How much does a Individual therapist make

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  2. Individual therapist
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Individual therapist

49 700 kr

Psychotherapists

47 000 - 66 000 kr / month

Hälso- & sjukvård

What will be the salary after tax?

Salary progression Individual therapist

Average salary 49 700 kr
Males 0 kr
Females 48 200 kr
1 Likes 0 Comments 27 Vacant jobs ->

What does an Individual Therapist do? – Tasks and Work Environment

An individual therapist provides conversational support and treatment to individuals experiencing mental health issues or life crises. Tasks include conducting structured conversations, diagnosing and treating psychological difficulties, and monitoring client progress over time. Established psychotherapeutic methods such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, or other evidence-based approaches are often used. The work is typically performed in private practices, primary care, psychiatry, or corporate health services. The work environment demands high levels of empathy, confidentiality, and professionalism, along with significant documentation and collaboration with other healthcare professionals.

Salary development over time

Over the past three years, salary trends for individual therapists have shown some variation. In 2022, the average salary was 46,500 SEK, which then increased to 50 500 SEK in 2023. In 2024, the average salary has been slightly adjusted downward to 49 700 SEK. This change represents an approximate 6.9% increase from 2022 to 2024, though a slight decrease compared to the peak in 2023. Salary development can be explained by changes in demand, increased educational requirements, and negotiations within various collective agreements. The market for psychotherapists has been strong, but the slight decline last year may be due to renegotiations or changes in reimbursement models within the public sector.

Individual Therapist Salary – Complete Overview

  • Average salary: 49 700 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary: 47,000 SEK/month
  • Highest salary: 66,000 SEK/month
  • Hourly wage (average): 299 SEK
  • Women's average salary: 48 200 SEK/month
  • Men's average salary: Data unavailable
  • Regional differences: Data unavailable

Education and Qualifications

To work as an individual therapist, a long academic education in psychology, social work, or related fields is generally required, followed by advanced training in psychotherapy. Many have a basic degree as psychologists, social workers, or doctors, and then supplement with a licensure-qualifying psychotherapy training. Practical experience in healthcare or treatment is often a requirement, and many employers prefer candidates with supervision experience or other specialist skills.

  • Basic education: Psychology, social work, or medical degree (3–5 years)
  • Psychotherapy training: Advanced training (3 years, part-time) with licensure
  • Certifications: Licensed by the National Board of Health and Welfare
  • Internship and supervision: Often included in training
  • Prerequisites: University degree and work experience

In the role of an individual therapist, you encounter a wide range of clients and issues—from everyday stress to more severe mental health conditions. The ability to adapt methods and approaches to each individual is a key challenge and attraction of the profession.

– statsskuld.se

Common Benefits and Compensation

Common benefits for individual therapists include occupational pension, wellness allowances, and opportunities for further education. Many employers also offer supervision, flexible working hours, and influence over work schedules. Public sector jobs may additionally include longer vacations and parental pay.

Competitions and Challenges

Demand for individual therapists is high, but recruitment can be challenging due to difficulties in finding sufficiently qualified candidates. Many work part-time, creating a paradox where there are vacant positions but also competition for the most attractive jobs. The profession requires ongoing professional development and the ability to handle emotionally demanding situations. Competition may be particularly noticeable in larger cities where private clinics are common, while smaller towns often have fewer positions but less competition. Success requires solid education and a strong professional network.

Tips for Aspiring Individual Therapists

To succeed as an individual therapist, being attentive and analytical is beneficial, as understanding clients' needs and translating them into treatment strategies is central. Empathy combined with the ability to set boundaries helps maintain professionalism in emotionally challenging meetings. Early internships and supervision provide valuable experience and contacts. Continuous education and staying updated with research strengthen your skills and employability. Collaboration with other healthcare professionals and effective administration are also important. Engagement and a genuine desire to help others are qualities that often distinguish the most successful practitioners.

Key Facts about Individual Therapists

  • Education level: Advanced training and licensure required
  • Typical work environment: Private practice, health centers, or psychiatry
  • Demand: Large opportunities for employment, with demand expected to increase
  • Professional group: Psychotherapists
  • Number of job vacancies: 375 (May 2024, entire profession)

Career Paths and Future Outlook

After three to five years as an individual therapist, there are opportunities to specialize further, for example in trauma, addiction, or child and adolescent psychotherapy. Some choose to start their own practice or pursue further training and supervision of other therapists. Projections from the Swedish Public Employment Service indicate very good job prospects nationwide, with demand expected to increase over the next five years. However, matching supply and demand can be challenging, partly due to many working part-time in the profession. A doctoral degree can also open doors to research, development, or university teaching roles.

Frequently Asked Questions about Individual Therapists

  • What does an individual therapist earn?
    - The average salary for an individual therapist is 49 700 SEK per month.
  • What education is required to become an individual therapist?
    - A basic degree in psychology, social work, or medicine, followed by advanced training in psychotherapy and licensure.
  • Are there salary differences between women and men?
    - Women earn an average of 48 200 SEK per month, but data on men's salaries is unavailable.
  • What is the job market like for individual therapists?
    - Opportunities for employment are plentiful, and demand is expected to grow in the coming years.
  • Which workplaces are most common for individual therapists?
    - Private practices, health centers, psychiatric clinics, and occupational health services.
  • What are the highest and lowest salaries in the profession?
    - The highest salary is 66,000 SEK (private, research-trained woman), and the lowest is 47,000 SEK (public sector, woman).

Richard Andersson

Richard Andersson - 2025-07-13 21:20:11

Occupation
Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a Individual therapist is 66000 kr. This salary belongs to a woman working in the Privately employed workers with a postgraduate education. The highest salary for a man in this profession is 53100 kr.
Who has the lowest salary?
The lowest salary for a Individual therapist is 47000 kr. This salary belongs to a woman also working in the Government sector. The lowest salary for a man in this profession is 48300 kr.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age Women's salary as a percentage of men's Base salary Monthly salary
45-54 49800 kr 49900 kr
55-64 50700 kr 50700 kr
Snitt 49600 kr 49700 kr
* Empty columns indicate that the statistical data was insufficient to allow for a statistically significant conclusion.
Salary per sector
Salary based on education
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About the data

All information displayed on this page is based on data from the Swedish Central Bureau of Statistics (SCB), the Swedish Tax Agency and the Swedish employment agency. Learn more about our data and data sources here.

All figures are gross salaries, meaning salaries before tax. The average salary, or mean salary, is calculated by adding up the total salary for all individuals within the profession and dividing it by the number of individuals. For specific job categories, we have also considered various criteria such as experience and education.

Profession Individual therapist has the SSYK code 2242, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.

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