Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Marriage and Family Therapists are similar to Licensed Professional Counselors, except the focus of counseling is more on the family unit than on the individual. According to the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, it tends to be shorter term than other types of therapy (65% of therapist/client relationships are 20 sessions or less).

Marriage and Family Therapists must have a Master's degree or higher in marriage and family therapy or a related field. Additionally, license applicants must have between 1000 and 3000 hours of supervised work experience, and must pass a licensure exam. Some states require marriage and family therapists to complete between 20 and 30 hours of continuing education in order to renew a license. Those states that do license Marriage and Family Therapists separately from Professional Counselors use the "Therapist" label, but the term Licensed Marriage and Family Counselor is a commonly used term as well.