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Marriage and Family Therapists
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.
Other titles employers use
Clinical Therapist · Counselor · Family Therapist · Human Relations Counselor · Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) · Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) · Marriage and Family Counselor · Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT)
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Encourage individuals and family members to develop and use skills and strategies for confronting their problems in a constructive manner.
- Ask questions that will help clients identify their feelings and behaviors.
- Develop and implement individualized treatment plans addressing family relationship problems, destructive patterns of behavior, and other personal issues.
- Maintain case files that include activities, progress notes, evaluations, and recommendations.
- Counsel clients on concerns, such as unsatisfactory relationships, divorce and separation, child rearing, home management, or financial difficulties.
- Collect information about clients, using techniques such as testing, interviewing, discussion, or observation.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to helping, analytical and creative work.
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
- Creative
- Making, designing, writing, or performing without one set answer
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Active Listening
- Social Perceptiveness
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Service Orientation
Subjects to know
- Therapy and Counseling
- Psychology
- Customer and Personal Service
- Sociology and Anthropology
- English Language
Useful strengths
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Written Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 2.9 | Largely your own space |
| On your feet | 2.7 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 5.0 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 1.2 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a master's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A master's degree 79%
- A doctorate or professional degree 19%
- A two-year degree 2%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Video conferencing software
- Accounting software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Electronic mail software
- Presentation software
- Project management software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 41,900
- Job openings each year
- 3,240
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 26.6%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 41,900 | 3,240 | 26.6% |
| Minnesota | 5,570 | 400 | 14.8% |
| New Jersey | 4,800 | 310 | 2.6% |
| Florida | 4,470 | 350 | 26.3% |
| Tennessee | 3,010 | 240 | 33.8% |
| Utah | 2,740 | 230 | 46.5% |
| Pennsylvania | 2,720 | 190 | 9.7% |
| New York | 2,100 | 40 | 24.3% |
| Illinois | 1,820 | 120 | 7.1% |
| Oklahoma | 1,560 | 110 | 15.6% |
| Indiana | 1,220 | 90 | 15.1% |
| Colorado | 1,160 | 90 | 20.8% |
| Idaho | 930 | 70 | 31.0% |
| Texas | 850 | 60 | 18.1% |
| Arizona | 830 | 70 | 29.7% |
| South Carolina | 760 | 60 | 20.6% |
| Kentucky | 720 | 50 | 18.0% |
| Maryland | 720 | 50 | 16.1% |
| Georgia | 650 | 50 | 18.2% |
| Washington | 650 | 50 | 10.2% |
| Connecticut | 610 | 50 | 17.3% |
| Iowa | 560 | 40 | 21.7% |
| Alabama | 510 | 30 | 6.3% |
| Missouri | 380 | 30 | 11.8% |
| Michigan | 350 | 30 | 16.7% |
| New Hampshire | 350 | 30 | 20.7% |
| Nevada | 340 | 30 | 21.4% |
| New Mexico | 290 | 20 | 26.1% |
| Massachusetts | 260 | 20 | 13.0% |
| Ohio | 260 | 20 | 8.3% |
| Delaware | 240 | 20 | — |
| Kansas | 230 | 20 | 9.5% |
| Wisconsin | 160 | 10 | 14.3% |
| North Dakota | 130 | 10 | 18.2% |
| Wyoming | 100 | 10 | 25.0% |
| South Dakota | 90 | 10 | — |
| Louisiana | 60 | 10 | — |
| Nebraska | 50 | 0 | 25.0% |
| Maine | 30 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
James Madison University
- Degrees each year
- 459
- Admit rate
- 76%
- Annual cost after aid
- $16,000
Old Dominion University
- Degrees each year
- 156
- Admit rate
- 91%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
University of Arizona
- Degrees each year
- 114
- Admit rate
- 86%
- Annual cost after aid
- $16,000
Minnesota State University-Mankato
- Degrees each year
- 116
- Admit rate
- 91%
- Annual cost after aid
- $15,000
California State University-Los Angeles
- Degrees each year
- 279
- Admit rate
- 92%
- Annual cost after aid
- $5,000
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
- Degrees each year
- 186
- Admit rate
- 85%
- Annual cost after aid
- $6,000
Worcester State University
- Degrees each year
- 65
- Admit rate
- 90%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
University of Pennsylvania
- Degrees each year
- 63
- Admit rate
- 6%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
Compare every college offering mental and social health services and allied professions