| How to Become a Psychotherapist Posted: 28 Jul 2019 05:00 PM PDT Psychotherapists are trained professionals that treat emotional problems in patients. A psychotherapist could be a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, or counselor, depending on their level of education and accreditation.[1] You'll need to determine whether you want to be a medical professional or standard counselor before pursuing a career in psychotherapy. Once you've chosen a career path, you'll want to figure out where you want to practice and who your clients will be. EditChoosing between Different Psychotherapy Careers - Pursue psychiatry if you want the ability to prescribe medication. Psychiatrists are medical doctors, which means that you'll need to go to a psychiatry program at a medical school after completing your bachelor's degree. Psychiatrists are trained in both medical pharmacology as well as traditional forms of talk therapy and counseling. Pursue a career in psychiatry if you want to have the largest access to therapeutic resources.[2]
- You'll need to pass the Medical College Admissions Test, or MCAT, in order to apply to medical school. Doing well on the MCAT is important because medical schools tend to be highly competitive and very selective. Make sure that you fully prepare yourself for the MCAT by studying well in advance of your test date.[3]
- Become a psychologist if you want to focus on talk therapy. Psychologists are non-medical doctors that specialize in mental health and human behavior. To become a psychologist, you'll have to complete a PhD program after receiving your bachelor's degree. Consider becoming a psychologist if you're mainly interested in therapeutic practices that don't require medication, like marriage counseling or individual therapy.[4]
- PhD is shorthand for Doctor of Philosophy. An individual with a PhD is still considered a doctor, they just can't prescribe medicine.[5]
- PhD programs can be highly competitive and expensive, so don't assume that the path to becoming a psychologist will be easier than the path to becoming a psychiatrist.
- Train to become a counselor or social worker to focus on general needs. Social work and counseling are general terms for trained professionals that help people in need. Social workers and counselors often work with struggling families, children, or people dealing with addiction, and their patients often don't suffer from mental illnesses. You typically have to become licensed as a social worker and counselor, and the requirements depend on the state or country that you live in.[6]
- Social workers and counselors often work for family welfare groups, government agencies, public clinics, or schools.
- Social workers and counselors usually specialize in a specific area of counseling, but this isn't always necessary.
EditBecoming a Medical Psychotherapist - Complete a bachelor's degree in a major that's relevant to psychotherapy. If you plan on becoming a psychologist, you may want to consider an undergraduate major in education, psychology, or both. You could also consider a degree in social work.[7] If you're interested in psychiatry, consider a science-based major that will help you in medical school. Chemistry, biology, or pre-med are all excellent choices.[8]
- Your grades will determine what kind of medical schools and PhD programs you can get into, so work hard as a college student to get the best grades you can!
- Pass the MCAT, GRE, or both depending on your desired program. Medical schools require the MCAT exam, while most PhD programs require the GRE (or Graduate Record Examination).[9] Medical schools will sometimes require both tests, while PhD programs rarely do.[10] Once you've completed the necessary exams, you can use your scores and previous grades to complete applications to the programs of your choice.
- Apply to medical schools or PhD programs based on your goals. Research potential programs or medical schools carefully. Most programs or medical schools focus on a handful of particular specialized programs, so consider what you want to study before applying. To apply, send your required test scores to your school of choice along with their school-specific application.
- Applications for medical schools and PhD programs are always listed on a school's website. Read their requirements thoroughly to understand what you need to do to be accepted.
- Finish your program by choosing a specialty or focus. In medical school, you'll have to choose a specific area of your field to focus on. In a PhD program, you'll have to complete a thesis (an extensive research project) that tackles a highly specialized topic in your field. You don't need to choose your specialty right away, but it's a good idea to make an informed decision early on in your post-undergraduate studies.[11]
- The autism spectrum, trauma, and developmental psychopathology are all common specialties. Choose a specialty that appeals to your areas of interest.
