Becoming a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist in Michigan
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The responsibility of a marriage family therapist is to work with couples and families as well as individuals bringing a family centered perspective into the treatment process. The family therapist will evaluate each person’s role within the family and how these roles may be affecting their mental health. The marriage family counselor treats the client’s relationships and not just the client. Some issues that may be addressed include stress, low self-esteem, substance abuse and addiction.
To become licensed as a therapist in the state of Michigan there are several requirements that a person must meet. Below is a guideline of some of the requirements that a person will need to obtain before applying for their family therapist license in the state.
Educational Requirements for Marriage Family Therapists in Michigan
In the state of Michigan as well as most other places you will need to obtain at least a master’s degree or a doctorate degree in therapy. When choosing a college or university to obtain this degree from it is important to make sure that the program has been approved by the state.
There are several course requirements that must be met including:
- Family Studies: applicants must take three courses in this area equal to six semester or nine quarter hours.
- Family therapy methodology: three courses are required in this field equaling six semester hours or nine quarter hours.
- Human Development, psychopathology, or personality theory: three courses in this field are required equaling six semester hours or nine quarter hours.
- Law, ethics, and the standards of professional practice: two semester hours or three quarter hours.
- Research: two semester hours or three quarter hours must be in this area.
Learn more about Michigan MFT degrees.
Additional Requirements for Marriage Family Therapists in Michigan
In addition to the education requirements an applicant must also provide verification from a supervisor that they have completed a minimum of 300 hours of direct client contact. Of these 300 hours at least half (150 hours) must occur within a setting where there were couples, families, or family subsystems present in the room.
In addition to the 300 required experience hours a person must also have completed sixty hours of supervised clinical experience during at least eight consecutive months. This clinical experience must have been completed during a practicum during their graduate education or by working at an approved marriage and family institute after graduation.
Practicum supervisors must be:
- A licensed master’s social worker or
- A licensed marriage and family therapist or
- A physician practicing in a mental health setting or
- A licensed professional counselor or
- A licensed psychologist or
- A supervisor that has been approved by AAMFT
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Career Outlook In Michigan
Those that are looking to become a marriage family therapist will be happy to know that the number of jobs available is expected to increase greatly within the next few years. The two main reasons for this increase are that the population is going to continue to grow and that insurance companies are expected to begin covering the cost of therapy for their clients.
In 2022, there were 260 marriage family therapists in the state of Michigan. The median salary for those employed in the field in the state of Michigan was $46,570.
In the nation the median wage for mental health counselors was $49,710 as of May 2022. Marriage and family therapists tend to have a higher median salary which was $56,570. The average median wage for these positions will vary from state to state.
Research Additional Psychology Professional Licenses Granted by Michigan:
- Michigan Psychologist Licensing
- Michigan Counselor Licensing
- Michigan Social Work Licensing
- Learn More About The Career of an LMFT
2022 US Bureau of Labor Statistics job market trends and salary figures for marriage and family therapists and substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors are based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed August 2023.
Schools with MFT Degree Programs Accepting Students from Michigan
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