Marriage And Family Therapy Career Path

Marriage and family therapists work in a variety of settings such as private practice and mental health centers most work full time.
Marriage and family therapy career path. 41 500 people work in this field 2016. Notably aspiring marriage and family therapy professionals can also choose to earn their degree in counseling or psychology with a specialization in marriage and family therapy. The family therapy program remains an integral component of the school of medicine training future physicians and family therapists. Most marriage and family therapists work full time.
Family origins and lifecycles. Marriage and family therapy tends to be the more cost effective option. For over 35 years under the supervision of mercer university school of medicine faculty advanced graduate students and medical students have trained at the mercer family therapy centers mftc located in macon. According to the american association of marriage and family therapy marriage and family therapists see more than 6 1 million people on an annual basis.
Individuals interested in pursuing marriage and family counseling careers will typically start by earning bachelor s degrees in areas such as psychology social work or counseling. Hours sometimes include weekends and evenings. Read more about mft. Marriage and family therapists help people manage and overcome problems with family and other relationships.
The bureau of labor statistics projects 22 3 percent employment growth for marriage and family therapists between 2018 and 2028. Marriage and family therapists are required to have a master s degree and a license to practice. Marriage and family therapists earned a median annual salary of 48 790 2017. By 2022 the bureau of labor statistics bls predicts this occupation will grow by 30 6 percent much faster than the average for all other occupations in the u s.
Jobs are typically in mental health centers hospitals colleges and private therapy practices. But people who study and become licensed in this field called licensed marriage and family therapists lmfts learn to address client needs and challenges in the context of multiple and often overlapping relationship societal and. In general a master s degree is the minimum postsecondary education required to become a marriage and family therapist. How to become one.
An in depth study of the family life cycle how the impact of transitions such as career marriage divorce and death at different stages can be used as guides to therapeutic understanding. Marriage and family therapy is a discipline of mental health much like social work psychiatry and psychology.