- Become a licensed medical therapist in your state or country. Having a degree does not make you a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist. You'll have to register your medical licenses and degrees with the state or country that you plan to practice in. There is typically a fee associated with this process. Once you've received your license to practice, you can begin working in your field.[12]
- The specific requirements for your state can be found online, usually on the website of your state's Board of Psychology.
- Most states require supervised professional experience, a licensing exam, and a distinct application form accompanied by transcripts.[13]
EditPursuing Psychotherapy as a Counselor or Social Worker - Complete a bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, or counseling. Take your specific career goals into account when selecting a major. If you plan on becoming a drug counselor or child welfare specialist, social work may be a better major than psychology. If you want to focus on in-depth and long-term counseling, a degree in psychology may be better.
- You may want to consider minoring in sociology, political science, or a foreign language as well. These minors will pair well with you degree and will make you more marketable to potential employers.[14]
- Obtain a Master of Social Work (MSW) if you want or need additional accreditation. Many states and countries require social workers to complete a master's degree in social work. While some schools may ask you to take the GRE, most of them won't require an advanced test. In your master's program, you will specialize in a specific field within your discipline, and you may be required to complete a thesis.[15]
- Apply for licensure or certification in the country or state where you live. Every state and country has different requirements for social worker accreditation. You will likely need to complete an application and pass a state-specific exam in order to earn your social worker's license. There is usually a fee associated with these applications and tests.[16]
- You may have to pass the Association of Social Work Boards exam (or ASWB). This is a common test required by states in the United States to become a professional social worker.[17]
- Social worker licensing is state-specific. Requirements for each state are compiled online by Social Work Licensure, an organization of practicing social workers that track each state's laws regarding certification.[18]
- Most states require a clinical exam, references, and a documentation of social work training and experience.[19]
EditStarting Your Career - Apply for an entry level position in psychology or psychiatry to get experience. Psychologists and psychiatrists often start out as research assistants or psychiatric technicians. Research assistants generally don't work directly with patients in a therapeutic setting and tend to focus on research and publication. Psychiatric technicians work as part of a team in a medical or mental health facility, such as a hospital, clinic, or rehabilitation center.[20]
- Be open to opportunities in fields that may not work directly with patients at first. It often takes some time to get experience behind the scenes before tackling clinical work.
- Bring a resume and samples of your psychotherapeutic research with you to your interviews. You'll need to be prepared to talk about your research in detail, so bring work samples to share.
- Enter the field as a social worker or counselor based on your focus. Hospitals, schools, public clinics, and government agencies are all excellent places to start looking for work. Use your educational background as a starting point to find a job that matches your experience. If your studies focused on youth counseling, consider working for a nearby school or your local department of family services or child welfare. If your emphasis in school was on drug counseling, look for openings at rehabilitation centers or health clinics.[21]
- Due to the fact that social workers tend to require less schooling than psychiatrists or psychologists, feel free to apply to positions outside of your specific area of expertise. Many openings don't require specific experience or schooling.[22]
- Research your organization carefully before showing up to an interview. A for-profit organization is going to ask different questions than a non-profit or government agency.
- Open a private practice if you have a business plan and can find clients. Starting a private practice involves opening a business, and can take years of financial maneuvering to get going. You'll want to start by developing a business plan, finding an office, and registering your business. All of this can seem difficult and overwhelming, so make sure that it's financially feasible by doing your research before taking the leap.[23]
- Psychologists and psychiatrists often rent out a smaller office in a larger building since they tend to require very little space to work.
- Social workers and counselors rarely open private practices, but you can always start a business that provides social work or counseling on a consultation basis.
- Build a client base by looking for referrals and advertising your services. Getting referrals from other doctors or professionals in adjacent fields of study are often a great way to build a client base. Let colleagues know what your services are, and tell them that you're always open to consultations. Similarly, you can advertise your services online so that patients can learn more about what you do.[24]
- Consider making a professional website so that potential clients can learn about what you do and have the ability to contact you directly.
