A family life consultant assists families in adjusting to new situations and coping with recent changes. Consultants may assist families dealing with a variety of issues, including substance abuse, recent loss, a disabled family member, or the return of a family member after a period of absence. A family life consultant is frequently employed by hospitals and military bases to assist families who are adjusting to new family dynamics.
Most people work as social workers, psychologists, or in other areas of mental health care before becoming family life consultants. A family consultant with training and experience in family counseling may choose to start her or his own counseling business or apply for work at a family life services agency. A family consultant’s goal, whether working as an independent consultant or as part of a larger agency, is to assist clients in creating a healthy family life.
Leading classes and workshops on parenting children at various stages of life, creating family activities that promote cohesiveness and communication, and meeting with family members to discuss private family concerns are some of the most common, yet specific, duties of a family life consultant. A family life consultant also assesses a family’s needs and, if necessary, makes referrals to other professionals for supportive services. Military family consultants frequently assist families in adjusting to a service member being away from the family while on active duty, as well as reintegrating soldiers back into the family once they return home. Consultants working in hospitals, on the other hand, may have a different job description. A hospital-based family life consultant, for example, might be in charge of assisting families in adjusting to a family member’s recent disability or simply providing information on resources available to families with one or more disabled members.
While many people pursue a career as a family life consultant after receiving training in social work or psychology, this is not the case for everyone. Some may have little formal education or behavioral science training, but they have a lot of experience working in family outreach programs. While there is no formal training for family life consultants, some employers will hire a new consultant if they have experience speaking in front of groups, providing supportive resources, and communicating well with others.