Marriage counsellor
Also known as: relationship coach, family counsellor, marriage guidance worker, marriage and family counsellor, marital crisis counsellor, couples counsellor
About this occupation
Marriage counsellors support and guide couples and families that are going through crises such as depression, substance abuse and relationship problems. They help improving their communication by providing group or individual therapy.
A specialisation of social counsellor.
Essential skills and knowledge
- apply quality standards in social services
- legal requirements in the social sector
- have emotional intelligence
- promote social change
- undertake continuous professional development in social work
- organise relapse prevention
- social sciences
- communicate professionally with colleagues in other fields
- report on social development
- maintain a non-emotional involvement
- deliver social services in diverse cultural communities
- maintain the trust of service users
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Marriage and Family Therapists (O*NET 21-1013.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Ask questions that will help clients identify their feelings and behaviors.
- Encourage individuals and family members to develop and use skills and strategies for confronting their problems in a constructive manner.
- Develop and implement individualized treatment plans addressing family relationship problems, destructive patterns of behavior, and other personal issues.
- Maintain case files that include activities, progress notes, evaluations, and recommendations.
- Counsel clients on concerns, such as unsatisfactory relationships, divorce and separation, child rearing, home management, or financial difficulties.
- Determine whether clients should be counseled or referred to other specialists in such fields as medicine, psychiatry, or legal aid.
- Preparation
- Job Zone 5 of 5
- Interests
- Social, Investigative, Artistic
Top skills: Active Listening, Social Perceptiveness, Speaking, Service Orientation, Reading Comprehension, Complex Problem Solving
US median pay: US$66,940 a year (2025), 66,740 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- PsychologyO*NET: PsychologyExtremely important (4.8)
- SociologyO*NET: Sociology and AnthropologyVery important (4.1)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (3.9)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
- Mental Health Counselors
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
- Healthcare Social Workers
- Rehabilitation Counselors
- Social and Human Service Assistants
- Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
- Recreational Therapists
- School Psychologists
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.