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Become A Marriage And Family Therapist

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Working As A Marriage And Family Therapist

  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
  • Assisting and Caring for Others
  • Documenting/Recording Information
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  • Getting Information

  • Deal with People

  • Unpleasant/Angry People

  • Mostly Sitting

  • Stressful

  • $49,865

    Average Salary

What Does A Marriage And Family Therapist Do

Mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists help people manage and overcome mental and emotional disorders and problems with their family and other relationships. They listen to clients and ask questions to help the clients understand their problems and develop strategies to improve their lives.

Duties

Mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists typically do the following:

  • Diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders, such as anxiety and depression
  • Encourage clients to discuss their emotions and experiences
  • Help clients process their reactions and adjust to difficult changes in their life, such as divorce and layoffs
  • Guide clients through the process of making decisions about their future
  • Help clients develop strategies and skills to change their behavior and to cope with difficult situations
  • Refer clients to other resources or services in the community, such as support groups or inpatient treatment facilities

Mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists use a variety of techniques and tools to help their clients. Many apply cognitive behavioral therapy, a goal-oriented approach that helps clients understand harmful thoughts, feelings, and beliefs and teaches how to replace them with positive, life-enhancing ones. Furthermore, mental health counselors use cognitive behavioral therapy to teach clients to eliminate unwanted and damaging behaviors and to replace them with more productive ones.

Although some disorders can be overcome, others need to be managed. With the latter, mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists help the client develop strategies and skills to minimize the effects of their disorders or illnesses.

Many mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists work in private practice. They must spend time marketing their practice to prospective clients and working with insurance companies and clients to get payment for their services.

Mental health counselors provide treatment to individuals, families, couples, and groups. Some work with specific populations, such as the elderly, college students, or children. Mental health counselors deal with a variety of issues, including anxiety, depression, grief, low self-esteem, stress, and suicidal impulses. They also help with mental and emotional health issues and relationship problems. 

Marriage and family therapists work with individuals, couples, and families. Unlike other types of mental health professionals, they bring a family-centered perspective to treatment, even when treating individuals. They evaluate family roles and development, to understand how clients’ families affect their mental health. They treat the clients’ relationships, not just the clients themselves. They address issues, such as low self-esteem, stress, addiction, and substance abuse.

Mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists coordinate patient treatment with other professionals, such as psychiatrists and social workers.

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How To Become A Marriage And Family Therapist

Mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists are typically required to have a master’s degree and a license to practice.

Education

To become a mental health counselor or a marriage and family therapist, applicants typically need a master’s degree in psychology, clinical mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, or a related mental health field. A bachelor’s degree in most fields is acceptable to enter a master’s program.

Counseling programs prepare students to recognize symptoms of mental and emotional disorders and to use effective counseling strategies. Marriage and family therapy programs teach students about how marriages, families, and relationships function and how these relationships can affect mental and emotional disorders.

Many employers prefer to hire counselors who have graduated from programs accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs.

Training

Candidates gain hands-on experience through postdegree supervised clinical work, sometimes referred to as an internship or residency. In training, they learn to provide family therapy, group therapy, psychotherapy, and other therapeutic interventions, under the supervision of a licensed counselor.

Licenses

All states require mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists to be licensed in the state in which they practice. Licensure requires a master’s degree and 2,000 to 4,000 hours of postdegree supervised clinical experience, sometimes referred to as an internship or residency. In addition, counselors and therapists must pass a state-recognized exam and complete annual continuing education classes.

Contact information for state boards regulating mental health counselors is available through the National Board for Certified Counselors.

Contact and licensing information for marriage and family therapists is available through the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards.

Important Qualities

Compassion. Counselors and therapists often work with people who are dealing with stressful and difficult situations, so they must be compassionate and empathize with their clients.

Interpersonal skills. Being able to work with different types of people is essential for counselors and therapists. They spend most of their time working directly with clients and other professionals and must be able to encourage good relationships.

Listening skills. Good listening skills are essential for mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists, both of whom need to give their full attention to their clients to understand their problems, values, and goals.

