A Day-in-the-Life Perspective
If you’re considering a career in mental health, you may be wondering: what does a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) do?
One of the great things about being an MFT is the broad variety of settings for their clinical practice. Licensed MFTs can pursue a career path that suits their unique interests, so no two therapists’ schedules look exactly alike. This overview offers a real-world glimpse into the daily life and career settings of licensed MFTs. Whether you're exploring a master’s degree program, deciding between mental health career paths, or considering a career change, here’s what you can expect from life as an MFT—sometimes referred to as the family therapy profession.
What Is a Marriage and Family Therapist?
Marriage and family therapists are licensed mental health professionals who work with individuals, couples, and families to improve emotional well-being and relational dynamics. What sets MFTs apart from other mental health disciplines is the systemic framework, in which people are interconnected members of their family system. Rather than focusing on clients’ individual thoughts and behaviors to improve their wellbeing, MFTs explore the ways in which clients are affected by important relationships in their lives. You’ll work with family members to better understand their family systems and the family dynamics that make them work well and to diagnose and treat issues.
MFTs are trained to work with clients to help them navigate:
- Marriage and relationship conflict
- Sexuality and sexual dysfunction
- Relationship infidelity
- Parent-child relationships
- Divorce and co-parenting
- Abuse and trauma
- Disabilities and chronic medical conditions
- Child adjustment and behavioral concerns
- Mental health diagnoses such as anxiety or depression
- Substance abuse or addiction
- Life transitions and stressors
Hear a Fairfield University professor’s perspective on the profession in this article on What Is a Marriage and Family Therapist?. Carissa D'Aniello-Heyda, PhD, LMFT shares, “You have to be centered in yourself, know how to take care of yourself, and appropriately care without taking on other people's burdens. MFTs need to have a sense of responsibility because they are caring for other human beings." She adds, “It helps to be a good listener, empathetic, and nonjudgmental."
A Typical Day in the Life of an MFT
What are an MFT’s daily responsibilities? While schedules vary based on setting, most licensed marriage and family therapists split their time between direct client sessions, administrative tasks, collaboration, and professional development.
Administrative Tasks
Paperwork can be a tedious part of the therapist’s role, but proper documentation and record-keeping are vital for the therapy process as a way of tracking client progress and effective communicating with other providers. There are ethical and legal requirements for proper therapist documentation, so it requires dedicated time and attention. MFTs have unique responsibilities because their client is “the family” as opposed to the individual, which can present challenges with documentation. Specific duties often include:
- Completing session notes within the required timeframe
- Developing treatment plans based on the clients’ goals for therapy
- Recording recommendations and reviewing records provided by other providers
Therapy Sessions
Therapy sessions are the heart of the work. While sessions depend on the therapist’s specific clinical approach, most therapy sessions involve active listening, guiding reflection, and helping clients develop insight and coping tools. MFTs often shift roles throughout the day—moving from solo sessions to family meetings and back again. It helps to be a good listener with an empathetic approach that makes clients feel comfortable sharing. Daily sessions may include:
- A couple navigating trust issues
- A group of teenagers with disciplinary issues at school
- Parents seeking help to manage family conflict
- An individual who discloses a recent trauma
Collaboration & Supervision
MFTs are an important part of the treatment team by providing the relational or family perspective, particularly in settings that traditionally focus on the individual (e.g., schools, hospitals). They collaborate with other professionals or supervisors to determine the best treatment for clients, particularly those who work in community mental health agencies, hospitals, or school systems. Many therapists also participate in peer supervision or consultation meetings, especially during the early years of their career. Continuing education is also built into a therapist’s full-time schedule.
Where Do MFTs Work?
One of the appealing aspects of this profession is the flexibility in workplace settings. Many MFTs eventually open their own private practices or shift into supervision, teaching, or leadership roles. The ability to choose work environments based on your interests and values is a hallmark of the field. MFTs can be found in:
- Community mental health agencies
- Hospitals and integrated care settings
- Schools or universities
- Private practice (solo or group)
- Nonprofits or faith-based organizations
How Is MFT Different from Other Counseling Paths?
Compared to clinical mental health counselors or clinical social workers, MFTs are uniquely trained in:
- Relational systems thinking
- Couple and family dynamics
- Short-term approaches
While all mental health professionals help clients manage emotional and psychological challenges, MFTs are especially skilled at addressing how those challenges show up in relationships. If you're drawn to working with families, couples, or the broader relational context of life, MFT may be the right fit.
Learn more about how MFT compares to Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Social Work.
What Does Career Growth Look Like?
Once licensed, MFTs can pursue a variety of paths:
- Specializations in trauma, addiction, children/adolescents, etc.
- Pursue certifications in specialized treatment approaches
- Clinical supervision
- Teaching or academic roles
- Program leadership in community agencies
Many Fairfield University MFT graduates go on to hold leadership positions or launch independent practices. Career flexibility and continued personal growth are major benefits of the field. MFTs can join the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), which is the professional association for the field of marriage and family therapy, to network and pursue professional development opportunities.
You can explore student, faculty, and alumni stories and program outcomes to learn more about life as a therapist.
Is This the Right Career for You?
If you’re curious, empathetic, and driven to help others grow, the MFT profession may be calling you. Therapists often describe their work as meaningful, emotionally engaging, and personally transformative.
This field requires dedication and continued self-reflection—but for many, it’s more than a job. It’s a calling.
If you’re ready to explore the path, reach out to Fairfield’s MFT program advisors to learn more.
