Marriage and family therapists are counselors who work with couples, families, groups and individuals. The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that marriage and family therapists focus on how their clients interact in a family environment to help family members' understanding of each other. As more couples seek outside help with marital problems, there will be an increased need for trained marriage and family therapists. The bureau projects that employment for marriage and family therapists will grow by 14 percent through the year 2018.
Instructions
Instructions
1. Prepare for graduate study. Bachelor's degrees in subjects such as psychology, nursing and social work can provide a solid grounding for a master's or doctoral program. The American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists maintains a directory of accredited graduate programs.
2. Earn a graduate degree. The AAMFT explains that aspiring marriage and family therapists can choose from master's, doctoral, or post-graduate training programs that take two to five years to complete. Graduate counseling programs group courses in areas such as human development, relationships and counseling techniques. Accredited programs require students to complete a supervised internship.
3. Get licensed. The bureau notes that all 50 states have licensing requirements for marriage and family therapists, although the specific requirements may vary from state to state. Usually, therapists will need a minimum of a master's degree and two years or 3,000 years of supervised clinical experience, along with passing an exam.
