist resume is successful because several of the resume bullet points highlight the applicant’s dedication to providing high-quality therapeutic services tailored to clients’ needs.

How to write a therapist resume

We’ve compiled these four therapist-specific resume tips to help you prepare an effective application:

1. Start with a strong introduction

A compelling resume introduction catches hiring managers’ attention and makes them want to read your resume to the end. That’s why it’s important that you include your most impressive therapy-related accomplishments, skills, and qualifications at the top of your resume.

Here are three examples of strong therapist resume summaries:

2. Highlight your licenses and certifications

As a therapist, having the right licenses and certifications on your resume is key to landing the job you want. Make sure you check the job description and your state’s licensing requirements before submitting your application to ensure you meet the basic requirements of the job.

These are some examples of licenses and certifications for four different therapist roles:

3. List your therapist skills

Employers will be looking for evidence of both relevant hard and soft skills on your therapist resume. Don’t just list them in your skills section; show how you used your skills to achieve positive client outcomes by providing additional context in your work experience section.

Below are some examples of hard skills to demonstrate in your application:

And here are some soft skills you’ll want to highlight on your resume:

4. Emphasize your accomplishments with hard numbers

Standing out among the dozens of resumes a hiring manager receives for competitive roles can be difficult. One thing you can do to leave a lasting impression is to quantify your resume to better demonstrate the impact of your work.

Take inspiration from these bullet points:

• Conducted 70+ patient evaluations and needs assessments annually
• Achieved a 90% patient satisfaction rate based on post-treatment surveys
• Helped 80% of clients reach their target goals within 6 months
• Developed personalized treatment plans for 100+ clients to address specific needs
• Presented at 3 professional conferences on emerging therapy techniques and research

Resume examples for different industries

Not sure what your resume should look like? The best way to learn is by taking inspiration from resume examples written by other candidates in your industry.

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