Social Services
Marriage and Family Therapists
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.
Median salary
$63,780
Typical range
$43k – $112k
Job outlook
+13% (much faster than average)
AI exposure
Plan a path to Marriage and Family Therapists
Education
Typical entry: Master's degree
Plan my path to this →Typical progression
Junior Marriage and Family Therapists
Entry / Junior
$42,610
~2 yrs to advance
Marriage and Family Therapists
Established
$63,780
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Marriage and Family Therapists
Senior
$87,695
Key skills
A typical day
- •Encourage individuals and family members to develop and use skills and strategies for confronting their problems in a constructive manner.
- •Ask questions that will help clients identify their feelings and behaviors.
- •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.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Social Services
Explore all- University of Michigan18% admit · $87,000 grad pay
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill19% admit · $73,000 grad pay
- University of Chicago5% admit · $91,000 grad pay
- Columbia University4% admit · $103,000 grad pay
- University of Wisconsin–Madison49% admit · $72,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.