Marriage & Family Therapist Training

Marriage and family therapists work with people to improve their lives.

According to the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, a marriage and family therapist treats clinical problems that include depression, marital problems, anxiety, individual psychological problems and child-parent problems. These counselors treat families and individuals with the home life in mind.

Formal Education

Training begins with a bachelor's degree.

Marriage and family therapists first earn a bachelor's degree in psychology, sociology, social work or a related field of study. A master's degree in marriage and family counseling is the next step. Many marriage and family therapist candidates also earn a doctorate degree. However, a person may become licensed as a counselor with a master's degree.

Licensing

Tests vary from state to state.

Licensing laws vary from state to state. Some states administer their own test, while others use a national certification administered by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

Supervision

Supervision lasts about two years.

Before qualifying to sit for the licensing exam, a marriage and family therapist candidate must work under the supervision of a licensed counselor or psychologist. In most states this supervision lasts a minimum of two years.

References

• The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy