Marriage and Family Therapy Counseling Degrees and Programs

Health is wealth! This holds true not only from physiological aspects but also from psychological perspectives. In fact, statistics indicate that individuals are increasingly susceptible to strong emotions and behaviors where marriage and family are concerned.

Marriage and Family Therapists [MFTs] step in at this juncture to alleviate the situation and provide much needed advice in coping with emotional distress. If you possess an education in medicine and health and are also interested in psychology and human behavior, then you could be well suited for this discipline. MFTs address them breakdown of communications between couples and families with a plethora of issues related to marriage and family.

Institutions offer several programs that include Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate degrees. However, for pursuing careers in this discipline, the minimum requirement is a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. Students also need to complete 1000 hours of clinical therapy work and successfully pass certification exam conducted by states. Program course work covers adult development, assessment and treatment methods, behavior disorders, child psychology, counseling theories and techniques, couples therapy, cultural diversity, ethics and legal issues, family studies and therapy, group counseling, human sexuality, life span development, psychopathology, social research and statistics.

This discipline is projected to grow around 30% by 2016 as per Bureau of Labor Statistics. Opportunities exist in health maintenance organizations, in-patient facilities, social service agencies, employee assistance programs, community mental health centers, consulting companies, universities, research centers, courts and prisons. Median annual earnings of MFTs are around $44,590 with the op 10% earning $70,830 as per Bureau of Labor Statistics.

University of Phoenix and Argosy University lead the group with quality programs in this discipline followed by Everest College of Business and South University known for top notch academic credentials. Brown Mackie College focuses on customized programs that realize goals and enrich lives.