Organizational skills. Good organizational skills are especially important for counselors and therapists in private practice, who must keep track of payments and work with insurance companies.

Speaking skills. Mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists need to be able to communicate with clients effectively. They must express ideas and information in a way that clients can understand easily.

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Marriage And Family Therapist jobs

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Marriage And Family Therapist Career Paths

Marriage And Family Therapist
Licensed Professional Counselor Clinical Director
Administrative Director, Behavioral Health Services
11 Yearsyrs
Clinical Supervisor Nursing Director Case Manager
Career Manager
6 Yearsyrs
Clinical Supervisor Clinical Manager Nursing Director
Case Manager
5 Yearsyrs
Mental Health Counselor Therapist Clinical Social Worker
Clinical Care Manager
8 Yearsyrs
Clinician Clinical Supervisor
Clinical Director
9 Yearsyrs
Licensed Professional Counselor Family Counselor Clinical Supervisor
Clinical Program Manager
10 Yearsyrs
Clinician Clinical Social Worker
Clinical Supervisor
8 Yearsyrs
Mental Health Clinician Clinical Supervisor Program Director
Director Of Residential Services
7 Yearsyrs
Mental Health Clinician Clinical Social Worker
Director Of Social Services
6 Yearsyrs
Mental Health Therapist Mental Health Counselor Social Worker
Director Of Social Work
7 Yearsyrs
Adjunct Professor Nurse Practitioner Nurse Manager
Emergency Services Director
8 Yearsyrs
Adjunct Professor Co-Owner Case Manager
Family Case Manager
5 Yearsyrs
Instructor Program Director Clinical Director
Health Director
9 Yearsyrs
Clinical Director Director Of Social Services Therapist
Lead Therapist
5 Yearsyrs
Mental Health Counselor Social Worker Clinical Director
Outpatient Services Director
9 Yearsyrs
Instructor Case Manager
Senior Case Manager
5 Yearsyrs
Mental Health Therapist Mental Health Specialist Social Worker
Social Services Manager
5 Yearsyrs
Clinical Director Adjunct Instructor Clinical Social Worker
Social Work Case Manager
6 Yearsyrs
Program Manager Adjunct Professor Clinical Social Worker
Social Work Supervisor
7 Yearsyrs
Program Manager Service Director Therapist
Therapist And Program Manager
5 Yearsyrs
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Marriage And Family Therapist Demographics

Gender

  • Female

    73.1%

  • Male

    24.4%

  • Unknown

    2.4%

Ethnicity

  • White

    76.2%

  • Hispanic or Latino

    11.9%

  • Asian

    9.0%

  • Unknown

    2.2%

  • Black or African American

    0.6%
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Languages Spoken

  • Spanish

    55.5%

  • Mandarin

    5.2%

  • French

    4.5%

  • Russian

    4.5%

  • Chinese

    3.9%

  • German

    3.2%

  • Hindi

    2.6%

  • Vietnamese

    2.6%

  • Portuguese

    2.6%

  • Cantonese

    1.9%

  • Tagalog

    1.9%

  • Arabic

    1.9%

  • Turkish

    1.3%

  • Armenian

    1.3%

  • Thai

    1.3%

  • Greek

    1.3%

  • Italian

    1.3%

  • Hebrew

    1.3%

  • Urdu

    1.3%

  • Korean

    0.6%
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Marriage And Family Therapist

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Marriage And Family Therapist Education

Marriage And Family Therapist

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Real Marriage And Family Therapist Salaries

