TABLE OF CONTENTS
Therapist resume summary examples
To make your resume pass the seven seconds recruiters spend eyeing a resume, write an impactful resume opener.
The resume summary consists of a two to three-sentence paragraph introducing yourself to potential employers by featuring your top skills and professional abilities.
Think of it like a business pitch. Your knowledge and experiences are the product you have to sell to the investor, in this case, the employer.
If you have plenty of work experience in your desired field, choose the professional summary approach.
If this is your first time applying for a Therapist position, use the objective statement, which allows you to share your skills as they relate to your career goals.
You can compare these two approaches in the examples below to determine which is better for your situation.
Good example:
“ I am a highly experienced Therapist with over 10 years of experience in providing compassionate, evidence-based care to individuals and families. I specialize in helping clients identify and work through underlying issues, while utilizing a range of therapeutic techniques to help them reach their goals. My work has been recognized for its positive impact on clients, with a number of successful cases of recovery and improved quality of life.”
Why this example passes:
- Feature candidate’s success statistic to grab attention. Numbers add detail about how big the results you deliver are, e.g., test scores, passing rate and more.
- Shows career length, 11 years.
- Mentions employer-desired skills: student motivation and interactive lessons.
Bad example:
“ Experienced Therapist looking to help others in need. Possess strong communication and listening skills. Committed to providing quality care and support.”
Why this example fails:
- Doesn’t include any numbers that quantify therapist’s performance
- Uses vague descriptions and skills.
- Doesn’t include years of teaching experience.
The fastest way to write your professional summary
Impress employers by featuring must-have skills for a Therapist and achievements that make you an irresistible employee. Find the best content suggestions for your professional summary in our Resume Builder that will wow recruiters.
- 1
Enter the details about the job title you held. The builder comes preloaded with auto-suggested phrasing written by resume experts.
- 2
Then, just pick from these suggested phrases that best frame your experience and customize them to your liking!
- 3
All you have to do is choose the summary phrases that best frame your experience. It’s like having a professional do it for you!
You’ll find content written by resume experts in our Resume Builder, but you can also take it above and beyond and employ our professional resume-writing services! Get ready for the job search by taking advantage of the resume-writing tools that are best for you.
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Therapist resume work experience examples
As an Therapist, your work experience section is crucial to convince employers you’re the best candidate. Picking job-relevant skills and achievements is vital to write a good resume since they must directly respond to the employer’s needs. The following work experience examples will help you identify the do’s and don’ts of writing this essential resume section.
Good example:
Johnson Consulting I Rolling Meadows, IL I 8/2018-current
- Provided therapy to over 50 clients with various mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD
- Developed and implemented individualized treatment plans tailored to the needs of each client
- Facilitated group therapy sessions to help clients build relationships and practice communication skills
- Maintained client records and provided progress reports to families and other healthcare professionals.
Why this example passes:
- Numbers and statistics add detail and quantify the results this therapist delivers: 4% improvement and a class size of 20-25.
- Good use of strong words and active language.
- References specialized value cahier provides with “individualized lesson plans.”
Bad example:
Malone Group I Redmond, WA I 4/2022-present
- Helped patients with their mental health issues
- Assisted in group therapy sessions
- Attended weekly staff meetings
- Answered phone calls and emails from patients
Why this example fails:
- Lacks numbers or statistics.
- Describes general tasks, not teaching achievements or career highlights.
- Uses active verbs, but doesn’t focus on results.
Therapist resume skills examples
Here are 18 sample skills for therapist:
- Client Relations
- Patient Monitoring
- Treatment Planning
- Crisis Intervention
- Referral Coordination
- Intervention Planning
- Electronic Charting
- Community Education
- Client Confidentiality
- EMR Updating
- Progress Evaluations
- Family therapy
- Group facilitation
- One-on-one sessions
- Progress assessment
- Documentation requirements
- Disorder diagnosis
- Compliance requirements
You should sprinkle skills and abilities throughout your resume. Include them in your professional summary, work experience blurbs and a dedicated skills section.
Examples of additional resume sections
Every Therapist resume should have at least five sections: contact information, professional summary, work experience, skills and education. It can also be helpful to add extra sections if they show you’re a fit for the job.
Here are some examples of optional therapist resume sections that you could add to provide greater detail:
- References
- Certifications
- Additional skills
- Languages
- Soft skills
- Overview
- Professional skills
- Accomplishments
Including additional sections that help you convince employers you’re the best fit for the position. However, be selective about what qualifications you include, and eliminate any that don’t respond to the job’s specific requirements.
How to choose a resume format
0-3
Years of experience
Functional formats
- Focus on skills.
- Best for first-time therapist who lack work experience.
- Good for people re-entering workforce.
- May omit dates in the work history section.
Organization:
- Skills listed above work experience.
3-10
Years of experience
Combination formats
- Balance skills and work history.
- Ideal for mid-career therapist.
- Suitable for career changers and people seeking promotion.
Organization:
- Skills next to or above work experience.
10+
Years of experience
Chronological formats
- Put the most focus on work history.
- Best for therapist with a long, steady career.
- Most popular format.
- Preferred by recruiters.
Organization:
- Work experience listed above skills.
Once you know the best format for you, it’s easy to pick a therapist resume template. Templates are preformatted layouts created by design professionals to ensure your resume looks amazing!
More Therapist resume examples
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