Many families are seeking for therapist or specialist to help them combat their stress. If you see yourself as someone ready to offer this service, you can apply for a Master’s degree in family therapy.
The reason you need this degree is to have the required experience to help couples or family going through hard times in their respective families. In this modern society, family dynamics are becoming complicated. Therefore, family therapists are more vital compared to the past.
What You Need to Know about the course
1. Understanding the Role of Family Therapist:
You can call them family or marriage therapists because they work with different families to resolve relevant lingering issues affecting the unity in the home. These issues come in various forms, such as parenting challenges, children’s adherence, marital conflicts, broken marriages, etc.
When you are trained as a family therapist, you will know the proper technique to use in addressing chaos in any family that will peace and harmony in the home. Communication is an important aspect in the home and you have to restore the broken link in any home.
2. Choosing the Right Program
There are notable key factors to consider when choosing any Master’s degree in Family therapy. Here they are:
- Accreditation:
You must ensure the program has been accredited to avoid enrolling in a course whereby, the degree is not recognized. The body “Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education is responsible for accrediting family therapy.
It is advisable to check very well to ensure the program has gotten accredited because that is when your certificate becomes legal in the job market. If you fail to carry out your research, you will have yourself to blame.
- Curriculum:
Also, take your time to find a curriculum that will provide you with broad training with the right techniques and family therapy theories. The right courses should cover numerous topics, such as adolescent therapy, multicultural counseling, couples therapy, etc.
- Practical Experience:
No field that doesn’t require require experience. It is one of the important things you need to become a legal family therapist. Therefore, select a program that offers you diverse opportunities that will broaden your knowledge through internships or practicum placement.
- Faculty:
Check the required background qualifications and years of experience of the lecturers in either the department or faculty. If you are opportune to be taught by knowledgeable professors that will help you, and put you on the right track to become a family therapist.
3. Admission Requirements:
You can’t pinpoint the exact requirements for admission to earn a Master’s degree in family therapy, but these are the general admission requirements you are expected to possess:
- Bachelor’s Degree:
Getting a bachelor’s degree in either social work, psychology, counseling, or others are required. Also, some programs may want you to bag degrees in other areas before they can consider you as a potential Master’s degree student.
- GPA:
Most Master’s degrees in family therapy want you to have a GPA that is between 3.0 on a 4.0 scale before they can see you as a viable student for a Master’s degree.
- Prerequisite Courses:
There are some cases whereby you must have some prerequisite courses in related subjects, such as psychology or any related undergraduate course
- Letters of Recommendation:
There is no educational program you want to enroll in that doesn’t require you to submit a letter of recommendation from a higher person who can guarantee that you are sound academically and can be enrolled in a family therapy program.
- Personal Statement:
The essence of this essay is to show you have an interest in family therapy and you have relevant experience that is related to the field.
- Interview:
This is part of the admission process when you want to apply for a master’s degree in family therapy. Some programs involve interviews to test your level of commitment in the field.
4. Financial Considerations
Every institution has its fee for anyone wanting to study master’s degree in family therapy. It is important to note no school has its fee either online or on-campus. Therefore, you need to try out different financial options when considering financial help.
5. Licensing and Certification
Imagine someone who is done with a master’s degree, but has no certification to show for it. How do you feel? You need to get a license or certification to show you are a process family therapist. When it comes to getting a license, it varies between states:
- Degree: A COAMFTE-accredited master’s degree in family therapy.
- Supervised Clinical Experience: You have to complete a given time duration of supervised clinical hours which is between 2,000 to 4,000.
- Examination: You will need to pass a licensing examination, such as Family therapy, and an examination in marital affairs. Also, some therapists are likely to bag a certification from an organization body, such as the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy to enhance their qualifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the importance of having a Master’s degree in family therapy?
A: Having a Master’s degree in family therapy offers you an opportunity to work in diverse settings, such as mental health clinics, social service agencies, hospitals, private practice, etc. Also, working in areas like substance abuse counseling, child and adolescent therapy.
Q: How long will it take you to get a master’s degree in family therapy?
A: If you desire to have a master’s degree in this field, then you must know it takes two to three years to finish it.
Q: Is studying online for this program a viable option to earn this master’s degree in family therapy?
A: Yes, many reputable institutions provide different online and offline programs that will give you standard clinical training.
Q: What are the relevant skills to have a successful career in family therapy?
A: Yes, there are skills you must have to enhance your skills in this field, such as empathy, problem-solving abilities, interpersonal skills, etc. Also, you must have the ability to handle intense situations that require your time.
Q: How do I know the best program for me?
A: There are key factors that you must use as a yardstick to pick a program you want to study, such as faculty expertise, location, and curriculum. Therefore, research thoroughly before you enroll in any institution.
Q: What are the jobs available for family therapists?
A: In the United States, there are jobs for certified family therapy graduates. The U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics has estimated that there will be a 22% growth in job employment in family therapy. This growth is likely to occur because lots of people are seeing the importance of family therapists.
Conclusion
Family Therapy is a good career for you wanting to help families restore peace and stability in their homes. When you are familiar with the requirements and have gotten your license you can embark on a fruitful career that impacts the lives of many homes.
