Most schools require you to complete an undergraduate degree at an accredited college or university before applying for a master’s degree in family therapy. After that, you must decide whether you want a master’s of family therapy degree to counsel others or a master’s of family therapy degree to conduct research in this field. You can enroll in a program to begin the appropriate coursework once you’ve decided what you want to do with a marriage and family therapist degree.
A bachelor’s degree is usually required before pursuing a master’s degree in family therapy. A bachelor’s degree in psychology, sociology, or another behavioral science is recommended most experts, but a bachelor’s degree in a non-related subject may be sufficient to apply to graduate school to pursue a master’s in family therapy. Many graduate schools may require you to pass an exam to demonstrate your readiness for a master’s degree program.
Some people pursue a master’s degree in family therapy so that they can counsel individuals and families in their own practice or through a family therapy center. This type of counseling is specifically designed to assist couples, parents, children, and extended family members in coping with issues and challenges that affect the family unit. Before obtaining a degree, deciding to become a family therapist usually necessitates a certain number of classroom hours as well as clinical experience.
Individuals may prefer to pursue a master’s degree in family therapy in order to conduct research rather than counseling. However, such a degree is frequently designated as a master’s of science, whereas a counseling degree is likely to be designated as a master’s of arts. As a result, deciding on a career path before starting your degree is an important first step in pursuing family therapy training.
A master’s of family therapy degree typically requires 60 hours or more of rigorous course work. Sex therapy, marriage counseling, couples therapy, and types addressing specific issues such as coping with alcoholism or supporting family members with special needs are examples of types of family therapy you might want to specialize in. Other courses include adolescent counseling and counseling clients with special needs. Most master’s of family therapy programs, whether you’re pursuing a counseling or research degree, require a certain number of research courses.