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An Overview of MFT Degrees
Colleges and universities offer a variety of degrees in counseling and psychology, but MFT programs fall into a distinct category. They’re designed for students who have a special interest in understanding the complex connections people have with everything around them and how that impacts their mental health. MFT students learn about systemic thinking and how uncovering entrenched patterns can create new avenues for change.
What Is an MFT Degree?
An MFT degree is a master’s in marriage and family therapy, a graduate-level program you can complete before becoming a counselor or therapist. Marriage and family therapists (MFTs) work with families, couples, and individuals who need guidance. While they use psychotherapy techniques, MFTs are unique from psychotherapists because they focus on relationship dynamics and conflict rather than mental health in general.
MFT vs. LMFT Degree
MFTs and licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs) complete the same initial degree program before beginning their careers. However, to become an LMFT, you have to take several additional steps. More specifically, before you can transition from an MFT to an LMFT, you’ll have to complete licensure requirements, such as supervised hours and national exams.
Licensed therapists usually have more expertise and specializations than MFTs. In most states, they can also work independently by opening their own practices, while MFTs have to work for an employer, such as a hospital or mental health facility. LMFTs also have advanced credentials that prepare them to complete additional training if they want to become clinical supervisors and consultants.
MFT vs. MAC Degree
Another option if you want a career in mental health is a master of arts in counseling (MAC) or a master’s in counseling psychology. MAC programs have a more general scope than MFT degrees. Like MFTs, students in these programs learn about a wide range of counseling theories and techniques, but they ultimately take a separate approach in their roles. MAC professionals focus on diagnosing and treating conditions, while MFTs emphasize how clients can explore their emotions and use therapy to achieve their desired results.
Many graduates of MAC programs also pursue different career paths, working as licensed professional counselors (LPCs) or licensed mental health counselors (LMHCs). These professionals treat a variety of mental health conditions and work with clients dealing with issues such as grief, addiction, and trauma.
Marriage and Family Therapist Requirements
Before you can begin your career, you’ll need to obtain your MFT qualifications. Although every state has its own requirements, the process usually involves a combination of academic and practical experience.
Bachelor’s Degree
The first step if you want to become an MFT is to earn a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Many students with an interest in this field get an undergraduate degree in psychology, counseling, or social work.
However, a specific degree generally isn’t a requirement for admission to a master’s program. Whether you studied accounting, biology, or political science, most schools will accept any bachelor’s degree as long as you meet their prerequisites for coursework, GPA, and test scores, if required.
Master’s Degree
A master’s degree is a core requirement for anyone who hopes to work as an MFT. Before enrolling, you will need to decide whether to complete a Master of Science (MS) or Master of Arts (MA) degree. While they differ in focus, both are usually acceptable to satisfy state requirements for licensure as a therapist.
Once you find the right program, you’ll take courses in subjects such as human sexuality, research methods, and human development in the family life cycle. You’ll also complete practicum hours, which will give you supervised experience in the field and show you what your day-to-day work will look like. The number of practicum hours you complete will depend on your degree program and state specifications.
In addition to earning your degree, you’ll also need to take a national exam. With the exception of California, which administers its own exam, all states require MFTs to take the MFT National Exam from the Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB). Depending on the requirements in your state, you might take the exam during your last semester of study or wait until after graduation.
Supervised Clinical Experience
After you successfully graduate with your master’s degree, your experiential learning will continue. States require a certain number of post-degree clinical hours. This is time you spend under the supervision of a licensed clinical professional. Your clinical experience will likely involve a variety of settings, such as individual therapy, group therapy, and relational therapy programs.
What Does an MFT Do?
Although most students enter an MFT program with the intention of becoming a therapist, this degree can open doors to many career opportunities. Along with mental health organizations, employers in business, education, and social work are interested in job applicants with the skills you develop while earning your degree.
Clinical MFT
Clinical MFTs are mental health professionals who diagnose and treat mental health conditions and use psychotherapy techniques to address relationship and family issues. They observe individuals, couples, and families to analyze their dynamics, understand their roles, and suggest how they can change patterns.
The goal of a clinical MFT is to help clients improve their communication, strengthen their bonds, and resolve conflicts. During a session with a clinical MFT, a client might work through these and other issues:
- Parent-child conflicts
- Family transitions, such as losing or gaining a new family member
- High-conflict couples
- Divorce
- Substance abuse
- Mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
A clinical MFT will discuss these problems with their clients, offer a detailed analysis, and recommend practical strategies that they can implement in their everyday lives. They might also diagnose a mental health condition and develop an in-depth treatment plan. Clinical MFTs provide these services in hospitals, private practices, mental health centers, social service agencies, and schools.
Case Manager
Another possible career for someone with an MFT degree is case management. Case managers work in healthcare facilities, mental health centers, and sometimes directly in clients’ homes, supporting their efforts to have healthier and more independent lives.
One of the primary goals of a case manager is to improve and facilitate communication between patients and their care providers, including doctors, therapists, and psychiatrists. They meet with clients to evaluate their mental, physical, and emotional needs and develop care plans to meet specific goals.
In addition, case managers identify and connect people with programs and resources to improve their quality of life. For example, they help people with food insecurity locate and travel to food banks and assist clients struggling with homelessness in finding affordable housing. They also offer support for other daily needs, including hygiene and employment.
Salary Expectations of an MFT
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), MFTs in the United States earn above-average salaries. The median annual salary for this role in 2023 was $58,510, but your potential earnings could fall above or below that number. For instance, top earners in marriage and family therapy make over $100,000 annually.
Your salary as a marriage and family therapist will depend on several factors, including your employer. As the BLS explains, the median salary for MFTs working for a state government is around $86,000, while MFTs in individual and family services make $50,700.
You also might earn more or less based on where you live. For example, BLS data shows the annual median wage for MFTs in New Jersey is $92,120, while those in Virginia make $76,480 per year.
Get Your Marriage and Family Therapist Master’s Degree at CityU
A degree in marriage and family therapy is a worthwhile endeavor if you’re passionate about exploring, understanding, and improving relationships between couples and families. This program establishes a foundation for prospective mental health professionals who want to work as MFTs, as well as those who are interested in other areas of counseling and social work.
At City University of Seattle, we know earning a master’s degree is no small feat. We design our programs to make it easier for you to achieve your academic goals and make your professional dreams a reality. If you’re ready to take the first step on your journey toward a career in mental health, learn more about the Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) program at CityU of Seattle.
Reviewed by Billie Tyler, Program Director, School of Health and Social Sciences at CityU of Seattle.
