What Does a Family Therapist Do?
Family therapists, also known as marriage and family therapists (MFTs), treat mental health and relationship issues within the context of family systems. They help couples and families improve communication, resolve conflicts, and strengthen relationships. Family therapists work in private practices, community agencies, hospitals, and employee assistance programs.
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as Clinical Therapist, Counselor, Human Relations Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Marriage and Family Counselor, Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT), Outpatient Therapist.
Family Therapist Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a family therapist include:
- Conduct family and relationship assessments to identify patterns of interaction, communication, and conflict.
- Provide therapy to couples, families, and individuals using systemic and relational therapeutic approaches.
- Develop treatment plans that address relationship dynamics, communication patterns, and individual mental health concerns.
- Facilitate sessions focused on improving communication, establishing boundaries, and resolving long-standing conflicts.
- Treat a range of presenting issues including marital distress, parent-child conflict, blended family challenges, and divorce adjustment.
- Address co-occurring issues such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and trauma within the family context.
- Assign therapeutic homework and experiential exercises to reinforce skills learned in sessions.
- Maintain confidential clinical records, treatment plans, and progress notes in compliance with ethical and legal standards.
- Refer clients to other professionals such as psychiatrists, social workers, or legal advocates when appropriate.
- Participate in supervision, consultation, and continuing education to maintain licensure and professional growth.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a family therapist, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Systems-oriented therapeutic approach
- Couples and family counseling techniques
- Communication skills training
- Conflict resolution facilitation
- Assessment of family dynamics
- Trauma-informed practice
- Clinical documentation and ethics
- Empathy and neutrality
Education and Training
Family therapists must earn a master degree in marriage and family therapy (MFT) or a closely related counseling field from a COAMFTE-accredited or CACREP-accredited program. Programs typically require 60 credit hours of graduate coursework plus extensive supervised clinical experience with couples and families. After graduation, candidates must complete a specified number of supervised post-graduate clinical hours, usually 2,000 to 4,000, and pass a state licensing examination (often the MFT National Examination administered by the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards). Continuing education is required for license renewal.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $50,070 - $93,840 per year, with a median of $66,940.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Marriage and Family Therapists.
Growing acceptance of mental health treatment, increased insurance coverage for couples and family therapy, and the impact of societal stressors on family relationships all contribute to demand. Family therapists with expertise in trauma, cultural diversity, and integrated behavioral health will find the strongest opportunities. Telehealth has expanded access to family therapy services in rural and underserved areas.
Family Therapist Pay Range
| Earners | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $44,650 |
| Bottom 25% earn less than | $50,070 |
| Median (half earn more, half less) | $66,940 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $93,840 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $123,730 |
Highest-Paying States for Family Therapists
The states with the highest median pay for this occupation are Hawaii ($141,960), New Jersey ($92,150), Georgia ($91,550), Oregon ($91,520), Connecticut ($86,250). Pay is lowest in Texas ($46,300), South Dakota ($44,870), Wisconsin ($37,870).
Median pay in all 45 states with BLS data
| State | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $49,990 |
| Alaska | $60,010 |
| Arizona | $65,290 |
| Arkansas | $64,340 |
| California | $67,300 |
| Colorado | $60,700 |
| Connecticut | $86,250 |
| Delaware | $76,580 |
| Florida | $56,400 |
| Georgia | $91,550 |
| Hawaii | $141,960 |
| Idaho | $62,700 |
| Illinois | $60,970 |
| Indiana | $56,810 |
| Iowa | $67,180 |
| Kansas | $68,710 |
| Kentucky | $52,420 |
| Maine | $71,680 |
| Maryland | $69,900 |
| Massachusetts | $67,370 |
| Michigan | $52,270 |
| Minnesota | $72,470 |
| Mississippi | $51,440 |
| Missouri | $60,440 |
| Montana | $46,960 |
| Nebraska | $62,610 |
| New Hampshire | $60,030 |
| New Jersey | $92,150 |
| New Mexico | $70,630 |
| New York | $64,430 |
| North Carolina | $48,100 |
| Ohio | $70,240 |
| Oklahoma | $57,670 |
| Oregon | $91,520 |
| Pennsylvania | $66,040 |
| South Carolina | $55,430 |
| South Dakota | $44,870 |
| Tennessee | $46,700 |
| Texas | $46,300 |
| Utah | $84,980 |
| Vermont | $62,780 |
| Virginia | $79,900 |
| Washington | $60,000 |
| West Virginia | $55,700 |
| Wisconsin | $37,870 |
What the Work Is Like
O*NET surveys people who work as marriage and family therapists about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:
- 85% use email every day
- 82% spend more than half the workday sitting
- 69% work indoors in a climate-controlled space every day
- 63% deal with rude or angry people at least once a week
- 58% work against deadlines every day
- 54% say teamwork is very or extremely important in their job
- 48% have a lot of freedom to make decisions
Education Workers Say the Job Needs
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Master's degree | 79% |
| Professional degree | 10% |
Tools and Software Family Therapists Use
Tools and equipment
Software
Is This Job a Good Fit for You?
People who do well in this job tend to enjoy helping, teaching or caring for people as well as analyzing problems and working with ideas.
Skills O*NET rates most important: Active Listening, Social Perceptiveness, Speaking, Reading Comprehension, Writing, Service Orientation.
Knowledge areas used most: Therapy and Counseling, Psychology, Customer and Personal Service, Sociology and Anthropology, English Language.
Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 5 of 5, which means extensive preparation.
Related Careers
These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- O*NET 30.1 Database, occupation 21-1013.00 (Marriage and Family Therapists). View on O*NET OnLine.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. The Job Explorer has modified some of the information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these changes.