Exploring types of therapists in Malaysia: Find your perfect career fit

Have you ever considered a career in therapy? If you thrive on helping others and enjoy human connection, then the world of therapy could be your calling. 

In Malaysia, as in many parts of the world, therapists are increasingly recognised as unsung heroes who protect others’ mental health and well-being. As mental health professionals, they help people navigate a range of life challenges and build emotional resilience.

If you’re considering a career in therapy, the field offers many specialisations where you can make a real difference in people's lives. This guide gives you a rundown of 15 key specialisations in Malaysia so that you can find the best fit for your career aspirations.

• Addiction therapist
• Marriage and family counsellor
• Behavioural therapist
• Child therapist
• Divorce therapist
• Clinical psychologist
• Cognitive behavioural therapist
• Eating disorder therapist
• Social therapist
• Youth therapist
• Social work therapist
• School counsellor
• Trauma therapist
• Dialectical behavioural therapist
• Psychoanalytic therapist
• Discover the right specialisation for you
• FAQs

15 types of therapists in Malaysia

Addiction therapist

Addiction therapists help people overcome addiction to substances like drugs and alcohol, along with behavioural addictions like gambling. 

You'll work with people who struggle with addiction issues, supporting them in their recovery journey. You may use approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, and 12-step programmes.

The roles and responsibilities of an addiction therapist are:

• Assessing clients’ addiction problems
• Helping clients to identify and explore the causes behind addiction behaviours
• Developing treatment plans to overcome addiction
• Conducting individual or group counselling sessions
• Providing support and education to clients’ partners and families

You usually need a degree in psychology or counselling, along with training in addiction therapy. In Malaysia, you can also pursue qualifications from relevant professional bodies. One example is a Certification in Addiction Therapy. 

Beyond the classroom, you’ll need a solid dose of empathy, patience, and strong communication skills. A non-judgmental attitude is crucial when dealing with addiction victims. 

In Malaysia, the average monthly salary for an addiction therapist is RM5,800. 

Marriage and family counsellor

Marriage and family therapists help couples and families resolve friction and strengthen their relationships. 

Using methods like Systemic Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and Family Systems Therapy, you’ll provide strategies to identify the root causes of relationship difficulties and address them. You’ll need to have strong interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity. You must also maintain neutrality as the ‘middleman’ in relationship conflicts.

The roles and responsibilities of a marriage and family counsellor include:

• Assessing relationship dynamics
• Facilitating communication between family members
• Offering strategies to resolve conflicts
• Providing premarital counselling
• Helping families navigate life transitions

Marriage and family counsellors typically need a degree in counselling or social work. You'll also need specialised training in marriage and family therapy.

As for the paycheck, marriage and family counsellors' salaries hover around RM7,500. 

Behavioural therapist

Behavioural therapists work with people to change their potentially self-destructive behaviours. Some common examples include patients with obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD) and anxiety disorders.

As a behavioural therapist, you’ll apply techniques like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy to help your patients reshape challenging behaviours. This calls for strong analytical skills on your part, plus a healthy dose of patience and the ability to provide clear instructions. 

The roles and responsibilities of a behavioural therapist include:

• Conducting behavioural assessments
• Designing and implementing treatment plans
• Monitoring clients’ progress over time
• Teaching coping mechanisms and behavioural strategies
• Working with families to support treatment

Career-wise, opt for a degree in psychology or a related field. You should also get additional certification such as a BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) to become a behavioural therapist in Malaysia. 

A typical salary for behavioural therapists is RM5,450 in Malaysia. 

Child therapist

If you enjoy working with children, becoming a child therapist might be a good career path for you. Child therapists specialise in diagnosing and treating psychological issues in toddlers and children.

When children face emotional, behavioural, or developmental challenges, you’ll use therapy methods to support them. Think play therapy, art therapy, and counselling. 

As it can be difficult for children to express themselves in words at this age, you’ll need a lot of creativity and patience. Needless to say, connecting well with children is a must!

The roles and responsibilities of a child therapist are:

• Conducting child assessments
• Providing play therapy and other child-specific therapies
• Collaborating with parents and teachers
• Developing treatment plans
• Monitoring their developmental progress over time

To become a child therapist, you should have a psychology degree and additional training, such as a Master of Child Psychology. The pay scale averages around RM8,900. 

Divorce therapist

Divorce can be a time of intense grief and stress. Divorce therapists are there to guide families through this. 

Divorce therapists help couples work through the difficult decision to end their marriage. They equip families with the skills to communicate effectively and cope with separation, during and after divorce. 

The roles and responsibilities of a divorce therapist include:

• Providing emotional support
• Helping clients process grief and loss
• Assisting in developing co-parenting plans
• Offering strategies to manage stress
• Facilitating healthy communication within families

You’ll need to get a degree in psychology or counselling, along with additional training in divorce and family therapy. It’s certainly not a job for everyone – you should be able to manage high-stress situations and deal with conflicts effectively. 

