Community & Social Service
Marriage and Family Therapists
Also called: Clinical Therapist, Couple and Family Therapist, Family Specialist, Family Therapist
US median pay
$66,940
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+13.5%
faster than average
Openings a year (US)
6,900
76,300 employed
Typical entry education
Master's degree
Preparation 5/5 · Extensive preparation
What this job is
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.
What they do day to day
- Ask questions that will help clients identify their feelings and behaviors.
- Encourage individuals and family members to develop and use skills and strategies for confronting their problems in a constructive manner.
- Develop and implement individualized treatment plans addressing family relationship problems, destructive patterns of behavior, and other personal issues.
- Maintain case files that include activities, progress notes, evaluations, and recommendations.
- Counsel clients on concerns, such as unsatisfactory relationships, divorce and separation, child rearing, home management, or financial difficulties.
- Determine whether clients should be counseled or referred to other specialists in such fields as medicine, psychiatry, or legal aid.
- Supervise other counselors, social service staff, and assistants.
- Confer with other counselors, doctors, and professionals to analyze individual cases and to coordinate counseling services.
- Diagnose mental and emotional disorders in clients.
- Confer with clients to develop plans for posttreatment activities.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Social Perceptiveness4.4/5
- Service Orientation4.1/5
- Judgment and Decision Making4.0/5
- Complex Problem Solving4.0/5
- Persuasion3.8/5
- Negotiation3.8/5
- Coordination3.8/5
- Instructing3.5/5
Knowledge
- Therapy and Counseling4.9/5
- Psychology4.8/5
- Sociology and Anthropology4.1/5
- English Language3.9/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.9/5
- Education and Training3.5/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 5 of 5 — Extensive preparation. Usually a graduate degree (master's, PhD, MD, JD) and extensive experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Master's degree.
Who this job suits
Mostly Social
Helping, teaching and caring for people
Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Artistic
Creating, designing and self-expression
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.