An LMFT, or licensed marriage and family
therapist, practices an established sub-discipline within the
psychological counseling profession. This field is a viable career path
for those who want to start helping others resolve their familial
conflicts, as well as established counselors who want to specialize. A
number of schools offer online master's degree programs in marriage and
family therapy.
Overview of an Online Master's Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy
An online master's degree program in marriage and family therapy
builds on previously acquired knowledge in general psychological theory.
It is designed to cover practical counseling techniques and help
students cultivate an understanding of issues in order to facilitate the
counseling process. Aspiring LMFTs learn to observe the interactions
between couples and members of a family, identify harmful or destructive
behavior patterns and suggest changes to resolve conflicts. Programs
also touch upon cultural diversity and instill a sense of professional
ethics. Admission to a master's degree program requires candidates to
hold a bachelor's degree, preferably in psychology.
Courses lectures and readings are accessible 24 hours a day through
the school website. Interactions with instructors, mentors and other
students are conducted via online message boards, e-mail and phone. The
academic portion of an online program can be completed entirely online.
Clinical practicum courses must be completed onsite in a family therapy
setting. A master's degree is typically earned in 2-3 years.
Internet access on a relatively new personal computer, a word
processor and presentation software are the primary technical
requirements for enrolling in an online master's degree. To deliver LMFT
training materials, schools may use a proprietary content management
system or a standard commercial system such as Blackboard.
List of Common Marriage and Family Therapy Courses
Many schools organize their master's degree programs into a small set
of core courses and a large set of elective or specialization courses.
However, some marriage and family therapy programs often have a large
core set with few or no electives.
Counseling Theory Course
This course surveys counseling theories and models of therapy that
are most widely used today. Students examine clinical histories
documenting successful interventions that helped restore couples and
family relationships.
Family Therapy Systems Course
Students learn the history of family therapy and its development to
the present day. Coursework examines how changing cultural perspectives
and values have affected the profession's choice of therapeutic
techniques over time.
Child Psychology Course
The emphasis of this course is counseling theory and its application
to psychological and behavioral problems in children. Topics covered
include theories of learning, sex role development, socialization and
parent-child relationships.
Human Sexuality Course
This course applies fundamental concepts in sexuality to couples and
family therapy. Sexual identity, sexual behavior and assessment of
sexual disorders are among the topics covered.
Graduates from an online master's degree program in marriage and
family therapy are qualified to offer counseling services specifically
aimed at couples and families. Apart from private practice, licensed
marriage and family therapy counselors may find staff positions at
inpatient facilities, community mental health centers, social service
agencies, judicial courts and schools. The U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics predicts that the employment of
marriage and family therapists will grow 14% from 2008 to 2018 (
www.bls.gov).
An increased recognition of the field and willingness of married
couples and families to seek counseling will support growth. LMFTs
earned a median annual salary of $46,920 as of May 2009.
All states and the District of Columbia require marriage and family
therapists to be licensed; hence, the designation of LMFT. The
Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Board (
www.amftrb.org) offers a certification exam to help state licensing boards with the licensure process. The exam is not offered online.
No comments:
Post a Comment