By now, you may have heard that, in December 2009, US News and World Report declared Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) one of the best careers in 2010. How could they make that claim? It appears that the news came from the US Department of Labor Statistics. As one of their many functions, they track occupational trends as one measure of an overall monitoring of economic patterns within the United States. They estimated that MFT employment demands will rise 14% between 2008 and 2018. Perhaps, it is equally noteworthy that of the 665,500 counselors of all types employed in the United States only about 4% (27,300) are Marriage and Family Therapist. What are some of the likely implications of that increased demand? As many of you know, we have a unique perspective on the work we do. Are we up to the challenge of work in the twenty first century clinical arena?

We thought it would be interesting to compare points of view. One is that of an older clinician with years of experience in the public and private sector. The other is that of a new practitioner who completed a residency in the public sector and recently began working in the private sector.

Perhaps an increase in demand suggests more people will be seeking assistance for the very specific skill set of a clinician trained in Marriage and Family Therapy. What are the skills they may need and how are they best delivered? Some potential younger clients are likely to be internet information savvy and searching for quick straightforward answers to relationship challenges. They may be well informed, want practical straightforward solutions, and have limited resources of time and money. The provider needs to be affordable, knowledgeable, and easily accessible. Client contact is likely to be short with relatively well defined problems. Get the job done quickly and move on may be the agenda. Others may have been in a long-standing relationship that has grown weary after years of employment and parenting. They could be wondering if a committed relationship is right for them and can they manage the emotionally complex, costly process of separation or divorce. They too are likely to want answers but may be ambivalent about their choices. Whatever direction they choose could seem painful and undesirable.

An effective therapist is expected to be highly competent, with well developed communication skills, and able to deliver sometimes uncomfortable therapeutic strategies in clear language. In addition, the provider may experience residual stress that, if not managed well; will deter eagerness to provide further services. Effective, affordable
training and skillful, accessible supervision may be prerequisites of an effective practice of marriage and family therapy.

So the implications of increased work are likely to require well developed effective skills, easy public access, reliable stress management techniques, opportunities to discuss treatment experiences with either a supportive, knowledgeable colleague or readily accessible supervisor and varied inexpensive cutting edge training opportunities.