What They Do
Marriage and family therapists diagnose and treat cognitive, behavioral, or similar disorders in the context of couples and other relationships.
Duties
Marriage and family therapists typically do the following:
- Assess clients to identify their emotional, behavioral, and psychological needs
- Ask questions that encourage clients to discuss their emotions and experiences
- Help clients process their reactions and adjust to difficult changes that relate to marriage and family dynamics, such as divorce
- Create a treatment plan that helps clients develop coping strategies and decision-making skills
- Refer clients to other specialists, resources, or services in the community
- Complete and maintain confidential files and records
Marriage and family therapists work with individuals, couples, and families. Even when treating individuals, therapists focus on family systems. They evaluate family relationships and development to understand how these affect clients’ mental health. Treatment often involves addressing issues, such as low self-esteem and addiction, that impact clients’ relationships.
Marriage and family therapists assess each client’s situation and determine the best type, or types, of technique for treatment. They use a variety of techniques and tools to treat clients. For example, a therapist may apply cognitive behavioral therapy to help the client understand harmful thoughts, feelings, and beliefs and how to replace them with positive ones.
Therapists also have administrative duties, including maintaining records to document client visits. Those working in private practice must market their business to prospective clients, and they may need to follow up with insurance companies and clients to get payment for their services.
Marriage and family therapists coordinate client treatment with other specialists, such as psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers.
Work Environment
Marriage and family therapists held about 77,800 jobs in 2024. The largest employers of marriage and family therapists were as follows:
| Offices of other health practitioners | 30% |
| Individual and family services | 24 |
| Self-employed workers | 13 |
| Outpatient care centers | 11 |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 6 |
Marriage and family therapists work in a variety of settings. In addition to those shown in the table, which include mental health centers and substance abuse treatment centers, their work settings include schools and hospitals.
Some marriage and family therapists offer telehealth options, in which they meet with clients by phone, video, or other virtual method.
Work Schedules
Most marriage and family therapists work full time, but part-time work is common. Some therapists work evenings and weekends to accommodate their clients’ schedules.
How to Become One
Marriage and family therapists typically need a master’s degree to enter the occupation. Every state requires therapists to be licensed.
Pay
The median annual wage for marriage and family therapists was $63,780 in May 2024.
Job Outlook
Employment of marriage and family therapists is projected to grow 13 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 7,700 openings for marriage and family therapists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.