3 answers
raegan
Student
Antwerp, Ohio
3
Questions
Asked
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I want to become a marriage and family therapist. Are there any tips or advice I should know, or anything helpful?
I am doing a high school project, and any information would be very helpful and appreciated.
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3 answers
Annah Edmonds
Licensed Clinical Counselor and Art Therapist
221
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Annah’s Answer
Raegan, you will need a masters in marriage and family therapy; this will provide you with an MFT credential. However, if you get a master's in social work or counseling that is not marriage/family focused you can still continue post-grad to gain the trainings needed. But since you already know- it makes sense to jump right in! This just to say there is not one single way to go about this. Another certification to consider is sex therapy- you can add this on to your MA (if it is offered) or take the required courses later. You will be training your entire career so don't worry about having to do it all at once. Going for the MFT program will mean your academic coursework and internships will all revolve around working with couples and families. This will make going from graduation into working specifically with this population easy. Something to know about yourself and your personality- you will need to want to work with groups vs individuals. This can be exciting; it also means you need to be comfortable with conflict within the therapy room. You will need to learn how to be in charge and direct the session, so things stay on track. Having strong boundaries and communication skills while also having the ability to follow different threads simultaneously will come in handy. It is more of a juggling act than individual work- but the therapists that choose this work tend to love this. Being a therapist does not mean you have to be an expert in your own relationships, but you will need to be working on your own personal and relational growth. This is really powerful work, and it allows for change to occur quickly. Individual therapy may seem slower in contrast. I may be incorrect, but I believe family work is typically more time-dependent (meets for shorter duration than individual therapy), sessions might be longer (90-minutes), and homework outside of session is critical. You are truly working with each personality within the group to bridge understanding and improve functioning. Marriage and family therapists will always be in high demand so you will be entering a field with no shortage of patients!
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
1385
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hi Raegan!
Good question! Being a marital and family therapist (MFT) is a fantastic opportunity to support people during some of the most significant times in their lives, so that's a really great and meaningful career ambition. You should start learning more about the field and getting ready for the path ahead while you're still in high school. A master's degree in marriage and family therapy, or a closely related discipline like psychology or counseling, is eventually required to become an MFT. You will then need to pass your state's licensing exam and complete supervised clinical training.
One useful piece of advice I'll give you is to concentrate on developing excellent listening and communication skills right away, as such skills are very important in this field of work. You can get empathy and a better understanding of human behavior by taking classes in sociology, psychology, and even English.
Volunteering is another excellent way to demonstrate your dedication and get experience, particularly with groups that promote families or mental health. Speaking with experts in the industry also helps; for your assignment, you might want to interview a therapist to gain practical knowledge!
Above all, remain curious and caring. Helping individuals create healthier lifestyles and deeper relationships is the goal of this profession, which requires someone who sincerely cares. Just by doing your homework and asking questions, you're already headed in the correct direction. Don't give up, you can succeed!
Best wishes!
Good question! Being a marital and family therapist (MFT) is a fantastic opportunity to support people during some of the most significant times in their lives, so that's a really great and meaningful career ambition. You should start learning more about the field and getting ready for the path ahead while you're still in high school. A master's degree in marriage and family therapy, or a closely related discipline like psychology or counseling, is eventually required to become an MFT. You will then need to pass your state's licensing exam and complete supervised clinical training.
One useful piece of advice I'll give you is to concentrate on developing excellent listening and communication skills right away, as such skills are very important in this field of work. You can get empathy and a better understanding of human behavior by taking classes in sociology, psychology, and even English.
Volunteering is another excellent way to demonstrate your dedication and get experience, particularly with groups that promote families or mental health. Speaking with experts in the industry also helps; for your assignment, you might want to interview a therapist to gain practical knowledge!
Above all, remain curious and caring. Helping individuals create healthier lifestyles and deeper relationships is the goal of this profession, which requires someone who sincerely cares. Just by doing your homework and asking questions, you're already headed in the correct direction. Don't give up, you can succeed!
Best wishes!
Sheri Sterup
Marriage and Family Therapist
1
Answer
Renton, Washington
Updated
Sheri’s Answer
Hi Raegan,
Being a Marriage and Family Therapist is rewarding and I love it. However, my journey through grad school was NOT smooth, and I wish someone had warned me about what I was getting into.
Finding a practicum site almost broke me. I spent so much time searching, being added to wait lists, and I couldn’t locate one in my area that had openings when I needed it. I actually had to delay my graduation because of it.
When I finally found Sentio Counseling Washington, I was relieved. But it turned into way more than just "finally having a placement" it actually ended up being one of the best parts of my whole training. I received supervision twice a week and skills training. SCW uses Deliberate Practice in their supervision and skills training. The deliberate practice approach completely changed how I show up in the therapy room. I could actually feel myself getting more confident, more present with clients, less in my head. And the best part is watching clients actually benefit from that; it's not just about me feeling better as a therapist, it genuinely impacts the work.
If I could go back and do it all over again, I would 100% be researching programs way more carefully from the start. I had no idea that some programs like Sentio University's MFT program actually build deliberate practice into the degree from the beginning, and have integrated practicum sites. That would have saved me so much stress and time.
Being a Marriage and Family Therapist is rewarding and I love it. However, my journey through grad school was NOT smooth, and I wish someone had warned me about what I was getting into.
Finding a practicum site almost broke me. I spent so much time searching, being added to wait lists, and I couldn’t locate one in my area that had openings when I needed it. I actually had to delay my graduation because of it.
When I finally found Sentio Counseling Washington, I was relieved. But it turned into way more than just "finally having a placement" it actually ended up being one of the best parts of my whole training. I received supervision twice a week and skills training. SCW uses Deliberate Practice in their supervision and skills training. The deliberate practice approach completely changed how I show up in the therapy room. I could actually feel myself getting more confident, more present with clients, less in my head. And the best part is watching clients actually benefit from that; it's not just about me feeling better as a therapist, it genuinely impacts the work.
If I could go back and do it all over again, I would 100% be researching programs way more carefully from the start. I had no idea that some programs like Sentio University's MFT program actually build deliberate practice into the degree from the beginning, and have integrated practicum sites. That would have saved me so much stress and time.