Marriage Counselor
Marriage counselors work with couples to help resolve relationship difficulties by using specific counseling methods, principles, and particular therapy techniques. Counselors are responsible for interviewing couples to encourage communication, and help patients understand each other’s behavior to repair problems. He or she may implement group or individual therapy sessions, and designs therapy programs to meet individual needs. Other common duties include: working with children for family therapy, maintaining accurate patient records, handling insurance filings, and program planning. Marriage counselors may work as part of a larger medical practice, as part of an organization, or he or she may start their own independent practice.
Marriage counselors are typically required to hold a Master’s degree in counseling or psychiatry and must be licensed. In some cases, counselors may be required to be board certified as well. Other recommended attributes include: the desire to help others, trustworthiness, record keeping skills, computer skills, basic business skills, and the ability to work well with others. This field is growing faster than the overall professional career growth rate, with continued growth projected for the next five years.
The typical average salary of an experienced marriage counselor is about $38,900 per year. Individuals who go into private practice have a much higher earning potential.
