A person can become a family therapist by earning a counselor/therapist license and studying and practicing the specifics of family therapy during formal education and before and after licensing. Some therapists prefer to work with a diverse range of clients, while others prefer to specialize in one area. Those who want to work as a family therapist should focus on their education and experiences during licensure, as these will help them focus their career on working with families and couples. x000D_
A person who wants to work as a family therapist must first complete their education. People will need a bachelor’s degree before enrolling in graduate school, and they will need to decide whether they want to pursue a master’s or doctorate. Classic degrees include a Ph.D. in psychology, an MA or MS in marriage and family therapy, or a Master’s in social work.
A doctorate is required only for the psychology degree. There is no clear advantage to one degree over another when it comes to becoming a family therapist. Those studying psychology, on the other hand, may want to pursue a PsyD because it is more focused on clinical practice.
Taking electives while in graduate school is one way to explore your interest in becoming a family therapist. There are numerous schools of thought on the best way to provide family counseling. Family systems therapy is typically studied by social workers, but all degree candidates can study other theories on how to best assist families. Couples therapy is recommended as an elective because couples can be defined as a “family.”
Before becoming licensed, most graduates must complete 1500-3000 supervised hours. People should look for job opportunities that allow them to put what they’ve learned about family therapy into practice. Agencies that serve or counsel families on a regular basis are good places to look for work. Some of these organizations are state-run, while others are privately owned. Though specializing is ideal, it isn’t always possible at this point, and if people can’t find work that is solely focused on families, they should look for work that will allow them to practice with families on occasion.
Participating in workshops about family therapy, reading as much as possible on the subject, and watching any relevant tapes/DVDs can also be beneficial while completing licensure hours. The best teacher is experience. Therapists in training, on the other hand, benefit from extensive exposure to past and current theory on how to best help families in the therapeutic setting.
Learning to become a family therapist shouldn’t end with getting a license, and it may be difficult to start a practice that only works with families without another source of income. The learning process never stops, and thankfully, most therapists have continuing education requirements that can be met by studying family therapy in a variety of settings. People can gradually become known primarily as family therapists as their knowledge, experience, and reputation grow, allowing them to fill their practice with people who are specifically interested in this area.