The average monthly salary for a divorce therapist falls around RM7,900. 

Clinical psychologist

Clinical psychologists diagnose and treat mental illness. Some examples include depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. 

Clinical psychologists need strong diagnostic skills and analytical thinking. You'll be helping patients understand and manage their unhealthy thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. To do this, you'll likely draw on common therapeutic techniques including psychodynamic therapy and mindfulness-based therapy. 

The roles and responsibilities of a clinical psychologist are:

• Conducting clinical assessments
• Diagnosing mental health conditions
• Developing treatment plans with patients and their loved ones
• Collaborating with other healthcare professionals to prescribe medication and achieve holistic treatment outcomes

Clinical psychologists need a bachelor’s in psychology and a master’s in clinical psychology. Following that, register with the Malaysian Allied Health Professions Council and have a practising certificate.

The monthly salary for a clinical psychologist usually ranges around RM10,200. 

Cognitive behavioural therapist

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy that aims to restructure people’s unhelpful thoughts and behaviour patterns. Cognitive behavioural therapists focus on reshaping the way patients think, feel, and behave to treat mental health conditions.

As a cognitive behavioural therapist, you’ll often see patients with anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress disorder, and other mental health disorders. You’ll use CBT techniques like exposure therapy, cognitive restructuring, and behavioural activation to improve their emotional resilience and mental health.

The roles and responsibilities of a cognitive behavioural therapist include:

• Conducting assessments to see if a patient will benefit from CBT
• Developing and implementing treatment plans
• Teaching clients coping strategies
• Monitoring progress
• Giving advice to families

You should have a degree in psychology or counselling, along with certification in CBT. A typical monthly salary is around RM9,700. 

Eating disorder therapist

As the name suggests, eating disorder therapists specialise in treating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. 

In this role, you'll help clients cultivate healthier eating behaviours. Not only that, you’ll also pinpoint and tackle the mental health problems behind their eating disorders. It’s a job that requires compassion, patience, and the ability to handle complex mental and physical health cases.

The roles and responsibilities of an eating disorder therapist include:

• Assessing and diagnosing eating disorders
• Developing treatment plans
• Collaborating with nutritionists and medical professionals
• Supporting clients in developing healthy eating habits

To become an eating disorder therapist, you should pursue a degree in psychology or counselling, followed by more specialised training in treating eating disorders. Your average monthly pay will be around RM4,310. 

Social therapist

Many people struggle to manage social relationships, including those with social anxiety and autism. Social therapists are the necessary heroes who train clients to improve their social skills, enabling them to enjoy stronger social relationships.

As a social therapist, it’s important to have sensitivity and strong interpersonal skills. Cultural intelligence is a must, as you’ll be a guide to social situations for people of diverse cultures, backgrounds, and ages. 

The roles and responsibilities of a social therapist are:

• Conducting social skills assessments
• Developing and implementing treatment plans
• Teaching social skills and coping strategies
• Providing individual or group therapy
• Collaborating with families and schools

Typically, you’ll need a degree in psychology, social work, or a related field to become a social therapist. It’s also useful to have training in social therapy techniques like Social Skills Training (SST).

You can expect your monthly salary to be RM5,110 on average. 

Youth therapist

Being a youth therapist means that you’ll specialise in supporting the mental health needs of teenagers and young adults. You’ll work with adolescents and their families to address their emotional, behavioural, or developmental challenges through family therapy and other methods. 

This role calls for you to relate well to young people's challenges: school pressures, family issues, and peer relationships. You should be well-versed in creating a safe, supportive environment for youth to freely express themselves.

The roles and responsibilities of a youth therapist include:

• Conducting assessments and diagnoses
• Providing emotional support to young clients
• Developing treatment plans
• Collaborating with parents, schools, and social workers
• Conducting counselling sessions and tracking developmental progress

This career path usually requires a psychology or counselling degree. You should also pursue specialised training in adolescent therapy.

Youth therapists can expect to earn an average monthly salary of RM4,950.

Social work therapist

Social work therapists, or social workers, combine therapeutic techniques with social work principles. They work with vulnerable individuals and communities to provide mental health support and improve their social welfare. 

As a social worker, you’ll help people facing a wide range of issues. Homelessness, substance use, financial difficulties, trauma, and domestic violence are some common examples. You may need to perform crisis intervention or therapeutic techniques such as Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT). It’s a unique role that requires strong empathy and advocacy skills. 

The roles and responsibilities of a social work therapist are:

• Conducting assessments and diagnoses
• Providing therapy and counselling
• Connecting clients with community resources
• Advocating for clients
• Educating clients and teaching them new life skills

To become a social work therapist, you’ll need a degree in social work, coupled with specialised training in therapy or counselling. Salaries usually fall around RM3,240. 

