Master's Degrees in Family Counseling
As a form of psychotherapy, family counseling takes members of the entire immediate family and at times members of the extended family into consideration. Popular forms of family counseling include marital and divorce counseling, which usually involves a licensed psychologist and both members of the marital union. In cases where children are experiencing mental or emotional distress, siblings, parents and other family members may be asked to attend regular group meetings with a licensed psychologist. In counseling, a psychologist helps family members improve communication skills and work through prior hurts so the family can move forward and live in the present as healthy individuals. Different types of master's degrees in family counseling can equip a professional with the skill set and knowledge to effectively help families resolve conflicts and to remove barriers.
Schools
Colleges and universities offer master's degrees in psychology and psychotherapy that equip professionals to practice as family counselors. Many colleges and universities also offer online master's degree psychology programs. For example, Argosy University offers master's degrees in psychology and behavioral sciences. Areas of study around family counseling at the school include clinical psychology/marriage and family therapy, counseling psychology, counseling psychology/marriage and family therapy, and marriage and family therapy.
Another example is Pace University. The school offers a Master of Science degree in counseling and in mental health counseling. The school keeps class sizes smaller in order to provide educational and instructional focus to each student. In addition, Pace University's master's degree in family counseling courses focus on cognitive-behavioral, existential-humanistic and developmental counseling.
Master's degree in family counseling courses are offered at state and private colleges and universities. Before you make a final decision on which school to attend, meet with the administrator at the psychology department and express your needs and desires to make sure that the school offers what you are looking for.
Areas of Study
A master's degree in family counseling is offered in counseling psychology, clinical psychology, marital and family counseling, child and adolescent psychology, addiction counseling, Christian counseling, pastoral counseling, mental health counseling and general psychology. Psychologists who are already providing counseling in business management, human resources, social work, etc., may attend school part-time to earn a master's degree. Psychologists are required to have a master's degree before opening a private practice and working as a family counselor.
Types of Master's Degrees
According to All Psychology Schools, four major types of master's degrees in psychology are available. The Master of Arts degree in counseling or psychology is a general degree in psychology that requires the completion of a thesis as well as other assigned practice and a course of study. The Master of Arts psychology degree is an easier degree to transition to the doctorate degree than is the Master of Science degree in part because the Master of Arts degree requires the completion of a thesis.
The Master of Education degree focuses on counseling. If you are a psychologist who desires to work with families at the educational levels (such as a school counselor who may deal with the entire family, etc.) you may find that the Master of Education degree suits your needs best.
The Master of Science psychology degree is available in the fields of human services and mental health. Unlike the Master of Arts degree in psychology, the Master of Science degree does not require you to complete a thesis in order to graduate.
The Master of Social Work psychology degree is one of the more popular master's degrees available to psychologists working in family counseling. The degree is recognized in 50 states.
Careers
Earning a master's degree in family counseling allows you to open a private practice and operate out of your own office as a marriage and family counselor. Areas of focus for family counselors are behavioral difficulties, grief, depression, domestic violence, adultery, substance abuse and various types of marital discord.
A master's degree in family counseling also allows you to work as an educator at a college or university, teaching and guiding students who want to earn a degree as a psychologist. You can also write medical papers as an expert in your field of family counseling.
Considerations
Contact the admissions office at your top schools of choice to ascertain the eligibility requirements and admissions procedures. You might be eligible for financial aid. Contact the schools' financial aid offices to discover the aid you qualify for. Also connect with your state's post-secondary schools' financial aid offices to see if you qualify for additional aid, including state grants. In addition, before you enroll at a particular college or university to obtain your master's degree in family counseling, look into state family counseling psychology licensing requirements for the state that you reside in.
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