Home
How To Become An Mft

How To Become An Mft

July 5, 2022 Uncategorized No Comments

How to Become an MFT

If you are looking to become an MFT, you may be wondering how to get started.

The first step is to get a degree in psychology or social work. It is also important to specialize in family therapy, which is what marriage and family therapists do. Once you have your degree, you will need to pass the national licensing exam and become licensed as an MFT. This can take anywhere from 1-3 years depending on how many hours of supervised experience you have had before applying for the exam.

Once you are licensed as an MFT, there are many different paths you can take with your career. You can work at a mental health clinic or hospital, run your own practice, or work for a corporation or organization that needs counseling services like schools or nonprofits.

Becoming an MFT is a career that requires dedication, hard work, and the ability to see beyond yourself.

To become an MFT, you must first complete a post-graduate degree in marriage and family therapy. You can get your master’s degree at most universities in the United States. The requirements for admission will vary depending on the institution, but most require applicants to have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university and experience working with families or children. Some states may also require additional training in order to become licensed as an MFT.

Once you have completed your post-graduate education, you can apply to work at different types of facilities including hospitals, clinics, private practices, schools and community agencies. To be successful at this job, you need excellent communication skills as well as empathy for clients who may be dealing with difficult emotions such as grief or anger issues related to trauma they might have experienced earlier in their lives due to abuse or neglect during childhood years while growing up under extreme conditions like poverty level homes where parents were unable to provide basic needs like food or clothing items needed every day making it hard for them to survive without any help from government agencies such as Salvation Army or Red Cross organizations helping families make ends meet until things get better.

How To Become An Mft

Below are some common steps you may follow to become an LMFT. 

  1. Earn a Bachelor’s Degree 
  2. Earn a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy or Related Mental Health Field
  3. Complete Additional Hours of Supervised Clinical Experience 
  4. Pass the Required Licensing Exams 
  5. Apply for Licensure 
  6. Complete Continuing Education

Individual state requirements will vary and are subject to change, including licensure standards, exam eligibility, and appropriate pathways, and may differ based on individual student backgrounds. Students should do their own due diligence and determine the appropriate pathway and license type for themselves.

Marriage and family therapists (MFTs) receive comprehensive trainingExternal link:open_in_new in family counseling and individual psychotherapy models. They routinely help individuals, families, couples and groups by using their training in listening, assessing and demonstrating practical interventions to improve quality of life and relationships. Becoming an LMFT may be the right option for you if you are passionate about helping people navigate dysfunctional thoughts and behaviors to overcome obstacles in their marriages and personal family relationships so they may live happier, more fulfilling lives.

Whether you choose to earn a master’s or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy, you will likely have the option of completing your education online. Many students find that distance learning offers them the flexibility and affordability they desire.

Pepperdine University’s Online MFT Master’s Program

Pepperdine prepares you to pursue licensure as an LMFT or LPC, allowing you to make a powerful impact in the lives of others in as few as 27 months. With no GRE required, apply to the master’s in marriage and family therapy online from Pepperdine and begin creating a positive social impact. Part-time track available.

  • No GRE required
  • Bachelor degree required
  • Complete as few as 27 months

Request more info from Pepperdine University.External link:

info SPONSORED

Find out common pathways to become a marriage and family counselor and about marriage and family therapist certification below.

How to Become a Marriage and Family Therapist

To pursue a career in marriage and family therapy, some students may choose to obtain a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy. Training may include completing coursework focused on psychotherapeutic theoryExternal link:open_in_new and pursuing clinical graduate and postgraduate supervised hours of practice.

Here are some common steps you may take to become a marriage and family therapist:

1. Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

While some marriage and family therapy students major in counseling, psychology, social work or sociology during their undergraduate studies, therapists come from all different backgrounds and areas of study. 

If you’re considering entering the therapy field, be sure to check the prerequisite requirements of the programs you are interested in applying to. Some marriage and family therapy graduate degree programs will accept your major provided you have completed courses in therapy, group therapy and psychotherapy. 

Fieldwork or practical experiences in the field may also help display to schools your interest in the therapy profession.

Both private and public universities offer marriage and family therapy programs. It is useful for prospective MFT students to consider schools approved by the state lBoth private and public universities offer marriage and family therapy programs. It is useful for prospective MFT students to consider schools approved by the state licensure board in the state they wish to practice (for a full list, see step 5). Additionally, they may consider schools accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE)External link:open_in_new, or the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)External link:open_in_new during their application process. These accreditations provide specific quality standards and may increase employment opportunities after graduation. In fact, some states may require aspiring MFTs to complete a program that is accredited by COAMFTE or CACPEP. Be sure to check with your state licensure board for more information.

A full-time student typically completes a master’s program in two to three years. This factors into clinical practice, which gives students practical experience in the field under the supervision of a practicing professional. Some master’s degree programs require candidates to complete a thesis. 

Here are two typical counseling degree programs a prospective marriage and family therapist may want to consider on the way to becoming a professional.

Marriage and Family Therapy 

The Master of Marriage and Family Therapy or Master of Psychology are typical degree options for this field. 

In a marriage and family master’s program, you may learn about more than the fundamentals of human cognition and behavior. As a master’s student, you can learn techniques to provide psychotherapy to individuals, couples and families. 

While working toward an MFT degree, you may learn about the needs of various groups and train how to diagnose mental health disorders. You’ll also be taught when a clinician is ethically obligated to refer a client to another professional. 

COAMFTE is the nationally accepted accreditor for MFT programs and requires the following foundational curriculum areas for master’s degree: 

  1. Foundations of Relational/Systemic Practice, Theories Models 
  2. Clinical Treatment with Individuals, Couples and Families
  3. Diverse, Multicultural and/or Underserved Communities 
  4. Research & Evaluation 
  5. Professional Identity, Law, Ethics & Social Responsibility
  6. Biopsychosocial Health & Development Across the Life Span
  7. Systemic/Relational Assessment & Mental Health Diagnosis and Treatment
  8. Contemporary Issues
  9. Community Intersections & Collaboration

Additionally, COAMFTE requires an internship known as a “Foundational Practice Component” consisting of 500 hours over 12 months, 100 hours being supervised by an American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)-approved supervisor.

Earn an MA in Psychology Online from Pepperdine

Pepperdine University’s online Master of Arts in Psychology program prepares students to pursue doctoral study or a career in human services.

  • Open to all undergrad majors
  • No GRE required 
  • Can be completed in about 18 months

Request more info from Pepperdine University.External link:

info SPONSORED

Mental Health Counseling

Another track to marriage and family therapy is a master’s in mental health counseling degree. Mental health counselors help with the behavioral, emotional and mental health concerns of different populations by use of assessment, crisis management, psychotherapy, therapeutic support and treatment planning.

The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)External link:open_in_new, which accredits degree programs in counseling and its specialties, requires mental health counseling students to take courses in the following areas:

  1. Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethical Practice
  2. Social and Cultural Diversity
  3. Human Growth and Development
  4. Career Development
  5. Counseling and Helping Relationships
  6. Group Counseling and Group Work
  7. Assessment and Testing
  8. Research and Program Evaluation

As for field experience within the program, CACREP customarily requires at least 100 clock hours over the length of a full academic term or 10 weeks, also including 40 hours of direct client contact. An internship should take place after the completion of the practicum and should include at least 600 clock hours and 240 hours of direct client contact in the speciality area. 

Applicants should look for a mental health counseling program that has MFT components added into the curriculum. Otherwise, the degree may not be recognized for licensure.

Earn Northwestern’s CACREP-Approved Degree

Earn a CACREP-accredited master’s in counseling online from top-9 ranked1 Northwestern University.
 

1U.S. News & World Report: 2022 Best National University RankingsExternal link:open_in_new 

  • CACREP Accredited
  • Earn your MA in Counseling from Northwestern in as few as 18 months
  • Accelerated full-time, traditional, or part-time tracks available

Request more info from Northwestern University.External link:

info SPONSORED

3. Complete Additional Hours of Supervised Clinical Experience

After graduation and passing the appropriate state examinations, as well as meeting additional state requirements, if applicable, students will need to obtain an initial license, which allows the graduate to be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner in post-degree practice and can be thought of as a temporary professional license. The name of this license may vary by state and include Marriage and Family Therapist Associate, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate, and Associate Marriage and Family Therapist.

The number of hours needed for this varies by state, but the typical amount of required post-master’s counseling is between 2,000 and 4,000 hoursExternal link:open_in_new before taking the exam, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The hours may be divided into certain categories such as direct contact, indirect contact and face-to-face supervision. These hours will be required to be met over a certain period of time, typically one and a half to two and a half years.

Check with your state to determine the requirementsExternal link:open_in_new you will need to fulfill.

4. Pass the Required Licensing Exams

All states along with the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico require potential marriage and family therapists to pass the Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) National ExaminationExternal link:open_in_new as offered by the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Board (AMFTRB). 

In order for a student to sit for the exam, they must first receive approval from the state in which they wish to be licensed. Once the written approval is received, the student can contract AMFTRB to register and sit for the exam. 

Applicants may also be required to pass state-specific examinations, though this will vary by state.

5. Apply for Licensure

Next, you need to apply for a marriage and family therapy license in your state. This will be considered as an independent practice license. The most common independent licensure credential is Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), but this may depend on the state.

Specific licensing requirements vary between states, so check the list below about who to contact, the cost of licenses and more details you might need to know in each state. 

Here are the state professional counselor licensure boards:

6. Complete Continuing Education

To maintain licensing, counselors often are required to complete continuing education (CE) hours. These courses provide professional improvement, keep counselors up to date on new field developments, increase career mobility and sometimes offer networking opportunities. 

As with licensing, state boards control CE requirements. Required hours vary by state, but each clearly outlines its specifications.  

Online CE courses may also meet these state requirements. The online options also may allow more scheduling flexibility though states may limit the number of online CE hours you may take. Check with your state counseling board for the most current information on CE requirements. Here are a few CE resources for you to explore.

What Does a Marriage and Family Therapist Do?

Marriage and family therapists help people manage and overcome problems with family and in their other relationships. In essence, MFTs apply psychotherapeutic techniques to foster growth and satisfaction within intrapersonal and interpersonal dynamics.

According to the BLS, MFTs have the following typical responsibilitiesExternal link:open_in_new:

  • Complete and maintain confidential files and mandated records.
  • Encourage clients to discuss their experiences and emotions.
  • Guide clients toward making decisions about their future.
  • Help clients develop skills and strategies to change their behavior and cope with difficult situations.
  • Help clients adjust to changes and process their reactions to difficulties such as divorce and layoffs.
  • Refer clients to other services or resources in the community, such as inpatient treatment facilities or support groups.

According to the American Association for Marriage and Family TherapyExternal link:open_in_new, marriage and family therapists tend to provide brief, specific and focused therapy. AAMFT also notes that short-term clinical treatment is common with 66% of therapies concluding within 20 sessions and 87.9% concluding in 50 sessions. As mental health awareness and destigmatization of therapy continue to spread, MFTs are treating more than 1.8 million Americans at any given time. 

Marriage and family therapy professionals are expected to have some important qualities, including the following:

  • Communication. A great majority of counseling requires clear communication between the counselor and their clients. Being able to educate clients about treatment processes and treatment plans requires effective understanding of verbal and non-verbal communication. Counselors often work with people who are dealing with stressful and difficult situations in their marriages and relationships, so they must demonstrate compassion and be able to empathize. 
  • Critical Thinking. Counselors make diagnoses, implement therapy models and conduct research with clients by combining communication and active listening. 
  • Interpersonal Skills. Counselors work with different types of people. They spend most of their time working directly with clients and other professionals and must be able to encourage good relationships.
  • Listening. Being an active listener is a crucial skill for counselors so they can best understand and untangle the concerns and needs of their clients. Counselors will learn what language to listen for and how to identify what isn’t being said. 
  • Organization. Counselors in private practice must work with insurance companies and keep track of payments. 
  • Problem-Solving. Working through complicated issues is a key part of helping clients solve problems in their own lives or with others.
  • Research. Studying patients and their behavioral patterns is a part of the counselor’s role, learned through classes and clinical residencies. 

Licensure Requirements for Marriage and Family Therapists 

While each state differs in its specific requirements and guidelinesExternal link:open_in_new for licensure, therapists must typically complete 2,000 to 4,000 documented hours providing clinical services. These hours must be completed under an approved supervisor who is a licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed clinical social worker, licensed professional clinical counselor or licensed psychologist. To receive licensure, therapists must complete all necessary education courses and clinical hours and pass the individual state board exams, though specific requirements will depend on the state you wish to practice in. Be sure to check with the state board.

Once licensed, MFTs must adhere to all regulations outlined by their board and accrue continuing education unitsExternal link:open_in_new (CEUs) to maintain active status within their roles.

Certifications for Marriage and Family Therapists 

MFTs may choose from numerous certificates, workshops and advanced training to enhance their career outlook and professional expertise. Extended learning also may help to acquire knowledge in evidence-based practices, specialize in a particular niche or population, or fulfill job requirements.

Some certification examples include: 

Career Outlook for Marriage and Family Therapists 

There were 73,200 employed MFTs in 2020External link:open_in_new, according to the BLS. Employment of marriage and family therapists is projected to grow 16% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. Health insurance reforms and expanded insurance coverage for mental health care will likely impact this increase.

The MFT career tends to be both flexible and versatile in terms of employment industries. Typical MFT workplaces includeExternal link:open_in_new:

  • General medical hospitals
  • Mental health clinics
  • Military or Veterans Affairs settings
  • Offices of other health care professionals
  • Outpatient care centers
  • Private practice
  • Public or private schools and universities
  • Religious organizations
  • Residential care facilities
  • State-funded clinics and services
  • State government

Currently, the states with the highest employment levels of MFTsExternal link:open_in_new are California, New Jersey, Minnesota, Illinois and Florida with metropolitan, urban areas having the highest saturation of available positions. The mean annual salary for an MFT is $59,660. On average as of May 2021, positions with home health care services pay the highest at an annual average of $97,780 and religious organizations typically pay the lowest at around $37,830 per year. The highest paying states are Utah, New Jersey, Colorado, Minnesota and Nevada.

Related Posts

About The Author

Trust Smile

Leave a Reply