A family counselor is a specially trained counseling professional who works with family groups to address issues they are having, to improve communication and develop strategies for overcoming areas of tension. This type of counseling can be useful for any difficulties a family is facing – addiction, recovering from a traumatic event or challenging behaviors.
Sometimes the biggest benefit to families is the improvement in communication – a family counselor helps families develop healthy communication channels where everyone can have their say and feel that they are being listened to.
This improved communication can strengthen the family bonds and improve the relationships within the family group by increasing understanding and empathy between members.
These strategies can fundamentally change the way a family runs and can continue to provide a benefit long after the family counselor’s job is finished and the acute problem that brought them there in the first place, is resolved.
How Does Family Counseling Work?
Family counseling is a form of counseling used to address conflict or issues within the family unit – the focus of the family counselor is to improve the family relationships. It works on the basis that there are multiple people contributing to the conflict or the issues of the family and that they must all be involved to find an effective solution.
Family counseling helps to improve communication within the family and helps individuals to see problems from other’s perspectives. Family counseling brings family members together in way that allows everyone to discuss how issues are affecting them and to allow them to feel listened to. Working in this way encourages family members to become more aware of each other’s views and perceptions and helps them work together in pursuit of common goals.
Family therapy is often used when a family is in crisis and is usually more solution focused – with clearly defined aims and endpoints. The root of that crisis may be the issues of one particular member but it is seen that, to fully address the problem, all members of the family must be involved.
Some family counselors will work exclusively in whole family sessions, others will work with some members individually, particularly if there is one member who is particularly involved with an issue. Whilst operating these sessions with an individual, the family counselors aim will remain to ultimately include all family members in the resolution.
Attending family counseling usually involves family members discussing the issues in detail before arriving at agreed resolutions. Identifying root causes of conflict is a key aim before changes and adaptations in behavior can be agreed upon to address it. Whether that’s being more honest about feelings or dealing with aggression in different ways, there are many positive outcomes that can be reached by involving the whole family in the counseling process.
What are the Educational Requirements to Become a Family Counselor?
There is not one way to follow the path to becoming a family counselor. As the American Psychology Association reiterates and highlights, there are several different ways that an individual can begin their own practice or work in the field.
First and foremost is getting a strong education in the field. There are many colleges in the United States that offer individuals the chance to gain psychology knowledge via the traditional classroom setting. This is important to understanding the theories behind the practice and the evolution thereof.
There are many accredited undergraduate programs that offer a bachelor’s degree in the field. Others may have to choose a degree in general psychology, counseling, sociology, or even human services if their school does not offer a family counseling degree.
During a bachelor’s program it is highly recommended to take courses that will help you learn topics such as: human development, marriage and relationships, family dynamics and stages of life.
From there, then, the individual can par lay their talents into pursuing a masters degree in marriage and family counseling.
Licensure, which is determined by the government and reigning regulatory body of the state, often is required work in the field. To become a licensed professional counselor (LPC), typically a minimum of a master’s degree in the field of counseling is required.
Most states also require certain number of supervised work experience in order to sit for licensing examination. Information related to state professional counselor licensing boards is available on American Counseling Association website. You should carefully go through the requirements for obtaining a licensure in your state.
What Can You Do With a Master’s in Family Counseling?
Individuals that hold a master’s degree in family counseling are fortunate in that there are many different career options available to them. Unfortunately, this is because so many families struggle with significant family issues, from drug abuse to infidelity to poor communication, and everything in between.
Because training to become a family counselor involves experiences working with children, adolescents, and adults, as well as couples and families, family counselors can work with a wide variety of populations.
Government and Social Work
Many new family counselors choose to work in a government setting to gain valuable experience. Government jobs for family counselors can be found in various agencies, from the Department of Family Services to the Department of Corrections.
In these positions, family counselors often engage clients in therapy, but they also spend a significant amount of time performing social work-type duties, such as helping families find the resources they need to overcome obstacles to optimal family functioning.
For example, a family counselor at the Department of Family Services may work with a poverty-stricken family to help them acquire the services they need to purchase food and pay rent.
Community Mental Health
Community mental health is another popular career option for family counselors. Community mental health centers are usually non-profit organizations, so family counselors most often work with families that could not otherwise afford therapy. Like government work, family counselors in this setting would likely offer both therapeutic and practical services to their clients although the focus would mostly on therapy with the family.
For example, a community mental health family counselor might see the family in one, one-hour counseling session each week, then meet with the parents separately in another session to discuss long-term goals, such as acquiring training to get a better paying job or working on specific practical skills, such as communication, that would improve the family dynamic.
Private Practice
Other family counselors employ themselves in private practice, especially after getting some experience in the field. In this setting, counselors may work with families in group sessions, or they may choose to see clients individually.
Typically, both family-based and individual counseling is undertaken so counselors have insight into the individual perceptions of each family member and can also observe how the family interacts together.
Private practice gives counselors a lot of freedom in terms of when they work, how many clients they have, and what they charge their clients for their services. However, private practice also requires business savvy, countless hours of non-billable work time, and many expenses, such as malpractice insurance.
Counselor may also work in a team environment with other therapists and counselors that offer different expertise in the field. Be prepared, though, that it may take a while to gain access to this position of private counselor status. As with anything, if you want to be a family counselor in the private sector, it may just be worth it to pursue this avenue.