What Is a Marriage and Family Therapist?
Every
couple and family as a unit faces its own unique set of problems which is why
they very often seek family counseling from a marriage and family therapist. A
family therapist is a trained professional who primarily and essentially deals
with interpersonal and intrapersonal issues that draw a wedge between families
and couples.
Family
counseling is a growing field - the demand of which is now at an all-time high
and many individuals are now actively pursuing it as a career. If you too are
interested in this career field then getting a better idea of what a family
therapist does is, where they work and what kind of perks they earn is
essential. Here's a brief overview about the profession.
What
does a marriage and family therapist do?
Within
a unit, a marriage and family therapist assess, treats and diagnoses
psychological problems, fallouts, mental illnesses and other psychological
distresses. To treat these problems, a family
therapist offers counseling services in areas
like relationship counseling, premarital counseling, child counseling, divorce
counseling etc. Some of the most common tasks performed by a family therapist
are:
·
Diagnosing and treating
mental health problems
·
Offering psychotherapy to
couples, families and individuals
·
Chalking out treatment
plans
·
Setting goals to improve
communication skills
·
Making a detailed report
about a client's life history
·
Interviewing, observing,
discussing and assessing
A
therapist also needs to maintain a log and record of their clients' progress
notes as well as have a detailed journal about the diagnoses, evaluation and
recommended treatment plans - implemented as well as planned for the future.
You
may wonder what makes a marriage and family
therapist different from other kinds of therapists.
The primary difference is that even though all therapists offer psychotherapy
for a myriad of mental health issues, a therapist more specifically addresses
and understands a family's dynamic and how the problems within a family impact
its members psychological health as well as how individual problems affect the
family. Some of the most common problems identified are self-esteem problems,
anxiety, depression, anger, grief, loss, self-harm, addiction and more.
Where
does a marriage and family therapist work?
There
are multiple different employment niches where family therapists fit in terms
of mental health services - individual and family care services, local and
state hospitals, outpatient and inpatient care centres, mental health centres
and other mental health service centres are a few of such niches. They may also
practice individually at private clinics or in coordination with psychiatrists.
Marriage and family therapists ordinarily dedicated 40-50 minutes per client, a
couple of times a week, depending on the nature and intensity of problem and as
well as the recommended treatment plan.
Other
requirements
The
minimum requirement to be a marriage and family therapist entails a master's
degree and two years of training in the field and also a license to practice in
the state after clearing the necessary requirements. Additionally, it is also
important to have skills like:
·
Interpersonal skills
·
Problem-solving skills
·
Ability to build trust
amongst clients
·
Good organizational skills
·
Good communication skills
·
Ability to make clients
comfortable
·
Technological fluency
·
Language fluency
Loves Hidden Policy
offers Family
Therapy and Family Coaching in Miami
and we use evidence-based approaches in our sessions. 30+ Years of Experience.
Book an Online or Face to Face Session.
Post Your Ad Here
Comments