Marriage and Family Therapists

What Does a Marriage and Family Therapists Do?

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.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• 1Encourage individuals and family members to develop and use skills and strategies for confronting their problems in a constructive manner.
• 2Ask questions that will help clients identify their feelings and behaviors.
• 3Develop and implement individualized treatment plans addressing family relationship problems, destructive patterns of behavior, and other personal issues.
• 4Maintain case files that include activities, progress notes, evaluations, and recommendations.
• 5Counsel clients on concerns, such as unsatisfactory relationships, divorce and separation, child rearing, home management, or financial difficulties.
• 6Collect information about clients, using techniques such as testing, interviewing, discussion, or observation.
• 7Confer with clients to develop plans for posttreatment activities.
• 8Confer with other counselors, doctors, and professionals to analyze individual cases and to coordinate counseling services.

Required Skills

• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Writing
• Reading Comprehension
• Critical Thinking
• Active Learning
• Monitoring
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Marriage and Family Therapists Salary