Marriage and Family Therapists
Diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders, whether cognitive, affective, or behavioral, within the context of marriage and family systems. Apply psychotherapeutic and family systems theories and techniques in the delivery of services to individuals, couples, and families for the purpose of treating such diagnosed nervous and mental disorders.
Sample of reported job titles:
Clinical Therapist, Counselor, Family Therapist, Human Relations Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Marriage and Family Counselor, Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT), Outpatient Therapist, Play Therapist
Occupation-Specific Information
Tasks
- Ask questions that will help clients identify their feelings and behaviors.
- Counsel clients on concerns, such as unsatisfactory relationships, divorce and separation, child rearing, home management, or financial difficulties.
- Encourage individuals and family members to develop and use skills and strategies for confronting their problems in a constructive manner.
- Maintain case files that include activities, progress notes, evaluations, and recommendations.
- Collect information about clients, using techniques such as testing, interviewing, discussion, or observation.
Technology Skills
- Accounting software:Intuit QuickBooks
- Data base user interface and query software:Microsoft Access
- Electronic mail software:Microsoft Outlook
- Internet browser software:Web browser software
- Medical software:Advantage Software Psych Advantage,American Medical Billing Software PMA,Anasazi Software Client Data System,Beaver Creek Software The THERAPIST,Blueberry Harbor Software Clinical Record Keeper,Care Paths eRecord,Casamba Smart,Cornucopia Software Practice MAGIC,DocuTrac QuicDoc,eMDs Medisoft,EZ2Bill Confidant,EZClaim medical billing software,Mdansby The PsychReport,Netsmart Technologies Helper,PM/2 Clinical Planner,PracticePRO Software Systems QuickPractice,Saner Software ShrinkRapt,SumTime Software SumTime,Synergistic Office Solutions SOS Case Manager,TheraManager
Occupational Requirements
Work Activities
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems:Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Documenting/Recording Information:Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Assisting and Caring for Others:Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
- Getting Information:Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships:Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Detailed Work Activities
- Advise others on social or educational issues.
- Collaborate with other professionals to assess client needs or plan treatments.
- Collect information about clients.
- Confer with clients to discuss treatment plans or progress.
- Counsel clients or patients regarding personal issues.
Work Context
- Face-to-Face Discussions:96% responded"Every day"
- Electronic Mail:85% responded"Every day"
- Frequency of Decision Making:75% responded"Every day"
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled:69% responded"Every day"
- Contact With Others:66% responded"Constant contact with others"
Worker Requirements
Skills
- Active Listening:Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Social Perceptiveness:Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Speaking:Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Complex Problem Solving:Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Judgment and Decision Making:Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Knowledge
- Therapy and Counseling:Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
- Psychology:Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
- Customer and Personal Service:Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- Sociology and Anthropology:Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
- English Language:Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Education
How much education does a new hire need to perform a job in this occupation? Respondents said:
- 79%Master's Degree
- 10%First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.
Worker Characteristics
Abilities
- Oral Comprehension:The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Oral Expression:The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Deductive Reasoning:The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Inductive Reasoning:The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- Problem Sensitivity:The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
Interests
- Social:Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
- Artistic:Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
- Investigative:Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Work Values
- Relationships:Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
- Independence:Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
- Achievement:Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Work Styles
- Concern for Others:Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
- Integrity:Job requires being honest and ethical.
- Self-Control:Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
- Dependability:Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
- Stress Tolerance:Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
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