All About Marriage and Family Therapists
Job Description & Duties 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.
Life As a Marriage & Family Therapist: What Do They Do?
- Determine whether clients should be counseled or referred to other specialists in such fields as medicine, psychiatry, or legal aid.
- Confer with clients to develop plans for posttreatment activities.
- Encourage individuals and family members to develop and use skills and strategies for confronting their problems in a constructive manner.
- Collect information about clients, using techniques such as testing, interviewing, discussion, or observation.
- Provide instructions to clients on how to obtain help with legal, financial, and other personal issues.
- Ask questions that will help clients identify their feelings and behaviors.
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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
- Therapist
- Licensed Staff-MFT
- Marriage and Family Counselor
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
- Behavioral Therapist
Job Demand for Marriage and Family Therapists
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 41,500 jobs in the United States for Marriage and Family Therapist. 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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 5,700 job openings in this field each year.
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.
Do Marriage and Family Therapists Make A Lot Of Money?
The average yearly salary of a Marriage & Family Therapist ranges between $31,850 and $82,240.
Marriage and Family Therapists who work in Maine, Hawaii, or New Jersey, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Marriage and Family Therapists in different U.S. states.
| 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 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Marriage and Family Therapists
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 to Become a Marriage & Family Therapist
Education needed to be a Marriage and Family Therapist:
What work experience do I need 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.
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those thinking about becoming a Marriage and Family Therapist might also be interested in the following careers:
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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