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| How to Prevent Earwax Buildup Posted: 28 Jul 2019 09:00 AM PDT If you find that you often have an excessive amount of earwax built up in your ear canals, you may be interested in finding out ways to decrease the wax buildup. Excess wax buildup can lead to temporarily blocked hearing or, more seriously, ear infections. Rather than trying to clear out earwax with cotton swabs, try using ear drops or olive oil to loosen ear wax. It should fall out on its own. If you often find yourself with blocked ear canals or ear infections, pay a visit to your doctor. EditSoftening Earwax - Pour 5-6 drops of water in each ear canal to reduce earwax buildup. Dripping a little distilled water into your ear canals is a great way to help your body expel extra earwax. Use a plastic water dropper, and deposit 5-6 drops into 1 ear canal. Lean your head to the side so the water stays in the ear canal. Then use a clean tissue to swab the water—and loosened wax—out of your ear. Then repeat the process with your other ear.[1]
- If you find that regular distilled water doesn't work very effectively, try using a saline solution. You can purchase saline solution from a drugstore or pharmacy.
- Drip 2-3 drops of olive oil into each ear twice a day. If your ears are still blocked after you've used water, try olive oil instead. Ideally, put drops in your ear canals once in the morning and once in the evening. Use a plastic liquid dropper to make sure you don't put in too much oil, and to deposit the drops accurately inside the ear canal. Keep this up for 5-6 days, or until your ears feel less congested.[2]
- Over the following 2 weeks, you'll notice small chunks of earwax coming out of your ears when you're sleeping.
- If you don't happen to have olive oil around your home, you can use almond oil instead. Both can be purchased in a cooking or baking aisle of your local grocery store.
- Allow earwax to fall out of your ears on its own. In most cases, our ears are self-regulating and do a good job of expelling extra build-up earwax. It's only when the inner ear fails to do this that you'll need to step in and take steps to prevent excess wax from building up. But, in nearly all cases—and especially after the wax has been adequately softened up—your ears are able to regulate themselves and expel wax as needed.[3]
- You'll often notice a few lumps of earwax on your pillow when you wake up in the morning, or a smear of earwax on your towel after you've taken a hot shower.
EditAvoiding Earwax Impaction - Moderate your usage of ear buds and earplugs. People often force small, rounded earbuds deep into their ear canals to listen to music, or sleep with earplugs in for 6-8 hours at a time. Both of these types of objects can prevent your body from expelling earwax and can force wax deeper into your ear canal. So, try to sleep without the earplugs, and take the earbuds out after 20 or 30 minutes of usage.[4]
- People who use hearing aids also often experience excessive amounts of built-up earwax. Talk to your doctor about ways to reduce earwax buildup if you use hearing aids.
- Avoid inserting foreign objects into your ear canal. Trying to use a foreign object to scoop earwax out of your ear canal typically only pushes the wax farther in. This includes cotton swabs! Never put paperclips, toothpicks, hair clips or any other metal objects in your ears while trying to extract wax. Only use cotton swabs to clean the outer swirls of your ear and to remove wax from the opening of your ear canal.[5]
- The risk posed by these objects is severe. In a worst-case scenario, you could seriously harm your ear drum or even dislocate the hearing bones if you insert a foreign object too deep into your ear.
- Do not use ear candles to clear excess wax from your ear canal. There is very little medical evidence that ear candles have any positive effects. They're almost entirely ineffective at removing earwax from the ear canal, or loosening earwax so it can be removed by other means. So, leave the ear candles on the shelf and use olive oil or hydrogen peroxide drops instead.[6]
- Worse, if you insert the ear candle too deep in your ear, it can cause damage to the drum and canal.