School counsellor

Remember the friendly school counsellor who patiently took care of your school’s students? Now’s your chance to step into the shoes of that counsellor for the next generation.

School counsellors support students' academic and emotional development during these challenging growing years. You may guide them through learning challenges, or give them the tools to navigate social and interpersonal conflicts. You may also be a source of advice in helping them choose their career paths. 

The roles and responsibilities of a school counsellor include:

• Conducting assessments and providing counselling
• Collaborating with parents and teachers
• Developing school policies together with management
• Providing career and academic guidance
• Offering crisis intervention

Qualifications required for a school counsellor include a degree in counselling or education. You must also apply to be a registered Counsellor through the Lembaga Kaunselor Malaysia.

Salary-wise, a school counsellor can expect to earn around RM5,000 per month.

Trauma therapist

As a trauma therapist, you’ll specialise in treating people who have experienced traumatic events. For example, individuals with PTSD, victims of abuse, and individuals who have suffered serious injury. 

Trauma therapists use various therapy methods to help their clients, including Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Given the sensitivity of the subject matter, you’ll certainly need empathy, patience, and the ability to handle complex emotional issues. 

The roles and responsibilities of a trauma therapist include:

• Conducting trauma assessments
• Developing and implementing treatment plans
• Providing trauma-focused therapy
• Teaching coping strategies
• Monitoring progress and adjusting treatment as needed

Generally, a trauma therapist requires a psychology or counselling degree. You can also pursue specialised training in trauma therapy.

Dialectical behaviour therapist

Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) refers to a type of talk therapy designed for individuals with severe emotional regulation issues. It combines CBT with mindfulness techniques to help patients manage intense emotions and navigate social relationships. 

As a dialectical behaviour therapist, you’ll treat individuals who struggle to cope with powerful negative emotions, such as Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and suicidal thoughts. You’ll help your clients develop behavioural skills through therapy and coaching.  

The roles and responsibilities of a dialectical behaviour therapist are:

• Conducting assessments based on DBT frameworks
• Developing treatment plans
• Teaching mindfulness and distress tolerance skills
• Training clients in emotional regulation
• Providing individual and group therapy

For this role, you’ll need a degree in psychology or counselling and further training in DBT techniques. Your pay scale will be around RM8,370 per month.  

Psychoanalytic therapist

A psychoanalytic therapist primarily uses psychoanalytic techniques to explore how people’s unconscious motivations and desires impact their conscious feelings and behaviours. 

Drawing on Sigmund Freud’s theories of psychoanalysis, you’ll use techniques like dream interpretation and free association to help clients gain insight into their unconscious mind. Such therapy is typically long-term, which requires you to have patience and strong analytical skills. 

The roles and responsibilities of a psychoanalytic therapist include:

• Conducting psychoanalytic assessments
• Providing long-term psychoanalytic therapy
• Exploring clients’ unconscious motivations
• Helping clients gain insight into their thoughts and feelings
• Helping clients to identify recurring themes in their behaviours

This role usually calls for a psychology or psychiatry degree, with advanced training in psychoanalysis. The average salary for psychoanalytic therapists is RM13,900. 

Discover the right specialisation for you

The work of a therapist is gratifying and has the potential to make a profound difference in others' lives. With different paths to choose from, aspiring therapists like you must reflect on your interests and strengths. This will help you find the path that aligns with your career goals and personal fulfilment. 

To find your niche, you'll want to explore. Research, volunteer, or even shadow licensed mental health counsellors in different settings to get a feel for what resonates with you. This hands-on approach will give you a real taste of each specialisation's daily grind, challenges, and victories. 

FAQs

1. What are the most popular types of therapists? 
   ⁠Popular specialisations in Malaysia include clinical therapists, cognitive behavioural therapists, and child therapists.
2. What is the most qualified type of therapist? 
   ⁠Clinical therapists and psychoanalysts often require the highest level of education and training, typically a master’s or doctoral degree.
3. What kinds of therapists make the most? 
   ⁠Clinical therapists, especially those in private practice, tend to have higher earning potential. Specialised therapists like psychoanalysts and DBT therapists typically command higher salaries too.
4. What are the most in-demand types of therapy? 
   ⁠Therapies addressing anxiety, depression, and trauma are highly sought-after in Malaysia. There is a strong demand for child and youth therapy as well.
5. How can I decide on a therapy specialisation? 
   ⁠Consider your interests, strengths, and the population you want to serve as a mental health professional. Gaining experience through internships or volunteering can also offer valuable insights.
6. What are the requirements for becoming a therapist? 
   ⁠Requirements typically include a degree in psychology or counselling. This should be followed by specialised training in your chosen field. You may also need licensure or certification from relevant professional bodies in Malaysia to become a licensed mental health counsellor.