How to Become a Couples Counselor

Couples counselors work with married and unmarried couples.

Couples counselors, or marriage and family therapists, are trained to work with the couple as a unit. They are trained slightly differently from other counselors. They look at the way the how a person inflences and is influenced by the family system.

Marriage and family therapists treat couples, but mental illnesses can also be treated in individuals using the systems-based therapeutic approach. According to the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, couples and family counseling can be more effective than individual therapy in some cases. Marriage and family counselors are proactive, focusing on setting goals and solving problems.

Instructions

1. Obtain an undergraduate degree. Recommended majors include psychology, sociology and other degrees that offer a strong emphasis in the social sciences, like social work. Coursework should prepare you for working with different populations and help you communicate with others. You might want to take volunteer or internship opportunities in human service like tutoring, mentoring or camp counseling. This can improve your resume and prepare you for working in human services.

2. Decide how focused on couples counseling you want your education to be. While couples counselors may specialize completely in the area, only working with couples and families, others may wear several different hats. It is also possible to practice as a general mental health counselor who also works with couples. You may receive a master's degree in mental health counseling with a focus in marriage and family therapy, for example, or the other way around.

3. Apply for graduate programs. Some programs may require a certain number of hours in psychology for admission. The most important part of the application process is to make sure that you are a good fit for the school and to show them that you are in your personal statements. Research the school, noticing the courses you will be taking. Consult with the graduate admissions contact to make sure the classes will prepare you for your career goals.

4. Check licensing standards for the state in which you want to practice. Some states will require that you graduate from a program that is accredited by a particular agency, such as the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy runs the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education, the primary nationally recognized accrediting agency for marriage and family therapists. Others may allow the equivalent coursework and practice hours. The state may require that your master's coursework be specifically in marriage and family therapy. Other states may allow you to substitute credits.

5. Perform fieldwork and take the examinations in your state. Some states may require that your fieldwork be specifically in couples and family counseling. You will also be required to pass a licensing examination. Licensed mental health counselors and marriage therapists accumulate hours under the supervision of a counselor licensed to practice independently in order to be licensed to practice on their own.

Tips & Warnings

• If you want to obtain further education in the field, it is also possible to practice mental health counseling or marriage and family therapy with a Ph.D. It is just not required.

References

• American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy: Frequently Asked Questions on Marriage and Family Therapists
• American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy: Commission on Accreditation of Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE)