Counselors, Social Workers, and Other Community and Social Service Specialists

How to become a Marriage and Family Therapist

Official title: Marriage and Family Therapists

Also called: Clinical Therapist, Couple and Family Therapist, Family Specialist, Family Therapist, LCMFT (Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist), LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist), Marriage and Family Counselor, Multisystemic Therapist, Play Therapist, Therapist

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.

Main tasks

Ask questions that will help clients identify their feelings and behaviors.
Encourage individuals and family members to develop and use skills and strategies for confronting their problems in a constructive manner.
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.
Determine whether clients should be counseled or referred to other specialists in such fields as medicine, psychiatry, or legal aid.
Supervise other counselors, social service staff, and assistants.
Confer with other counselors, doctors, and professionals to analyze individual cases and to coordinate counseling services.

How to become one

Marriage and family therapists typically need a master's degree to enter the occupation. Every state requires therapists to be licensed.

Typical education to start: Master's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

College: Social Work & Community degrees, Offered by 11 universities in the US
College: Health & Public Health degrees, Offered by 29 universities in the US
Licence: A licence is required in 48 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $66,940 a year The middle half earn $50,070 to $93,840.
About 76,300 people work in this job now, and about 86,600 are projected by 2035. (+13.5%)
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Marriage and Family Therapist?

Marriage and family therapists typically need a master's degree to enter the occupation. Every state requires therapists to be licensed.

How much does a Marriage and Family Therapist earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $66,940 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $50,070 to $93,840.

Is a Marriage and Family Therapist a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 14% by 2035, from about 76,300 to about 86,600 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Marriage and Family Therapist?

Usually. 92% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Marriage and Family Therapist?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.