Becoming A Couples Therapist Essay

Humans are interesting.

The most relationally dependent species is now one of the loneliest on the planet.

As we move away from living communally, as we have for thousands of years, we’ve gradually started losing our ability to establish and maintain relationships. And it’s only getting harder.

This demands a dire necessity for professionals who can step up and help couples establish the most favourable outcome for their relationships.

Couples therapy is a skill that can be developed, and it’s certainly financially rewarding as people spend $100-200/hr to seek professional help on average.

However, the field also needs highly competent individuals, as it should, for you to become a practicing couples therapist.

Here are some commonly

Participating in internships, volunteering or research opportunities in counseling or mental health settings.

Gaining hands-on experience through volunteer work or internships at counseling centers, mental health clinics, or community organizations that provide services to couples and families.

Seeking out opportunities to shadow licensed couples therapists or participate in externships in order to gain more experience and insight into the field.

Get Your Master’s Degree

If you want to become a couples therapist, it is recommended that you pursue a master's degree in counseling psychology or Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT). These programs will provide you with the necessary knowledge and skills to work with couples in therapy.

Marriage and Family Therapy

Marriage and family therapy (MFT) programs typically focus on the treatment of relationship and family issues, and provide training in couple and family therapy modalities.

If you take this route, the curriculum of this Master’s program typically includes coursework in the following

Specialization area: Some programs also offer specializations in areas such as child and adolescent therapy, trauma, or addiction.

Counseling Psychology

Counseling Psychology is a broad field that focuses more on individual counseling. Here is a list of programs that are relevant to you becoming a couples therapist:-

Clinical Counseling: This option focuses on the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health disorders in individuals, couples, and families.

Marriage and Family Therapy: This option focuses on providing counseling services to couples and families, addressing issues such as relationship conflicts, communication issues, parenting problems, and mental health issues.

Gerontological Counseling: This option focuses on providing counseling services to older adults and their families, addressing issues such as aging, retirement, and end-of-life care.

Trauma Counseling: This option focuses on helping individuals cope with and recover from traumatic experiences, such as abuse, violence, or natural