Potential Doctorate of Marriage and Family Therapy (DMFT) Careers

A Doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy (DMFT) is a highly specialized degree that equips professionals to provide therapeutic services to improve family relationship dynamics. While a master’s degree is often sufficient to practice as a licensed marriage and family therapist, obtaining a doctorate in this field can unlock additional career opportunities.

Whether you want to work directly with families in need or contribute to shaping the future of mental health care, DMFT careers offer a wealth of possibilities.

For those interested in clinical work, a doctorate provides the qualifications to handle more complex cases, supervise others, or start a private practice if the applicant takes the Supervision track of the DMFT program. If teaching and research are your passions, numerous opportunities exist to influence the next generation of therapists or conduct important behavioral and applied sciences studies.

Options for Graduate Students in DMFT Careers

From specializing in niche therapeutic disciplines to leading a team of professionals or engaging in high-impact research, a Doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy provides the knowledge and expertise to succeed in multiple career fields. The flexibility of online programs allows professionals to earn their doctorates while maintaining professional and personal obligations.

The following are several potential DMFT careers available with this advanced degree.

Advanced Clinical Practice

Advanced clinical practice is one of the most direct career paths for individuals with a Doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy. With a doctoral degree, you may have the opportunity to work with more complex cases, lead multi-disciplinary teams, and take on specialized roles in mental health clinics, private practices, or hospitals. 

Therapists with a doctorate often focus on treating issues that require a deep understanding of family systems and dynamics. This can include working with families dealing with trauma, addiction, chronic illness, or high-conflict situations. In the Supervision Track of the DMFT program, your expertise may also position you to supervise other therapists or provide consultation services for professionals in different areas of healthcare.

Private Practice Ownership

For those with an entrepreneurial spirit, a Doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy can support the goal of owning and operating a private practice. While individuals with a master’s degree can open a practice, a doctorate may provide additional credibility and authority in the eyes of clients and other professionals.

A doctoral degree can help therapists differentiate their practices, allowing them to offer specialized services to niche populations. This may include working with high-profile clients, providing expert testimony in legal cases, or specializing in unique areas such as working with LGBTQ+ families, military families, or families with adopted children.

Private practice ownership also offers flexibility and autonomy. Practitioners can choose their clients, set their rates, and design their therapeutic approach. A doctoral degree may also lead to speaking engagements, publishing books or articles, and thought leadership.

Teaching and Academia

Many individuals with a Doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy may pursue careers in higher education. Teaching at the college or university level is an ideal pathway for those passionate about sharing their knowledge and shaping future therapists. Doctoral graduates can teach various higher education courses related to MFT, including family dynamics, couples therapy, trauma intervention, and child development.

In addition to teaching, academics often engage in research, contributing to the growing body of knowledge in marriage and family therapy. Research in MFT can include studying the effectiveness of new therapeutic techniques, exploring the impact of social or cultural changes on family dynamics, or investigating specific challenges faced by diverse family structures.

Faculty positions at colleges and universities may also involve mentoring students, providing clinical supervision to aspiring therapists if the applicant takes the Supervision Track of the DMFT program, and publishing articles in academic journals. A doctorate is typically required for tenure-track positions, offering a stable and prestigious career option for those interested in academia. 

Research and Policy Development

A research and policy development career might be a good fit for professionals interested in improving the larger systems that influence family dynamics. With a doctorate in MFT, you can contribute to research that shapes public policies related to mental health, family services, and child welfare.

Research in this field is critical to understanding trends in family behavior and the effectiveness of different therapeutic approaches. Opportunities may exist with universities, think tanks, or government agencies conducting studies that lead to changes in mental health services delivery. Researchers often collaborate with other mental health professionals, sociologists, and policymakers to address complex social issues, such as poverty, domestic violence, and the effects of systemic inequality on families.

Policy development roles allow professionals to advocate for changes that benefit families at a legislative or organizational level. This may include working with nonprofits, governmental agencies, or advocacy groups to promote laws and initiatives that provide better access to mental health services and support family well-being.

Leadership in Healthcare or Social Services

Leadership within healthcare or social service organizations is another potential career path with a Doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy. An advanced degree allows for work in positions such as clinical director, program manager, or administrator overseeing mental health services for entire communities.

Leaders in these roles are responsible for setting the direction of therapeutic programs, ensuring that services are delivered effectively, and managing a team of professionals. This may involve creating training programs, setting treatment protocols, and evaluating the success of interventions. Your deep understanding of family dynamics and systems theory can provide valuable insights into the delivery of services and the development of new programs.

Leadership positions are available in various settings, including hospitals, mental health clinics, nonprofits, and government agencies. These roles often require a blend of clinical expertise and business acumen, making a doctorate in MFT valuable for professionals looking to move into management.

The Touro University Worldwide Doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy

Touro University Worldwide offers an online Doctorate of Marriage and Family Therapy that prepares graduates to work at the highest levels of their profession. 

A graduate from the TUW program is qualified for a variety of MFT careers, including working as an agency administrator, clinical supervisor (if the applicant takes the Supervision Track of the DMFT program), private practitioner, clinical analyst, mental health educator, mental health researcher, and leadership positions in mental health-related practices. 

The DMFT program is designed for licensed mental health clinicians with an MFT or related degree. It empowers clinical professionals to innovate in education, administration, supervision, leadership, and research in marriage and family therapy.

Graduates from the 60-credit-hour DMFT program develop expertise in trauma and crisis intervention, advanced family therapy, grant writing, program development for families and communities, supervision, evaluation, and quantitative and qualitative research.