Marriage and Family Therapists
Diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders, whether cognitive, affective, or behavioral, within the context of marriage and family systems. Apply psychotherapeutic and family systems theories and techniques in the delivery of services to individuals, couples, and families for the purpose of treating such diagnosed nervous and mental disorders.
AI Impact Summary
Marriage and Family Therapists faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 30/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 40% of all analyzed occupations. Of 16 analyzed tasks, 2 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Negotiation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Marriage and Family Therapists skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
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Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
by DataCamp
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Creative Writing Specialization
by Wesleyan University
Estimated Impact
Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Inspired Leadership Through Emotional Intelligence
by Case Western Reserve University
Estimated Impact
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Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
16 tasks analyzed
Ask questions that will help clients identify their feelings and behaviors.
Counsel clients on concerns, such as unsatisfactory relationships, divorce and separation, child rearing, home management, or financial difficulties.
Encourage individuals and family members to develop and use skills and strategies for confronting their problems in a constructive manner.
Maintain case files that include activities, progress notes, evaluations, and recommendations.
Develop and implement individualized treatment plans addressing family relationship problems, destructive patterns of behavior, and other personal issues.
Collect information about clients, using techniques such as testing, interviewing, discussion, or observation.
Confer with clients to develop plans for posttreatment activities.
Confer with other counselors, doctors, and professionals to analyze individual cases and to coordinate counseling services.
Determine whether clients should be counseled or referred to other specialists in such fields as medicine, psychiatry, or legal aid.
Supervise other counselors, social service staff, and assistants.
Write evaluations of parents and children for use by courts deciding divorce and custody cases, testifying in court if necessary.
Follow up on results of counseling programs and clients' adjustments to determine effectiveness of programs.
Provide instructions to clients on how to obtain help with legal, financial, and other personal issues.
Provide public education and consultation to other professionals or groups regarding counseling services, issues, and methods.
Provide family counseling and treatment services to inmates participating in substance abuse programs.
Gather information from doctors, schools, social workers, juvenile counselors, law enforcement personnel, and others to make recommendations to courts for resolution of child custody or visitation disputes.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ask questions that will help clients identify their feelings and behaviors. | 71.05Observed | 43.4% | 12% | |
| Counsel clients on concerns, such as unsatisfactory relationships, divorce and separation, child rearing, home management, or financial difficulties. | 69.73Observed | 42.9% | 15% | |
| Encourage individuals and family members to develop and use skills and strategies for confronting their problems in a constructive manner. | 67.25Observed | 41.9% | 12% | |
| Maintain case files that include activities, progress notes, evaluations, and recommendations. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 15% | |
| Develop and implement individualized treatment plans addressing family relationship problems, destructive patterns of behavior, and other personal issues. | 65.8Observed | 53.3% | 10% | |
| Collect information about clients, using techniques such as testing, interviewing, discussion, or observation. | 46.88Observed | 33.8% | 8% | |
| Confer with clients to develop plans for posttreatment activities. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 5% | |
| Confer with other counselors, doctors, and professionals to analyze individual cases and to coordinate counseling services. | 35Estimated | 41.0% | 4% | |
| Determine whether clients should be counseled or referred to other specialists in such fields as medicine, psychiatry, or legal aid. | 30Estimated | 39.0% | 3% | |
| Supervise other counselors, social service staff, and assistants. | 10Estimated | 19.0% | 3% | |
| Write evaluations of parents and children for use by courts deciding divorce and custody cases, testifying in court if necessary. | 20Estimated | 35.0% | 3% | |
| Follow up on results of counseling programs and clients' adjustments to determine effectiveness of programs. | 30Estimated | 27.0% | 2% | |
| Provide instructions to clients on how to obtain help with legal, financial, and other personal issues. | 57.93Observed | 72.4% | 2% | |
| Provide public education and consultation to other professionals or groups regarding counseling services, issues, and methods. | 66.22Observed | 41.5% | 2% | |
| Provide family counseling and treatment services to inmates participating in substance abuse programs. | 10Estimated | 19.0% | 2% | |
| Gather information from doctors, schools, social workers, juvenile counselors, law enforcement personnel, and others to make recommendations to courts for resolution of child custody or visitation disputes. | 30Estimated | 39.0% | 2% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 35.8%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$63,780
per year
Mean Wage
$72,720
per year
Employment
66K
workers
Wage Range
$42,610 - $111,610
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
Explore other career paths
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Alternate Career Paths
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Mental Health Counselors
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Neuropsychologists and Clinical Neuropsychologists
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Higher risk than 27% of other occupations
School Psychologists
29%Higher risk than 34% of other occupations
Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
29%Higher risk than 34% of other occupations
Clinical Psychologists
30%Higher risk than 37% of other occupations
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
31%Median salary: $60,060
Higher risk than 42% of other occupations
Child, Family, and School Social Workers
32%Median salary: $58,570
Higher risk than 49% of other occupations
Counseling Psychologists
32%Higher risk than 50% of other occupations
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
34%Median salary: $80,330
Higher risk than 60% of other occupations
Sales Managers
25%Higher risk than 20% of other occupations
Chief Executives
26%Higher risk than 23% of other occupations
General and Operations Managers
28%Higher risk than 29% of other occupations
Marketing Managers
30%Higher risk than 38% of other occupations
Advertising and Promotions Managers
31%Higher risk than 43% of other occupations
Computer and Information Systems Managers
31%Higher risk than 45% of other occupations
Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Marriage and Family Therapists professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Reading Comprehension
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Social Perceptiveness
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Service Orientation
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Complex Problem Solving
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Persuasion
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change