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A couple sitting on a couch during a therapy session and the man saying,'I don't treat her like a maid, maids get paid.'

Did you know a therapist can learn a lot about a couple in the first session? For example:

  • If someone in the relationship is a bully

  • If the third parties are more than "just friends"

  • If one party is lying

If you'd like to help couples solve their relationship struggles, this could be the right career for you!

Did you know?

To become a couples therapist, you need a 2-3 year master's degree in counseling or psychology, followed by 1-3 years of supervised clinical hours. You then need to pass a state exam to obtain certification or licensure, which can take several months to a year (learnhowtobecome.org , "How to Become a Marriage Counselor).

What does a couples therapist do?

A couples therapist helps adult couples who are struggling to get along. They facilitate better communication, listening, and understanding between both parties and assist them in finding solutions to their problems.

A  male therapist sitting on a chair and holding a notebook

Did you know?

There are some differences between couples therapy and marriage counseling. Couples therapy looks at the past to help couples handle problems they have now. By exploring past hurt and problems, couples can strengthen their relationship and deal better with today's issues. Marriage counseling, on the other hand, focuses on dealing with current problems in a marriage (insightnorthwest.com, "Marriage counseling vs. couples therapy: What's the difference?")

A day in the life of a couple therapist

  1. Meet with clients, listen, ask questions, provide guidance & support

  2. Conduct assessments to understand couple's relationship, history & goals

  3. Develop treatment plans with goals & strategies for therapy

  4. Write reports & notes to document progress & important details

  5. Attend professional development events to stay current

  6. Handle administrative tasks, such as scheduling, answering emails & calls, and billing insurance

Man holding notebook and saying,' I'm sensing an underlying issue here. '

Man writing in his notebook and saying, 'there's strength in vulnerability.'

Quiz

Which of the following is part of a couples therapist's job?

Where can you work as a couple therapist?

An icon of a man working in front of a computer

Private Practice (in office or online)

  • on your own or as part of a group practice

An icon of university or college

Universities or Colleges

  • offering services to students, faculty, and staff

An icon of a hospital

Therapy Department in a Hospital

  • providing couples therapy as part of their mental health services

An icon of a clinic

Counseling Centers

  • such as community mental health clinics

An icon of government

Government Agencies

  • such as the Veterans Administration

An icon of hands holding three people to represent support

Nonprofit Organizations

  • such as domestic violence shelters

How much will you make?

Income varies depending on various factors such as level of education, experience, location, type of practice, and demand.

A man (Tom Cruise) talking on the phone and saying, 'Show me the money!'

The median average salary for marriage and family therapists (which includes couples therapists) is $52,124 CAD and $49,880 USD.

Is this job for you?

You should consider being a couple therapist if you:

  • enjoy helping others

  • have strong communication and interpersonal skills

  • have empathy, patience, and an ability to remain calm under pressure

  • have an interest in psychology, therapy, and human relationships

An icon of thumb upWhy might someone love the job?

  • Positive impact

  • Opportunity for specialization

  • Earning potential

  • Job opportunities

  • Career progression

An icon of thumb downWhy might someone hate the job?

  • Emotional toll

  • Challenging work

  • Educational requirements

  • Nontraditional work hours or settings

Take Action

An woman talking passionately and saying, 'we've got to do something.'

If it sounds like a career as a couples therapist might be the right path for you, take these next steps to get started:

License:

This Byte has been authored by

MW

Michelle Wang

Instructional Designer | Content Creator

English

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