What You Need to Know About Marriage and Family Therapist
Career Description Diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders, whether cognitive, affective, or behavioral, within the context of marriage and family systems. Apply psychotherapeutic and family systems theories and techniques in the delivery of services to individuals, couples, and families for the purpose of treating such diagnosed nervous and mental disorders.
Daily Life Of a Marriage & Family Therapist
- Follow up on results of counseling programs and clients’ adjustments to determine effectiveness of programs.
- Confer with other counselors, doctors, and professionals to analyze individual cases and to coordinate counseling services.
- Ask questions that will help clients identify their feelings and behaviors.
- Provide public education and consultation to other professionals or groups regarding counseling services, issues, and methods.
- Provide instructions to clients on how to obtain help with legal, financial, and other personal issues.
- Maintain case files that include activities, progress notes, evaluations, and recommendations.
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Marriage & Family Therapist Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Marriage and Family Therapists say are important on the job.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Types of Marriage and Family Therapist
- Couples Therapist
- Advanced Clinical Specialist
- Therapist
- Psychotherapist
- Behavioral Specialist
Are There Job Opportunities for Marriage and Family Therapists?
In the United States, there were 41,500 jobs for Marriage and Family Therapist in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 23.4% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 9,700 new jobs for Marriage and Family Therapist by 2026. The BLS estimates 5,700 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Marriage & Family Therapist are Utah, Arizona, and North Dakota. Watch out if you plan on working in New Jersey, South Dakota, or Illinois. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Marriage & Family Therapist
Marriage and Family Therapists make between $31,850 and $82,240 a year.
Marriage and Family Therapists who work in Maine, Hawaii, or New Jersey, make the highest salaries.
How much do Marriage and Family Therapists make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $40,540 |
| Alaska | $64,200 |
| Arizona | $48,390 |
| Arkansas | $48,610 |
| California | $51,950 |
| Colorado | $74,900 |
| Connecticut | $61,750 |
| Delaware | $51,540 |
| District of Columbia | $49,750 |
| Florida | $50,680 |
| Georgia | $68,470 |
| Hawaii | $79,660 |
| Idaho | $52,150 |
| Illinois | $47,200 |
| Indiana | $47,110 |
| Iowa | $54,030 |
| Kansas | $42,390 |
| Kentucky | $41,280 |
| Louisiana | $37,530 |
| Maine | $75,460 |
| Maryland | $49,650 |
| Massachusetts | $57,020 |
| Michigan | $53,680 |
| Minnesota | $57,770 |
| Mississippi | $38,910 |
| Missouri | $50,840 |
| Montana | $45,310 |
| Nebraska | $48,850 |
| Nevada | $54,290 |
| New Hampshire | $43,400 |
| New Jersey | $72,380 |
| New Mexico | $49,500 |
| New York | $49,420 |
| North Carolina | $54,320 |
| North Dakota | $45,210 |
| Ohio | $46,180 |
| Oklahoma | $54,850 |
| Oregon | $58,050 |
| Pennsylvania | $58,400 |
| South Dakota | $40,000 |
| Tennessee | $39,920 |
| Texas | $45,820 |
| Utah | $70,960 |
| Virginia | $54,250 |
| Washington | $47,470 |
| West Virginia | $43,460 |
| Wisconsin | $51,070 |
| Wyoming | $63,690 |
What Tools do Marriage and Family Therapists Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Marriage and Family Therapists may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Anasazi Software Client Data System
- DocuTrac QuicDoc
- Mdansby The PsychReport
- TheraManager
- eMDs Medisoft
- Blueberry Harbor Software Clinical Record Keeper
- Advantage Software Psych Advantage
- PracticePRO Software Systems QuickPractice
- Beaver Creek Software The THERAPIST
How do I Become a Marriage & Family Therapist?
Education needed to be a Marriage and Family Therapist:
How Long Does it Take to Become a Marriage & Family Therapist?
Marriage and Family Therapists Sector
The table below shows the approximate number of Marriage and Family Therapists employed by various industries.
You May Also Be Interested In…
Those interested in being a Marriage and Family Therapist may also be interested in:
References:
Image Credit: Army Medicine via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Reusing_content_outside_Wikimedia
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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