Should I Consider Becoming a Family Therapist?

---

There are many reasons why you would ask this question. Some would assume that you are a young person about to embark on that journey called “career path,” but that is not necessarily the case. Quite often, this is a path some rather well seasoned mental health professionals take. Many times, they already have psychology degrees and bring years of experience to the classroom with them. This is an interesting field that offers a variety of ways to ply the trade.

As a Family Therapist, you can work for an organization or work independently. A popular path is to do both at the same time. Many times, when someone does both simultaneously, it is for extra money to buy a home, or save for your children’s future, or your retirement. Yet another reason is to have security as you build a client or referral base. Either way, a Family Therapist has a wide range of career options to choose from and a wide variety of ways to pursue those options.

How to Be a Family Therapist

Do you wish to gain a deep understanding of therapy methods and how they apply to individuals? A Family Therapist degree will train you on how to become an effective therapist, and you will acquire all the necessary techniques and skills over time. As you start practicing, you will find that you will not be perfect at it at first, but with hard work and dedication, you can succeed and become a great licensed therapist. Before you commit, though, you should ask yourself these questions:

•Do you want to help people?
•What are your motivations?
•Are you truly interested in working with families and children to help them make their lives better?
•Can you actively and intently listen to the people and offer insight into their lives?

Answering yes to all of these questions would suggest that you are well oriented toward this profession and should consider it further.

Are There Other Areas to Consider in Becoming a Family Therapist?

The general therapy field offers many areas to pursue. Each therapy group has a unique way of approaching the individual patient’s problems. One patient may respond positively to a therapy that may not work for another, so many varieties of therapy have developed over time. Psychoanalytic is the most common form of therapy. It is often referred to as “talk therapy.”

Psychoanalytic therapy is where the therapist listens to their clients relate their thoughts and emotions. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is where the therapist focuses on specific problems and is mostly geared towards patients who are suffering from anxiety. Finally, there is group therapy. This is when two or more patients work together with a therapist. This can be effective because patients can learn to lean on each other for support and to offer advice to each other. It often helps clients know that they’re not in this battle alone.

Why a Family Therapist?

There are many areas of therapy in psychology to specialize in; family therapy gives you the whole gamut of human endeavors, which may be why you choose it. A family therapist is a generalist in many ways, dealing with adults and children in all aspects of their lives. That is indeed a challenge.

Family therapy is a challenging and a growing profession. If you are considering it, as either a college student or grizzled professional, you will likely find it a truly rewarding career path.