Mental Health Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists
Working Conditions
Mental health counselors held about 134,500 jobs in 2014. The industries that employed the most mental health counselors in 2014 were as follows:
Individual and family services
21%
Outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers
17
Residential intellectual and developmental disability, mental health, and substance abuse facilities
12
Hospitals; state, local, and private
11
State and local government, excluding education and hospitals
9
Marriage and family therapists held about 33,700 jobs in 2014. The industries that employed the most marriage and family therapists in 2014 were as follows:
Individual and family services
30%
State and local government, excluding education and hospitals
23
Outpatient care centers
15
Offices of other health practitioners
8
Nursing and residential care facilities
6
Mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists work in a variety of settings, such as mental health centers, substance abuse treatment centers, hospitals, and colleges. They also work in private practice and in Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), which are mental health programs that some employers provide, to help employees deal with personal problems.
Working with and assisting clients with a variety of emotional and mental problems may be stressful.
Mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists occasionally may travel to meet clients and patients.
Work Schedules
Mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists generally work full time. Some counselors and therapists work evenings and weekends in order to accommodate their clients' schedules.