How To Become A Marriage CounselorIf you're looking to become a marriage counselor, and aren't sure where to start, then you'll want to read this article. In it, I will give you some specific guidelines that must be achieved in order to become a marriage counselor. First, it's wise to understand the different states have different regulations. I'm going to give you a general guideline, that will work in most states. To make sure though, it's wise to consult with the specific laws in your state before launching your career as a marriage counselor. Unlike most psychotherapy fields, you don't need a doctorate to become a licensed marriage counselor. Technically, when you do all the objectives required to become a marriage counselor, you will earn a license for the title of "marriage and family therapist", or MFT for short. The requirements start with having a master's degree, from an accredited university related to the field of family and marriage therapy. Generally, it is wise to get a bachelors of arts or behavioral science degree in psychology, to best age your Masters degree. At this point, it is optional for you to go onto a doctoral program. Most people choose to do so, because it enhances their knowledge in the field of marriage counseling, making them a better practitioner. You can earn degrees in a variety of different subjects, such as counseling theories, adolescent psychology, human growth and development, marriage and family systems, and group therapy, to name a few. Upon graduating with a Masters or doctorate, you're then required to perform a certain number of hours of supervision before you can take the licensing exam. Generally, this comes out to about 3000 hours of supervision from a licensed practitioner. After satisfying the requirements of supervision, you will be granted the right to take the licensing exam. If you pass a licensing exam, you will officially earned your title as a marriage and family therapist. Once you have this license, you able to practice without supervision in any clinical setting such as a hospital, restitution, or exercise a right to open up your own private practice. Many people are interested in becoming a marriage counselor, because not only is it a good profession, it offers the satisfaction of knowing you're helping other people uphold their sacred vows of marriage. However, it does take a commitment of schooling and supervised work, before you get the opportunity to work on your own as a marriage counselor. |