20 tasks, each one witnessed by the sources that watched the job — and behind every one, a prompt you can use tonight.
You’ll usually start by checking your schedule and EHR (for example, Psych Advantage or Anasazi) and opening progress notes in Word or Outlook. Mornings often have intake assessments and short phone calls to coordinate care with schools, pediatricians, or other therapists.
Afternoons or evenings are for 45–90 minute therapy sessions (weekly or biweekly), writing progress notes, updating case files, and making referrals to community resources. You may also spend time on marketing, supervising interns, or testifying in court if you write custody evaluations.
You’ll use an EHR like Psych Advantage or Anasazi to document clinical activity, manage appointments, and keep confidential client records. Microsoft Word is for longer evaluations, court reports, and treatment plans; Excel or PowerPoint help with business or training materials.
You’ll also use Outlook for scheduling and Zoom or Microsoft Teams for remote sessions or team meetings. Some offices use Advantage Software for billing or specific documentation workflows.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were 66,740 employed in this category; the median pay is $66,940 per year. The lowest tenth earn about $44,650 and the top tenth about $123,730, per the BLS.
Local pay varies by setting: clinics and schools often pay less than private practice, but private practice income depends on client volume, insurance contracts, and how much time you spend on non-billable tasks like notes and marketing.
You need a relevant graduate degree (counseling, social work, marriage and family therapy), state licensure, and supervised clinical hours. Look for courses in child development, family systems, and child-centered play therapy techniques.
Get supervised experience doing intakes, risk assessments, and parent-child evaluations. Learn to use EHR systems (Psych Advantage/Anasazi) and practice writing court reports in Word, because documentation skills are required for custody evaluations and legal testimony.
Play therapy focuses on using play as the primary method to help children express feelings and solve problems. It’s hands-on and child-centred, while child psychologists may do more testing or medical-based diagnosis.
Family therapy and marriage counseling focus on relationships and systemic patterns; play therapists often combine both approaches—running child play sessions and also working with parents and families on communication and co-parenting skills.
You can use AI to draft or summarize notes, treatment plans, or marketing drafts, but never rely on it for clinical judgments. Always review, correct, and personalize any AI output before adding it to client records in your EHR (Psych Advantage/Anasazi) or Word files.
Be careful with confidentiality: do not input identifiable client data into third-party AI services unless the service has a business associate agreement and meets HIPAA/privacy rules. Treat AI like a drafting tool, not a clinician.
Learn to conduct clear intake assessments, risk assessments (suicidal or safety concerns), and write thorough progress notes in your EHR. Good documentation—dates, interventions, outcomes—matters for treatment and any court work you may do.
Second, practice clinical skills: child-centred counselling, facilitating family communication, and developing systemic treatment plans. Also learn to coordinate care with schools and other providers, and to manage scheduling and marketing for a steady caseload.