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Play therapist vs marriage and family social worker

The differences between play therapists and marriage and family social workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a play therapist and a marriage and family social worker. Additionally, a play therapist has an average salary of $92,351, which is higher than the $46,682 average annual salary of a marriage and family social worker.

The top three skills for a play therapist include social work, children birth and cognitive behavioral. The most important skills for a marriage and family social worker are MFT, crisis intervention, and mental health.

Play therapist vs marriage and family social worker overview

Play TherapistMarriage And Family Social Worker
Yearly salary$92,351$46,682
Hourly rate$44.40$22.44
Growth rate14%14%
Number of jobs23,44955,408
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Master's Degree, 50%
Average age4141
Years of experience44

Play therapist vs marriage and family social worker salary

Play therapists and marriage and family social workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Play TherapistMarriage And Family Social Worker
Average salary$92,351$46,682
Salary rangeBetween $61,000 And $137,000Between $35,000 And $60,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between play therapist and marriage and family social worker education

There are a few differences between a play therapist and a marriage and family social worker in terms of educational background:

Play TherapistMarriage And Family Social Worker
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Master's Degree, 50%
Most common majorPsychologySocial Work
Most common collegeCalifornia State University - Long BeachCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Play therapist vs marriage and family social worker demographics

Here are the differences between play therapists' and marriage and family social workers' demographics:

Play TherapistMarriage And Family Social Worker
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 11.9% Female, 88.1%Male, 36.4% Female, 63.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.0% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 4.6% White, 68.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 7.0% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 4.6% White, 68.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between play therapist and marriage and family social worker duties and responsibilities

Play therapist example responsibilities.

  • Manage ventilator and BiPAP's and create or update care plans per patient needs.
  • Organize and perform behavioral therapies for a child with autism.
  • Work with identify pre-school handicap children in order to meet the goals and objectives of their IEP's.
  • Perform occasional psychosocial rehabilitation services.
  • Perform occasional psychosocial rehabilitation services.

Marriage and family social worker example responsibilities.

  • Develop effective treatment plans and implement evidence-base strategies to assist patients in alleviating psychological symptoms and achieving goals.
  • Counsele veterans and Medi-Cal clients individually to provide behavioral interventions in order to address their anxiety, depression and anger.
  • Complete MDS assessments to determine mood and cognitive functioning, relaying information to interdisciplinary team and families.

Play therapist vs marriage and family social worker skills

Common play therapist skills
  • Social Work, 21%
  • Children Birth, 17%
  • Cognitive Behavioral, 14%
  • Autism, 11%
  • Therapy Services, 3%
  • Language, 3%
Common marriage and family social worker skills
  • MFT, 58%
  • Crisis Intervention, 29%
  • Mental Health, 13%

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