EditRemoving Earwax Blockages - Place 5 drops of hydrogen peroxide into each ear for a strong cleanse. Hydrogen peroxide works similarly to most OTC chemical ear drops. Lie on 1 side and use a plastic water dropper to drip 5 drops of peroxide into the canal. Continue reclining for 5 minutes, so the peroxide can soak down into the canal and loosen up wax. Once 5 minutes have passed, sit up, place a tissue over your ear, and tilt your head so that the peroxide drains out of your ear. Then repeat the process with your other ear.[7]
- It's normal to hear a crackling sound while the hydrogen peroxide is soaking inside your ear. The small popping bubbles help to loosen up earwax.
- Clear earwax out using OTC chemical drops if peroxide isn't effective. Visit your local drugstore or pharmacy and look for drops designed to remove built-up earwax. Most of the drops work by releasing a foaming or bubbling agent that works its way into your ear canal and loosens up excess wax. Once the chemical drops have been in your ear for as long as directed on the packaging, use a tissue to wipe your ear dry.[8]
- Follow the directions on the packaging closely, and stop using the drops if you experience pain in your inner ear.
- Schedule an appointment with your doctor if you have ear pain. Symptoms like ear pain, a feeling of fullness in your inner ear, or temporary hearing loss can indicate a buildup of wax against your ear drum. See your doctor if you experience these symptoms, rather than trying to dig the earwax out yourself. While you're speaking with the doctor, ask if they have any tips for at-home ways to safely treat earwax buildup.[9]
- See the doctor promptly if you notice any drainage trickling out of 1 or both ears.
- Use medicated eardrops nightly if your doctor suggests them. If your ears are prone to building up excessive amounts of wax, your doctor may advise you to loosen the wax up with over-the-counter eardrops. Drip 5-6 droplets into each ear, and tilt your head to 1 side so that the drops stay in for about 5 minutes on each side. The drops will lubricate your ear canals enough that the wax will fall out on its own.[10]
- Most commercial ear drops will contain a mild medical cleansing agent, such as carbamide peroxide.
- You can purchase eardrops at any pharmacy, drugstore, or large grocery store. They'll most likely be in the same part of the store as the eye drops.
- Ask your doctor to flush or suction the excess wax out. If built-up earwax is causing hearing loss or pain, see if your doctor can remove it while you're in the office. The 2 most common procedures are ear irrigation (in which the wax is flushed out with water) and microsuction (in which the wax is sucked out with a tiny vacuum). Neither procedure should take more than 15-20 minutes, and both are painless.[11]
- Not all doctor's offices will be equipped to perform these procedures. If your doctor doesn't have the equipment, they can refer you to an ENT doctor to clear out the earwax.
- In medical terminology, earwax is called "cerumen." It lubricates your ears, helps prevent itching, and keeps your ears free from infections.[12]
- Earwax is actually created in the outer third of the ear canal, fairly far away from the eardrum. If you often wear earbuds or sleep with earplugs in, though, you may be inadvertently pushing the wax back until it butts up against your eardrum.
- Certain ways of cleaning your ears—including shoving a cotton swab too deep in the canal—can actually force earwax deeper into the canal, rather than extracting it.[13]
- If you experience any bleeding from 1 or both ears, visit an Urgent Care center or emergency room immediately.[14]
- Do not use chemical drops to remove excessive earwax if you have a perforated eardrum.[15]
EditReferences
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| How to Harvest Rosemary Posted: 28 Jul 2019 01:00 AM PDT Rosemary is a very robust herb that is easy to grow and care for at home. The fragrant leaves of the rosemary bush smell and taste wonderful in all kinds of recipes. Rosemary is even used to create hair treatments with lots of beneficial properties for your hair and scalp. It's very simple to harvest rosemary and use it fresh, or store it for later use in things like cooking! EditCutting Rosemary - Wait until spring or summer to harvest rosemary. Rosemary grows most actively during the spring and summer, so this is the best time to harvest, as the sprigs you cut off will grow back more rapidly. Trim some of the plant off daily or weekly to encourage its growth.[1]
- If you are planning on drying the rosemary, wait until the bush begins to bloom to harvest. This is when the leaves contain the most oil and flavor.
