Mental illness, substance abuse, and emotional disorders don’t just affect the victim: they affect his or her entire family. Marriage and Family Therapists are charged with the task of identifying the root of marital or family discord and then working with each and every family member to mend and strengthen family bonds. How do these professionals prepare themselves for this task? They enter marriage and family therapy degree programs.
Featured Schools with Marriage and Family Therapy Degree Programs
- Grand Canyon University: Online
Argosy University: Atlanta
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology: Irvine
The main difference between Marriage and Family Therapists is that they don’t treat one individual, the treat the relationships between family members.
Types of Marriage and Family Therapy Degrees Available
There are two roads you can take to become a Marriage and Family Therapist. The first is to earn a master’s or doctoral degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. The Master’s Degree will take 2-3 years and will prepare you for clinical work, while the Doctoral Degree will take 3-5 years and will also give you the ability to work in an academic setting or conduct research.
The second path you can take is to earn your bachelor’s degree in a mental health field such as psychology or clinical social work. When you graduate, you can take enroll in an accredited post-graduate degree clinical programs and specialize in Marriage and Family Therapy.
What a Marriage and Family Therapy Degree Teaches You
No matter what degree you pursue, you’ll learn how to diagnose different mental disorders, how they affect the family structure, and how to help treat them. You’ll also learn the ins and outs of family dynamics, such as behavioral patterns, marital and family interaction, and parent-child relationships, so that you’ll be ready to treat the entire family unit. The therapeutic processes and techniques these programs teach will be your tools for helping your patients heal.
Featured Careers
Marriage and Family Therapist
Psychologist
Social WorkerQuestions to ask about a Marriage and Family Therapy degree:
- Am I a good listener?
- Can I remain unbiased during an argument? Can I listen to both sides of a story?
- Will I be able to cope with stressful situations? Do I feel comfortable hearing families discuss traumatic events and situations?
- Do I have a strong desire to help others?
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Psychologists, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes211013.htm (visited November 1, 2011).
