Counsel individuals, couples, and families to work through relationship and mental health problems.
You may also see this posted as: Clinical Therapist, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT), Outpatient Therapist, Counselor, Family Therapist.
Offices, clinics, or remote
Full time, some evenings
Social
helping, teaching, caring for, or supporting other people
Investigative
solving problems, analyzing evidence, and figuring out how things work
Artistic
creating, designing, performing, or working without a rigid script
O*NET job zone 5 of 5
Extensive preparation—often graduate education and significant experience—is common.
Examples employers report—not a checklist you must already know.
May 2025 BLS wage & employment data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.
Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.
“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.
BLS estimates 12.8% of workers in this occupation are self-employed.
Statewide medians are a better starting point than the national number. Your city and experience still matter.
Master's degree
Training path: Master's plus supervised clinical hours.
Related work experience: None.
On-the-job training: Internship/residency.
Requires a master's degree, supervised clinical hours, and a state MFT license.
Licensing rules and available programs change by state. These federal tools take you to the current official listings.
Counsels couples and families through relationship and mental health struggles.
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Standard Occupational Classification 21-1013. Pay and employment from the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey; outlook and openings from the 2024–34 employment projections; job context from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; tasks, interests, work styles, software examples, and job zone from O*NET 30.3. See something off? Tell us.