Marriage and family therapists are compassionate professionals who help people resolve conflicts as well as manage and overcome mental and emotional disorders. They see couples and families, of course, but increasingly, these therapists also treat individuals.

It’s a delicate business to work as a marriage and family therapist. You’re volunteering to interject yourself in the middle of sticky intimate relationships. Many of the people you’ll see on a daily basis are experiencing or have experienced emotional or mental trauma. You’ll spend your days discussing abuse, infidelity, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and grief. So who would pick this emotional land mine as their meal ticket?

Robert Salinger, a marriage and family therapist in Terryville, Connecticut, jokes, "I had a professor in graduate school who was very outspoken, and she came into our class one day and said, ’Let’s face it, no one in their right mind would go into this field unless they were screwed up, and we’re all trying to get less screwed up.’"

As the stigma that was once associated with therapy vanishes, more people are seeking professional assistance in managing their mental and emotional problems. This field is also expected to see growth as insurance companies refer more clients to marriage and family therapists rather than psychiatrists or psychologists. Marriage and family therapy tends to be the more cost-effective option. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 14.9% employment growth for marriage and family therapists between 2022 and 2032. In that period, an estimated 10,600 jobs should open up.

Marriage and family therapists complete both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree program, where they learn how to recognize the symptoms of mental and emotional disorders and provide effective treatment. Since it’s necessary to complete at least 2,000 hours of supervised clinical work before receiving a license, many students pursue internships to complement their coursework. All states require therapists to have a license to practice. For information on the national exam as well as state licensing information, visit the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards.