Family therapy jobs can include positions in educational institutions, clinics and other health care facilities, court settings, and schools. Such positions typically require a degree along with a qualifying license to practice in a given region. People who have not yet completed their training are eligible for mentored internships where they work under supervision to build up the clinical hours needed to qualify for practice. In some regions, family therapy specialists also need to meet continuing education requirements to retain their licenses.
In education, family therapy jobs are open to people interested in training the next generation of therapists. These can include classroom lecturing roles as well as positions as clinical mentors. In both cases, the therapist needs to be able to work on curriculum development, mentoring of individual students, and managing issues that may arise in class or clinical training. Training programs may offer benefits, particularly to people who earn tenure.
Health care settings like hospitals, clinics, and therapy practices may have family therapy jobs available. These can include jobs as therapists for clients and referrers, as well as clinical social workers. Social workers interview people to determine what kinds of services they need and refer them to the appropriate care provider. This can include multiple meetings in some cases to address complex issues.
Legal environments like courts and law enforcement agencies may also use licensed family therapists. These family therapy jobs can involve interacting with suspects and others to help collect testimony or address emotional problems. A police officer might, for example, request a therapist to assist a hospitalized rape victim. Courts may order people to undergo therapy or to meet with a counselor as part of a domestic violence or divorce proceeding, in which case the court may have a therapist available.
Schools also have family therapy jobs available. Students with emotional problems may meet with a counselor. These can include issues with home life, bullying, stress about assignments, and other matters. The licensed therapist can offer mentoring, referral if necessary, and therapy sessions for the student. If the school requires an evaluation of a student to determine fitness to enter school, the family therapist may perform this screening and identify any issues that may require special attention.
Applicants for family therapy jobs typically need to provide evidence of appropriate education and credentials along with a professional resume. It is common to ask for both personal and professional references, including former employers and trainers. In addition, a background check may be required for legal protection, and to confirm that someone is eligible to practice.