What Do Marriage and Family Therapists Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for marriage and family therapists?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what marriage and family therapists do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Marriage and Family Therapists Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about marriage and family therapists by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
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.
Popular Job Titles For Marriage and Family Therapists
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Behavioral Health Therapists
- Licensed Therapists
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists
- Therapists
- Outpatient Therapists
- Behavior Therapists
- Child and Adolescent Therapists
- Behavioral Therapists
- Military and Family Life Counselors
- Clinical Therapists
- Primary Therapists
- Telehealth Counselors/Therapists
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for marriage and family therapists can be found.
Best Industries for Marriage and Family Therapists
Marriage and Family Therapists Jobs By Industry
- Individual and Family Services: 32.3%
- Offices of Other Health Practitioners: 31.8%
- Outpatient Care Centers: 14.7%
- State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 6.4%
- Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities: 3.1%
- Religious Organizations: 1.6%
- Other: 10.1%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of marriage and family therapists can be found working in the Individual and Family Services sector. In 2023, about 32.3% of all jobs for marriage and family therapists were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Offices of Other Health Practitioners (31.8%), Outpatient Care Centers (14.7%), State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (6.4%), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (3.1%) and Religious Organizations (1.6%).
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What Do Marriage and Family Therapists Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what marriage and family therapists do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work marriage and family therapists do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that marriage and family therapists tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for marriage and family therapists, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Marriage and Family Therapists
Based on 46,798 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Marriage and Family Therapists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 17,176 | 37% |
| Mental Health | 16,591 | 35% |
| Treatment Planning | 16,484 | 35% |
| Social Work | 16,420 | 35% |
| Family Therapy | 15,310 | 33% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Marriage and Family Therapists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 9,868 | 21% |
| Leadership | 4,986 | 11% |
| Management | 4,381 | 9% |
| Planning | 4,371 | 9% |
| Scheduling | 4,065 | 9% |
Based on 46,798 job postings related to marriage and family therapists, psychology was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 37% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for mental health, treatment planning, social work, family therapy and behavioral health were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for marriage and family therapists, followed by leadership, management, planning, scheduling and ethical standards and conduct.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 17,176 | 37% |
| Mental Health | 16,591 | 35% |
| Treatment Planning | 16,484 | 35% |
| Social Work | 16,420 | 35% |
| Family Therapy | 15,310 | 33% |
| Behavioral Health | 12,022 | 26% |
| Psychotherapy | 7,955 | 17% |
| Crisis Intervention | 6,449 | 14% |
| Psychiatry | 6,346 | 14% |
| Case Management | 6,256 | 13% |
| Group Therapy | 5,928 | 13% |
| Telehealth | 5,276 | 11% |
| Substance Abuse | 4,995 | 11% |
| Clinical Psychology | 4,252 | 9% |
| Trauma Care | 4,100 | 9% |
| Discharge Planning | 3,784 | 8% |
| Marketing | 3,635 | 8% |
| Autism Spectrum Disorders | 3,478 | 7% |
| Billing | 3,460 | 7% |
| Behaviour Therapy | 3,380 | 7% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 9,868 | 21% |
| Leadership | 4,986 | 11% |
| Management | 4,381 | 9% |
| Planning | 4,371 | 9% |
| Scheduling | 4,065 | 9% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 3,978 | 9% |
| Coordinating | 3,416 | 7% |
| Teaching | 2,825 | 6% |
| Writing | 2,808 | 6% |
| Advocacy | 2,801 | 6% |
| Customer Service | 2,712 | 6% |
| Presentations | 2,698 | 6% |
| Professionalism | 2,620 | 6% |
| Problem Solving | 2,590 | 6% |
| Good Driving Record | 2,280 | 5% |
| Time Management | 2,275 | 5% |
| Self-Discipline | 2,270 | 5% |
| Multilingualism | 2,234 | 5% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 2,110 | 5% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 2,110 | 5% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Marriage and Family Therapists
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Behavioral Health Therapists | 9,271 | 7.6% |
| Licensed Therapists | 13,993 | 11.4% |
| Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists | 14,465 | 11.8% |
| Therapists | 16,126 | 13.1% |
| Outpatient Therapists | 9,776 | 8% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was behavioral health therapists, with 2,935 unique job postings. Licensed therapists were second, with 2,419 postings, followed by licensed marriage and family therapists, therapists and outpatient therapists.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to marriage and family therapists.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Behavioral Health Therapists | 9,271 | 7.6% |
| Licensed Therapists | 13,993 | 11.4% |
| Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists | 14,465 | 11.8% |
| Therapists | 16,126 | 13.1% |
| Outpatient Therapists | 9,776 | 8% |
| Behavior Therapists | 5,962 | 4.9% |
| Child and Adolescent Therapists | 7,164 | 5.8% |
| Behavioral Therapists | 3,517 | 2.9% |
| Military and Family Life Counselors | 3,203 | 2.6% |
| Clinical Therapists | 7,875 | 6.4% |
| Primary Therapists | 6,910 | 5.6% |
| Telehealth Counselors/Therapists | 2,646 | 2.2% |
| Marriage and Family Therapists | 3,802 | 3.1% |
| Family Therapists | 2,929 | 2.4% |
| Program Therapists | 3,231 | 2.6% |
| Autism Behavioral Therapists | 993 | 0.8% |
| Family Services Counselors | 1,475 | 1.2% |
| Private Practice Therapists | 3,849 | 3.1% |
| ABA Therapists | 4,254 | 3.5% |
| Telehealth Therapists | 1,325 | 1.1% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for marriage and family therapists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for marriage and family therapists.
How much do marriage and family therapists make?
Marriage and Family Therapists: How do you become one?
All Occupations
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