Family therapy degrees vary by jurisdiction, including master’s and doctoral degrees in mental health, certificate programs, and postgraduate training. Professionals must be licensed in mental health, with some jurisdictions requiring a specific degree in family therapy. Religious leaders can also earn family therapy degrees through theological seminaries.
Types of family therapy degrees vary by jurisdiction, but include master’s and doctoral degrees in various areas of mental health, as well as certificate programs for individuals who already hold graduate degrees. In some cases, a person may also receive postgraduate training in family therapy through a religious institution. The types of degrees required to practice family therapy may vary by legal jurisdiction. In some cases, a person may be required to obtain a postgraduate degree specifically in family therapy in order to call themselves a family therapist, while other jurisdictions may be more lax in allowing mental health professionals to identify themselves as therapists. relatives.
In many jurisdictions, those offering family therapy services must be staffed by professionals who are trained and licensed in mental health. Requirements for practicing mental health counseling also vary, but generally require receiving a graduate degree in psychology, counseling, or social work. Some schools may also offer graduate degrees specifically in marriage and family therapy. Physicians who wish to pursue training in a mental health field can complete a residency in psychiatry.
Clinical social workers may offer family therapy services after completing a Master’s of Social Work (MSW), particularly if their clinical training focuses on this type of counseling. In other cases, a licensed clinical social worker may earn additional family therapy degrees or credentials after completing their RSU. Many schools offer graduate certificate programs that do not require the completion of another full degree, but also provide the necessary education for professionals who want to expand their field of expertise and knowledge.
Professional counselors often start their careers with a master’s degree in counseling. In some cases, your degree program may have focused specifically on training in family therapy. For those who obtained a counseling degree with a different major or no major at all, additional education may be required to offer family therapy services. Like social workers, the professional counselor may have the option of earning a postgraduate certificate and completing supervised clinical work in family therapy. Professional counselors and clinical social workers may also choose to pursue doctoral work in counseling, clinical social work, or psychology with an emphasis on marriage and family therapy.
Religious leaders who wish to offer counseling services to families in their congregations can earn family therapy degrees through graduate programs at theological seminaries or graduate schools of religion. In some cases, laws relating to the provision of counseling and therapy services provide loopholes for clergy who offer counseling in a religious context. Some seminaries may offer a Master of Divinity program with an emphasis on counseling or family therapy. In other cases, these schools may partner with other graduate schools that offer family therapy degrees, so that students can participate in a dual degree program, offering two degrees: one in a mental health discipline and one in ministerial studies.
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