Family Marriage & Assessment Counseling

Newly married couples often hold hands.

An occupation with over 24,000 qualified individuals throughout the country, family, marriage and assessment counseling is an extensive and established field that covers a multitude of issues and how to cope with them on an individual level, in a marriage and within a family unit.

About

Marriage and family therapists (MFTs) are educated and trained in the mental health field to tackle therapy sessions with a family focused perspective. They work with their clients to resolve any issues or problems that they may be experiencing, including personal issues that may contribute to a familial entity, such as a couple or a family. An MFT works with the goal of finding a solution and implementing it into the client's daily routine in a precise and timely manner. This form of therapy generally encompasses about 12 sessions for the clients' greatest benefit.

Methods

A family, marriage and assessment counselor can help a couple or family cope with matters ranging from health problems to behavioral issues. Most commonly, these therapists work with families and couples coping with substance abuse, behavioral issues, divorce, separation, depression or other mental health problems, sexual or intimacy problems, grief, anxiety and a host of other issues or situations. The MFT meets and works with members of the couple or family on an individual basis as well as in a group setting. Meeting on an individual basis with all members involved helps to alleviate any one person from feeling alienated while giving the MFT time to evaluate each person before working on a system to treat the family or couple as a whole.

Education

While marriage and family therapists can have a variety of undergraduate backgrounds, most MFTs have a master's degree in marriage and family counseling. In order to obtain this degree, a candidate must go through a two to three year program specializing in the field following the receipt of a bachelor's degree. According to the Web site All Psychology Schools, classes in a master's degree program cover areas such as human sexuality, adolescent psychology, group therapy tactics, human growth and development, the principles and techniques of counseling, and practices of psychotherapy. Once the coursework is completed, each MFT candidate is required to complete a certified internship in the field before graduation. It is then up to the candidate to complete any and all other requirements for individual state licensing. Professional organizations such as The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) are open to members and provide continued education for therapists and counselors.

Potential

While there are over 50,000 practicing marriage and family therapists across the country, the AAMFT lists over 24,000 licensed members. It works to protect and enhance the industry, its therapists and the betterment of their clients. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics in May of 2007, the "average annual salary across all states [for an MFT] is $45,310, with the higher percentiles averaging at $54,050 [to] $68,240 per year."

Expert Insight

According to the AAMFT, "after receiving treatment, almost 90% [percent] of clients report an improvement in their emotional health, and nearly two-thirds report an improvement in their overall physical health." Misty Will, MSW, believes that "with the aid of a qualified clinician, couples can bring peace, stability and communication back into their relationship thus affecting their lives and the lives of those most impacted by them and their relationship," as stated in her article, "The Effectiveness of Couple's Counseling."

References

• The FMC Directory: Effectiveness of Couple's Counseling
• All Psychology Schools: Become a Marriage and Family Counselor
• American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy: New Jersey Division