What is a Marriage and Family Therapist?
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.
What Do Marriage and Family Therapists Do On a Daily Basis?
- Ask questions that will help clients identify their feelings and behaviors.
- Supervise other counselors, social service staff, and assistants.
- Encourage individuals and family members to develop and use skills and strategies for confronting their problems in a constructive manner.
- Confer with other counselors, doctors, and professionals to analyze individual cases and to coordinate counseling services.
- Provide instructions to clients on how to obtain help with legal, financial, and other personal issues.
- Confer with clients to develop plans for posttreatment activities.
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Marriage & Family Therapist Required Skills
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.
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
- Marriage and Family Counselor
- Clinician
- Director-Child Abuse Therapy
- Clinical Therapist
- Couples Therapist
Job Demand for Marriage and Family Therapists
There were about 41,500 jobs for Marriage and Family Therapist in 2016 (in the United States). 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.
Marriage & Family Therapist Average Salary
The salary for Marriage and Family Therapists ranges between about $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 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
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Marriage and Family Therapists:
- 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
Becoming a Marriage & Family Therapist
Individuals working as a Marriage and Family Therapist have obtained the following education levels:
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where do Marriage and Family Therapists Work?
Marriage and Family Therapists work in the following industries:
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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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