How to Become a Family Counselor in Tennessee
Family counselors are professionals who provide guidance and coaching in regard to various issues related to family life. They also provide treatment to patients whose behavioral or emotional disorders are linked to family problems. The state of Tennessee is one of 48 states that regulate the profession by licensing or certifying family therapists. Therefore, extensive education and ongoing training is required. While becoming a family counselor in the state of Tennessee will require hard work and determination, it can eventually lead to a rewarding career that allows you to make a difference in the lives of others.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Research the role of a family counselor. Read as much information as possible on what being a family counselor entails as well as what it takes to become licensed in the field. Due to the nature of the job, being a family counselor can be extremely stressful. Every day you are responsible for helping your patients to make decisions to better their lives and that can be very emotionally draining. Additionally, due to the regulations that are in place for the field, constant education and training is required in Tennessee.
-
2
Begin your education in the field of counseling. Tennessee requires you to have a degree in Psychology, Psychiatry or a related field in order to practice as a family therapist. If you have a bachelor's degree in psychology or social work, your next step should be to obtain your master's degree. Obtaining a master's degree in psychology will not only allow you to meet your requirements for state licensure, but will also prepare you for many of the issues you will encounter when you begin your practice.
-
-
3
Seek as much hands-on experience as possible before you go it alone. You should plan on doing two additional years of full-time work as an intern before taking your licensure exam. The best way to go about this is to seek an internship at a facility with a family therapist. By working side by side with a licensed family therapist, you will be able to gain real life exposure to the types of issues that you will be handling when you begin your own practice.
-
4
Obtain your license. After completing your two-year post-degree supervised internship, you will then be eligible to take your national licensing exam. The exam is conducted by regulatory boards of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).
-
5
Obtain adequate liability insurance. It is important that you are careful to protect yourself by obtaining the proper amount of liability insurance. This insurance is in place to protect you in the event of a lawsuit, should one arise. In order to qualify for insurance, most companies will require you to have either a minimum of a master's degree as a Marriage and Family Therapist or a master's degree in counseling and be licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist in Tennessee.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Take as many family therapy classes as possible. These classes will help you to prepare for the various issues you will face in your career as a family counselor, as well as keep you up to date in regard to ongoing training in the field.
Never put yourself or others in harm's way by trying to overpower someone who is acting out in a violent manner. Always have an emergency plan in place or call for help.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit family image by vanda from Fotolia.com
