2 answers
Briana
Student
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Questions
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What are the requirement for becoming an Marriage and Family Therapist ?
#family-therapist #marriage-therapist #therapists
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2 answers
Mickael Rosenberg
Software Engineer
261
Answers
Bellevue, Washington
Updated
Mickael’s Answer
Hi Briana,
First I am not working in that domain so my answer will only be general. I hope professional in this domain will give you something more substantial.
I believe the first thing is to study some psychology about human interactions and men and women behavior as this is the core of the marriage and family life. Parenting is probably second in the list since family (for me) means there is at least one child in the couple.
As an extra, I believe that while it is not mandatory, you will have more credibility if you are married yourself (and your marriage does not seem to go badly). I never really be with such therapist but I think I will not follow advice from someone that does not seem to follow his own advices. For example, I will not go to a doctor that always seem to be sick. It may be stupid but credibility is important. And I think people will follow better someone who is married than someone who is not when it comes to marriage advice.
The point of "stupid" is because every marriage and every child is unique because every individual is unique so the experience you get in your own marriage and raising you own child or children may not be applicable to someone else. Yet, I will persist by believing that human psychology tends to like getting advice from someone who has similar experience.
That said, this is more practical than academical. Academically, I believe human psychology, focusing on interactions is probably the best requirement. Communication is related and come close second since you will need to understand people feelings and problem and communicate the solution to them (or at least how they can try improving their relationship).
The credibility part is probably be on the longer term to become a *successful* therapist.
Again, not being a professional in that are makes my answer biased by what I would expect a good marriage and family therapist be, not necessarily the requirements for becoming one from a graduation perspective.
First I am not working in that domain so my answer will only be general. I hope professional in this domain will give you something more substantial.
I believe the first thing is to study some psychology about human interactions and men and women behavior as this is the core of the marriage and family life. Parenting is probably second in the list since family (for me) means there is at least one child in the couple.
As an extra, I believe that while it is not mandatory, you will have more credibility if you are married yourself (and your marriage does not seem to go badly). I never really be with such therapist but I think I will not follow advice from someone that does not seem to follow his own advices. For example, I will not go to a doctor that always seem to be sick. It may be stupid but credibility is important. And I think people will follow better someone who is married than someone who is not when it comes to marriage advice.
The point of "stupid" is because every marriage and every child is unique because every individual is unique so the experience you get in your own marriage and raising you own child or children may not be applicable to someone else. Yet, I will persist by believing that human psychology tends to like getting advice from someone who has similar experience.
That said, this is more practical than academical. Academically, I believe human psychology, focusing on interactions is probably the best requirement. Communication is related and come close second since you will need to understand people feelings and problem and communicate the solution to them (or at least how they can try improving their relationship).
The credibility part is probably be on the longer term to become a *successful* therapist.
Again, not being a professional in that are makes my answer biased by what I would expect a good marriage and family therapist be, not necessarily the requirements for becoming one from a graduation perspective.
Madilynn A. Beck MEd, AMFT
MFT, CST
2
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Madilynn A.’s Answer
Hey Briana! Great question...but unfortunately not one with a cookie cutter answer. Basically, every state has its own requirements for licensure. So, unless you’re simply seeking the academic credentials of a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy or Masters in Science with a concentration in marriage and family therapy, you’ll have to defer to your state regulations. I am on my way to licensure in the most difficult state in our country to certify, CA. However, my selection of licensure in this state allows me to legally hold the title “Therapist” which the majority of states do not. You can gain Counselor, Social Worker, Certified Practitioner in many their requirements are also different.
Finally, in the event time or money are of concern, coaching doesn’t require a license and has substantially less liabilities and associated costs because they do not operate as a clinical affiliate in any sense and more of a professional consultant.
Hopefully, that helped!
Identify what state you’ll hold primary practice.
Research the state requirements.
Find an accredited program in that state.
Apply to that accredited program.
Immediately begin research of potential sites for supervisory roles.
Finally, in the event time or money are of concern, coaching doesn’t require a license and has substantially less liabilities and associated costs because they do not operate as a clinical affiliate in any sense and more of a professional consultant.
Hopefully, that helped!
Madilynn A. recommends the following next steps: