Marriage and Family Therapists

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Marriage and Family Therapists

Careers / Marriage and Family Therapists

Summary Description


	Diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders, whether cognitive, affective, or behavioral, within the context of marriage and family systems. Apply psychotherapeutic and family systems theories and techniques in the delivery of services to individuals, couples, and families for the purpose of treating such diagnosed nervous and mental disorders.

Sample Job Titles

1.	Advanced Clinical Specialist

2.	Behavior Therapist

3.	Behavioral Analyst

4.	Behavioral Specialist

5.	Behavioral Therapist

6.	Child and Family Counselor

7.	Clinical Services Director

8.	Clinical Therapist

9.	Clinician

10.	Counselor

11.	Couple and Family Therapist, Staff Therapist

12.	Couples Therapist

13.	Director-Child Abuse Therapy

14.	Family Counselor

15.	Family Therapist

16.	Group Counselor

17.	Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)

18.	Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

19.	Licensed Staff-MFT

20.	Marriage and Family Counselor

21.	Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT)

22.	Marriage Counselor

23.	Marriage Therapist

24.	Play Therapist

25.	Psychotherapist

26.	Relationship Counselor

27.	Senior Clinician

28.	Therapist

Job Tasks

	Ask questions that will help clients identify their feelings and behaviors. Counsel clients or patients regarding personal issues.

	Counsel clients on concerns, such as unsatisfactory relationships, divorce and separation, child rearing, home management, and financial difficulties. Counsel clients regarding interpersonal issues.

	Encourage individuals and family members to develop and use skills and strategies for confronting their problems in a constructive manner. Teach life skills or strategies to clients or their families.

	Maintain case files that include activities, progress notes, evaluations, and recommendations. Maintain client records.

	Develop and implement individualized treatment plans addressing family relationship problems, destructive patterns of behavior, and other personal issues. Develop treatment plans for patients or clients.

	Collect information about clients, using techniques such as testing, interviewing, discussion, and observation. Collect information about clients. Interview clients to gather information about their backgrounds, needs, or progress.

	Confer with clients to develop plans for posttreatment activities. Confer with clients to discuss treatment plans or progress.

	Confer with other counselors, doctors, and professionals to analyze individual cases and to coordinate counseling services. Collaborate with other professionals to assess client needs or plan treatments.

	Determine whether clients should be counseled or referred to other specialists in such fields as medicine, psychiatry, and legal aid.

	Supervise other counselors, social service staff, and assistants. Supervise workers providing client or patient services.

	Follow up on results of counseling programs and clients' adjustments to determine effectiveness of programs. Monitor clients to evaluate treatment progress. Evaluate the effectiveness of counseling or educational programs.

	Write evaluations of parents and children for use by courts deciding divorce and custody cases, testifying in court if necessary. Write reports or evaluations.

	Provide instructions to clients on how to obtain help with legal, financial, and other personal issues. Help clients get needed services or resources.

	Provide public education and consultation to other professionals or groups regarding counseling services, issues, and methods. Present social services program information to the public. Lead classes or community events. Advise others on social or educational issues.

	Provide family counseling and treatment services to inmates participating in substance abuse programs. Counsel clients or patients with substance abuse issues.

	Gather information from doctors, schools, social workers, juvenile counselors, law enforcement personnel, and others to make recommendations to courts for resolution of child custody or visitation disputes. Collect information about clients. Collaborate with other professionals to assess client needs or plan treatments.

Work Activities

Importance	Work Activity

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Coaching and Developing Others — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Developing Objectives and Strategies — Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others — Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Scheduling Work and Activities — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.

Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Developing and Building Teams — Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Performing Administrative Activities — Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.

Selling or Influencing Others — Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others — Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates — Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.

Nature of the Work


	(Abstract from Career Articles)

	Mental Health Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists
	Mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists help people manage and overcome mental and emotional disorders and problems with family and other relationships. They listen to clients and ask questions to help the clients understand their problems and develop strategies to improve their lives.

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Working Conditions


	(Abstract from Career Articles)

	Mental Health Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists
	Mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists work in a variety of settings, such as private practice and mental health centers. Most work full time.

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Interesting Fact

In British slang, Flight Attendents are called "Trolly Dollies".

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