- Select which branches of the rosemary to harvest. Look for branches that are at least 8 inches (20 cm) long. Don't harvest from newly growing branches.[2]
- Keep several plants at once to ensure you always have some mature branches from which to harvest. The number of plants you'll need varies on their size, but 2-3 should be fine for most people.
- Cut off the top 2 inches (5 cm) of each sprig with shears or scissors. Don't cut the plant too close and be sure to leave some green leaves on each branch. Put the clipped rosemary sprigs in a basket or bowl.[3]
- If you just want to use a small amount of fresh rosemary at a time, you can pick off a few of the leaves whenever you need it from the top parts of the sprigs.[4]
- Don't cut more rosemary than you need at once.
- Don't harvest more than 1/4 of a rosemary bush at one time. Leave at least 3/4 of the plant to ensure that it will continue to thrive and produce new sprigs. Let the rosemary plant grow back before you harvest more of it.[5]
- Even if you are not harvesting it to use, you should prune rosemary several times a year to encourage healthy growth.[6]
- Remember not to harvest rosemary too close to winter because it will not grow back very fast. Perform your last harvest at least 2 weeks before the first frost so it has time to grow back before winter sets in. Bigger, fuller rosemary bushes are able to survive winter better.[7]
EditStoring Rosemary - Hang bundles of fresh rosemary to dry for 10 days. Tie together evenly sized sprigs of rosemary and hang them to dry in a dark, well-ventilated, and dry area. Take down the rosemary when it is completely dry, after about 10 days, and strip off the leaves to store them.[8]
- Store the dried rosemary leaves in airtight containers or jars in your cupboards or pantry.
- Use twine or rubber bands to hold the bundles of rosemary together.
- Dried rosemary will last forever, but it has the best flavor within a year.
- Store fresh rosemary in airtight containers or bags in the fridge or freezer. Wash the rosemary sprigs, then let them air dry on a clean towel or paper towel. Strip off the leaves, place them into a ziploc bag or tupperware, and put it in the fridge or freezer.[9]
- Storing rosemary in the fridge or freezer will retain more of the flavor than dried rosemary, but less than fresh rosemary.
- Rosemary stored in the freezer will last longer than in the fridge, but the rosemary in the fridge will have a stronger flavor. Use rosemary that you keep in the fridge within 1-2 weeks for best results.
- Freeze rosemary in an ice cube tray. Strip off the leaves of your harvested rosemary sprigs and freeze them in water or olive oil in an ice cube tray. Use these cubes in sauces or soups to easily get a fresh rosemary taste in your recipes.[10]
- The amount of leaves you freeze per cube is up to you. Check how much rosemary a common recipe you might make requires, and freeze that amount in one cube.
- Once the rosemary is frozen, you can empty the ice cube tray and store the cubes in an airtight container or ziploc bag in the freezer.
- Choose water or olive oil depending on what types of recipes you plan to use the ice cubes in. If you don't know, then you can do some of each.
- Rosemary stored in the freezer will last indefinitely. If it starts to noticeably lose its flavor, then make a new batch.
- Put fresh rosemary in a bottle of vinegar or olive oil. Wash and air dry fresh harvested rosemary sprigs and place them directly into a bottle of vinegar, like white or balsamic, or olive oil to create a flavorful infusion. Use rosemary oil or vinegar in recipes, or combine them in a dish to create a dipping sauce for bread.[11]
- Add other ingredients to the oil or vinegar infusions such as fresh garlic, peppercorns, or chili peppers for more flavor!
- Rosemary oil or vinegar will last as long as the rosemary stays covered by the oil or vinegar. If it becomes exposed to the air it can develop mold.
- Homemade dried rosemary is best used within a year of production.
EditThings You'll Need - Scissors or shears
- Twine or rubber bands
- Bowl or basket
- Airtight containers or plastic bags
EditRelated wikiHows EditReferences EditQuick Summary
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