Master’s and doctoral degrees in various mental health fields, as well as certification programs for those with a postgraduate degree, are among the types of family therapy degrees available. In some cases, a religiously oriented institution may also be able to provide postgraduate training in family therapy. Depending on the legal jurisdiction, different types of degrees may be required to practice family therapy. In some jurisdictions, a person must have a postgraduate degree in family therapy to call himself or herself a family therapist, whereas other jurisdictions may be more lenient in allowing mental health professionals to call themselves family therapists.
Family therapy services must be provided by trained and licensed mental health professionals in many jurisdictions. To practice mental health counseling, you’ll need a postgraduate degree in psychology, counseling, or social work. Some colleges and universities may also offer postgraduate degrees in marriage and family therapy. A residency in psychiatry is available to physicians who want to specialize in mental health.
After earning a master’s degree in social work (MSW), clinical social workers may be able to provide family therapy services, especially if their clinical training focused on this type of counseling. In some cases, after earning his MSW, a licensed clinical social worker may pursue additional family therapy degrees or credentials. Many schools offer postgraduate certificate programs that do not require the completion of another full degree but still provide valuable education to professionals looking to broaden their practice and expertise.
A master’s degree in counseling is common for professional counselors to start their careers. In some cases, their degree program may have focused specifically on family therapy training. Additional education may be required for those who have a counseling degree with a different specialization or no specialization at all in order to provide family therapy services. Professional counselors, like social workers, may be able to obtain a postgraduate certificate and complete supervised clinical work in family therapy. Professional counselors and clinical social workers with a focus on marriage and family therapy can pursue doctoral work in counseling, clinical social work, or psychology.
Family therapy degrees can be obtained through postgraduate programs in theological seminaries or graduate schools of religion by religious leaders who want to provide counseling services to families in their congregations. In some cases, laws governing the provision of counseling and therapy services allow clergy to provide counseling in a religious setting to take advantage of loopholes. A master of divinity program with a focus on counseling or family therapy may be available at some seminaries. In some cases, these schools may collaborate with other graduate schools that offer family therapy degrees to allow students to complete a dual degree program, earning two degrees: one in mental health and the other in ministerial studies.