What does it take to become a family counselor? Click here to learn more about family counselors.
Family counselors work with various family members, whether individually or in groups, to help them resolve a myriad of problems. A number of issues may cause family members to get help from a counselor, from unemployment or death to divorce or marital problems.
The exact amount of education required to become a family counselor depends on the state in which you want to work. However, most family counselors have at least a master's degree in counseling or psychology, as well as the proper certification.
There are typically two educational paths to follow if you want to become a family counselor:
Master's degree in family therapy - Students who want to pursue a master's degree in family therapy must first obtain a bachelor's degree in order to be accepted into a graduate program. Students can then enroll in the psychology or counseling department at the college or university of their choice.
Some popular degree programs include Master of Science in Family Therapy, Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology, and Master of Couples and Family Therapy. Most prominent programs are accredited by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
Most master's degree programs take two years to complete. Most students will have to take courses in abnormal psychology; ethical standards in counseling; sexuality, gender, and ethnicity issues; marital or couples therapy; and substance abuse. Students also typically take an internship to gain clinical experience.
Doctoral degree in family therapy - Students can either choose to stop at the master's level or can continue on to get a doctorate degree or Ph.D. in family therapy. Most students only get doctoral degrees if they're preparing for an advanced-level administrative job or an academic or research position.
The majority of doctorate programs are created to fit an individual student's area of interest, with most programs focusing on research. Most students will take classes in: research methods; group counseling; advanced theories in family therapy; child and adolescent therapy; and issues in family therapy. Most programs also require students to complete a dissertation or research project and gain some clinical practice.
Regardless of your degree level, most states require family counselors to become licensed before they can begin practicing. Although certification varies, most states require you to have a master's degree, complete a number of client contact hours, and pass a board approved or national examination. The national exam is administered by the Association for Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards.
Although many family counselors choose to open a private practice, some choose to work in hospitals, social services, community health centers, courts, prisons, universities, and research centers. Employees who earn their doctorate degree may work in research and academics as well.
These employees shouldn't have much trouble finding a job in the coming years, as employment of family counselors is expected to grow by 14 percent to 31,300 workers by 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Family counselors are usually paid pretty high salaries. The median salary during 2008 was $44,590 per year, with the lowest 10 percent of employees earning less than $27,810 per year, and the highest 10 percent earning more than $70,830 per year.
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