Marital Therapy Training

Becoming a marital therapist requires extensive and intense training. They must stay up to date on different psychological treatments and counseling methods. Marital therapists are typically in school for six to eight years depending on whether they obtain a master’s degree or doctoral.

Marital Therapy Classes

There are several general classes and an couple of specialization tracks that assist the therapist in specializing in a particular area. These are the general classes required in order to obtain a Masters in Marriage and Family Counseling:

Foundations of Graduate Study in Counseling - Very basic training class that may vary in title from school to school as it gives specific information on the school and covers basic psychology as well.

Introduction to Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling - This training gives a general introduction to marriage and family counseling. It gives an overview on the different organizations where positions are held. The class touches on the standards of practice for the different specialty areas. History, philosophy and different trends in marriage are also covered.

Ethics and Legal Issues in Counseling - This training gives a general introduction to the mental health and basic counseling field. This course teaches the student the different processes of becoming an advocate for their clients.

Techniques in Counseling – This course guides the students into learning the principals and different skills that are related to ethical, cultural issues, interviewing, observation, and different procedures connected to research and data collection.

Lifespan Development - This training course gives a broader perspective of the lifespan of children, adolescents, adults and the process of aging. The development phases, cognitive issues, and the latest research in attachment theories and brain research.

Research and Program Evaluation - This training course gives the foundations in the design of qualitative and quantitative approaches to counseling. Crisis, Trauma, and Disaster Response- This training provides an understanding on how to assist couples and families when they encounter trauma. This course exposes the various skills and practices linked to handling crisis issues.

Child and Adolescent Counseling - This training course teaches the students to view intervention from a family systems perspective.

Theories and Techniques in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling – This training course is on empirically supported treatments and techniques for dealing with intervention and development for families and couples.

Group Process and Dynamics- This course prepares the student to work in professional group settings and using different theories.

Here are a few more training courses that a marital therapist will take prior to certification and licensing:

Assessment in Counseling and Education; Human Sexuality; Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation; Counseling Practicum; Career Counseling; Multicultural Counseling; Diagnosis and Assessment; Counseling and Psychotherapy Theories; Counseling Internship I; Counseling Internship II

Ongoing Training for Marital Therapist

Marital therapist receive ongoing trainings that will enhance their abilities to service their clients professionally and effectively. The issues that couples and families deal with have become more intense and trauma based, and more specialized trainings are needed to assist them. The updated trainings equip the marital therapist with new counseling strategies and intervention skills.

Marital therapists stay informed by keeping their skills sharpened in order to improve interagency interactions and their clinical judgments. They increase their understanding of the current methodologies in their field of work. Marital therapist receive intense schooling as they enter their careers. This intense training continues throughout their career to keep them fresh and effective.