Marriage & Family Therapist

NOTE: Every day varies based on the client and their needs, some therapist work evenings and weekends to best fit their clients schedules.

• Typically works an 8 hour day,
• 2/3 of the day is filled with client sessions and 1/3 of the day is filled with paperwork.
• Typically sees 3-4 clients, 1-hour session per client.
• 30-60 minutes of paperwork per client regarding but not limited to:
  • Assessment of their progress and current issues
  • Treatment plans (diagnoses and goals)
  • Giving clients referrals and resources
• If in a child or school setting, therapists provide holistic services and care that means they build relationships with the people that surround their patient (parents, counselors, and teachers).

• Listening skills
• Perceptiveness
• Decision-making skills
• Communication skills
• Empathy/non-judgmental outlook
• Compassion

• Evaluates family roles, patterns, history and development in order to gather information about how one is impacted by their family in order to and to help bring healing into their personal lives.  Treats the clients’ relationships, and not just the clients themselves.
• Understands that the people in the “family system” (spouses, significant others, children and parents) all have an impact on one’s mental health.
• Diagnoses and treats mental and emotional disorders, such as anxiety and depression.
• Encourages clients to discuss their emotions and experiences.
• Helps clients process their reactions and adjust to changes in their life, such as divorce or layoffs,
• Guides clients through the process of making decisions about their future.
• Helps clients develop strategies and skills to change their behavior or cope with difficult situations.
• Coordinates treatment with other professionals, such as psychiatrists and social workers.
• Refers clients to other resources or services in the community, such as support groups or inpatient treatment facilities.
• Addresses a wide variety of issues such as low self-esteem, stress, addiction and substance abuse.

• Religious institutions
• Educational institutes: middle school, high school, university, etc.
• County mental health facility
• Addiction/rehab facility
• Private practice
• Hospital
• Homeless shelters
• Non-profit organizations

• Paperwork: With every client you are working with, there is an extensive amount of paper work. A therapist would prefer to spend their time investing in the client but paperwork is just as important in order to document their history and track their progress or lack of progress.
• It personally affects you: Therapy is a 100% emotional job, both during your education and once you are a licensed practicing therapist. As you are assisting people with their own issues and dysfunctions you are simultaneously shining a light on your own past or present issues and dysfunctions. This is called “counter transference”, there isn’t necessarily a way to prevent it, it is mainly important to be aware that it will happen and learn how you as an individual best deal with your issues that surface.
• Take care of yourself: Every day you are investing everything you have to give to your client. You need to learn to balance your emotional capacity. “Self Care” is extremely important in the mental health care field. If a therapist isn’t taking care of his/herself than they can’t assist others in taking care of themselves. When dealing with clients in difficult situations mentally or physically, it is only natural for a therapist to carry some burdens with them. It is important to learn how to compartmentalize to an extent, leaving work at work in order for the therapists to maintain a healthy relationship with their own family and friends.