Job Title Company Location Start Date Salary
Marriage and Family Therapist Grossbard & Bourzat Corporation San Francisco, CA Oct 17, 2014 $80,000
Marriage Family Therapist Stay Designated Inc. Chino, CA Jul 01, 2013 $75,132
Marriage and Family Therapist Enhanced Destiny Services, Inc. New Orleans, LA Mar 08, 2011 $72,800
Marriage and Family Therapist Enhanced Destiny Services, Inc. New Orleans, LA Feb 24, 2010 $72,800
Marriage and Family Therapist Grossbard & Bourzat Corporation San Francisco, CA Oct 17, 2014 $65,000
Psychologist, Marriage and Family Therapist University of Minnesota Physicians Minneapolis, MN Mar 01, 2013 $62,610
Marriage and Family Therapist Enhanced Destiny Services, Inc. New Orleans, LA Mar 08, 2011 $60,000
Marriage and Family Therapists Grossbard & Bourzat Corp. San Francisco, CA Jun 04, 2014 $60,000
Therapist, Marriage & Family Family Health Centers of San Diego, Inc. San Diego, CA Jul 23, 2012 $59,862
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Institute for Multicultural Counseling and Educat Los Angeles, CA Oct 08, 2016 $55,619
Marriage and Family Therapists El Centro de Coraz?N Houston, TX Jan 10, 2014 $54,000
Marriage and Family Therapists Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX Dec 13, 2011 $54,000
Marriage & Family Therapist Earth Circles Counseling Center Oakland, CA Oct 01, 2014 $53,970
Marriage & Family Therapist Earth Circles Counseling Center Oakland, CA Sep 19, 2013 $53,970
Marriage and Family Therapist Special Service for Groups Inc. San Francisco, CA Oct 24, 2015 $49,083
Marriage and Family Therapists Koreatown Youth and Community Center Los Angeles, CA Mar 24, 2010 $48,168
Marriage and Family Therapists Rivergate Family Resource Center, LLC Lauderhill, FL Mar 28, 2014 $48,000
Marriage and Family Counselor Rivergate Family Resource Center, LLC Lauderhill, FL Apr 25, 2016 $48,000
Marriage & Family Counselor Rivergate Family Resource Center, LLC Lauderhill, FL Oct 01, 2015 $48,000
Marriage & Family Counselor Rivergate Family Resource Center, LLC Lauderhill, FL Feb 04, 2013 $48,000
Marriage and Family Counselor Child Guidance Center of Greater Bridgeport, Inc. Bridgeport, CT Mar 08, 2010 $47,000
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Jewish Community Services of South Florida Miami Beach, FL Aug 17, 2016 $46,696
Marriage Family Therapist Santa Maria Valley Youth & Family Center Santa Maria, CA Jul 01, 2011 $41,118 -
$50,000
Marriage and Family Therapist Klingberg Comprehensive Family Services, Inc. New Britain, CT Jan 09, 2016 $41,052
Marriage and Family Therapist Klingberg Comprehensive Family Services, Inc. New Britain, CT Jan 07, 2016 $41,052
Marriage and Family Therapist Bellevue Community Services, Inc. Bellevue, WA Sep 21, 2011 $40,996
Marriage and Family Therapists Dallas Sigma Counseling Services Inc. Dallas, TX Nov 29, 2010 $40,872
Marriage and Family Therapists Tarzana Treatment Centers CA Apr 19, 2011 $40,446
Marriage and Family Therapists Glass & Associates Psychological Corporation CA Apr 27, 2009 $40,310

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Top Skills for A Marriage And Family Therapist

TherapistTraineeTreatmentPlansMentalHealthServicesFamilyTherapySessionsAnxietyDisordersCrisisInterventionIndividualPsychotherapyGroupTherapySessionsChildAbuseSubstanceAbusePost-TraumaticDualDiagnosisIndividualTherapyCognitiveBehavioralTherapyDomesticViolencePrivatePracticeSettingAngerManagementMFTGroupSupervisionPtsd

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Top Marriage And Family Therapist Skills

  1. Therapist Trainee
  2. Treatment Plans
  3. Mental Health Services
You can check out examples of real life uses of top skills on resumes here:
  • Volunteer Practicum with Voices a program through Shasta County Department of Education as a Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee.
  • Assess clients and develop master treatment plans, objectives and methods.
  • Provide a wide variety of mental health services such as individual, couple and familytherapy with adults, adolescents and children.
  • Conducted therapeutic individual and family therapy sessions.
  • Provided therapy for up to fifteen clients per week using eclectic methods primarily for treatment of mood and anxiety disorders.

Top Marriage And Family Therapist Employers

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