All About Marriage and Family Therapists
Marriage & Family Therapist Definition 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
- Counsel clients on concerns, such as unsatisfactory relationships, divorce and separation, child rearing, home management, or financial difficulties.
- Gather information from doctors, schools, social workers, juvenile counselors, law enforcement personnel, and others to make recommendations to courts for resolution of child custody or visitation disputes.
- Maintain case files that include activities, progress notes, evaluations, and recommendations.
- Provide instructions to clients on how to obtain help with legal, financial, and other personal issues.
- Determine whether clients should be counseled or referred to other specialists in such fields as medicine, psychiatry, or legal aid.
- Confer with other counselors, doctors, and professionals to analyze individual cases and to coordinate counseling services.
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Skills Needed to be a Marriage & Family Therapist
When polled, Marriage and Family Therapists say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Types of Marriage and Family Therapist
- Play Therapist
- Marriage Counselor
- Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT)
- Couple and Family Therapist, Staff Therapist
- Relationship Counselor
Job Opportunities 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.
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.
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 |
What Tools & Technology 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
- Blueberry Harbor Software Clinical Record Keeper
- DocuTrac QuicDoc
- Mdansby The PsychReport
- TheraManager
- eMDs Medisoft
- Advantage Software Psych Advantage
- Beaver Creek Software The THERAPIST
- PracticePRO Software Systems QuickPractice
How to Become a Marriage & Family Therapist
Are there Marriage and Family Therapists education requirements?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where do Marriage and Family Therapists Work?
The table below shows the approximate number of Marriage and Family Therapists employed by various industries.
Related Careers
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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