Master Therapist Program

The Master Therapist credential is the professional designation that demonstrates to one’s colleagues, peers, and clients his or her significant and enduring career contributions to a advancing the field and profession of psychotherapy, providing exceptional services to help clients through exemplary performance as a professional therapist, and applying the principles, theories, and concepts of the helping professions to the ongoing pursuit of humanitarian efforts, charitable works, and the betterment of society.

Designation as a Master Therapist is the highest honor the American Psychotherapy Association can bestow upon a member. It recognizes those exceptional professionals, such as psychotherapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, psychoanalysts, social workers, counselors, pastoral counselors, marriage and family therapists, clergy, psychiatric nurses and other helping professionals, who have done the following:

• dedicated and committed their lives to helping people,

• demonstrated a mastery of psychotherapy skills and knowledge,

• made significant contributions to the advancement of their fields and professions,

• established careers that have been distinguished by work of consistently high quality and adherence to the highest ethical standards, and

• devoted themselves to humanitarian efforts, charitable works,and actions that have contributed to the betterment of society

Applicants must submit a portfolio demonstrating a distinguished professional career as a helping professional with an outstanding record of service to others, participation in charitable works, and contributions to the betterment of society.

• Applicants must have achieved a minimum of a master’s degree from an institution of higher learning accredited by a recognized accrediting agency.

• Applicants must have a minimum of seven (7) years of professional psychotherapy experience.

• All applicants must be members in good standing with the American Psychotherapy Association (if not presently a member of   APA, application for APA may be made simultaneously with application for the Master Therapist designation).

• Applicants must not have been convicted of a felony.

• Applicants must not have been disciplined for any ethical violation in the past 10 years nor be under investigation by any legal authority or licensing board.

To become a Master Therapist, you must submit a portfolio for review by a Select External Review Committee. Your portfolio is a comprehensive record of your career to date, including professional and academic experiences, accomplishments, contributions, and development. It is comprised of a collection of supporting documents that identify the types and quality of professional work, services, and activities you have performed.

A combination of any or all of the following items may be included in your portfolio:

• Your current curriculum vitae

• Photocopies of your degrees, diplomas, certificates and/or licenses

• Transcripts for all college-level work you have completed

• Documentation of your work experiences in the psychotherapy field

• A current bibliography of your written work, including   dissertations, theses, books, chapters in books, refereed journal articles, papers published in conference proceedings, case studies, book reviews, etc.

• Copies of any publications that cite your research or work

• Copies of papers you presented at national and international conferences

• A list of memberships you hold in professional associations

• Documentation of your service to professional associations, including offices held, committees served on, and roles as keynote speaker, chair, or discussant at professional meetings

• Lists of conferences, workshops, and symposia you have attended

• Records of your community service

• Records of your service to colleges and universities

• Any grants you have received and or applied for

• Copies of your court transcripts, depositions, and investigative reports

• Awards you have received from professional associations, institutions of higher learning, community service organizations, etc.

• Letters of recommendation from professional colleagues describing your practice and professional activities and your commitment and contributions to the field

• Case studies that demonstrate the positive impact your work has had on individuals, families, or groups

“The Master Therapist designation is the highest honor that the American Psychotherapy Association can bestow upon a member. It recognizes those exceptional professionals who have dedicated their lives to helping clients,   advancing the field of therapy, and making notable contributions to the betterment of society.”

Dr. Michael A. Baer, PhD, FAPA, Chair, Executive Advisory Board, American Psychotherapy Association

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