Why is the Field of Marriage and Family Therapy in High Demand?
Marriage and family therapists have been increasingly in demand throughout the 21st century (and projected at least over the next ten years). Various higher education programs have been created to compensate for this demand. A few options are available at The Chicago School to study Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT): the M.A. Marriage, Couples, and Family Therapy and Psy.D. Marital and Family Therapy.
There are a few crucial and increasingly complex reasons for this growing demand, such as burnout in mental health professionals, the divorce rate during the pandemic, therapists leaving practice, and the growing awareness of mental health. Family and marriage therapists are needed more than ever in our rapidly changing world.
Why COVID-19 Influenced Therapists and Mental Health Studies
Quarantine, new health risks, spiked stress and anxiety, the pandemic had a heavy impact on all of our lives, and families especially have gone through many difficulties during this period. The divorce rate during the pandemic saw a noticeable spike in the beginning as couples were forced to confront many insecurities all at once, and the daily routines they had built up over time wholly changed. These insecurities included blending work and home life, new health scares, and, of course, anxiety about how long the pandemic would last. Couples began to have necessary confrontations, and they were now unable to ignore underlying issues in their relationships due to the constant close quarters they had with their significant other.
Another aspect that took a toll on parents was having their children stay home. Parents were expected to work full-time from home and simultaneously be caregivers and educators, resulting in even more stress on the family dynamic.
With the rise of telecommunication across all spheres of life, from academic to professional, MFTs found a new opportunity in online therapy. This practice continues to be prevalent today, as families and couples can access a broader range of niche therapists who can take their insurance. However, this heavy demand and pressure have also affected therapists’ personal lives and resulted in a mental health worker shortage.
Challenges in the Modern World of Mental Health
As therapists do their best to help patients near and far with the help of online therapy, burnout in mental health professionals has become prevalent in more recent times, with a survey by SimplePractice finding that “over two-thirds of the practitioners experiencing burnout have reduced their caseload, leaving negative impacts on access to care overall. To make matters worse, 55% of practitioners blame administrative tasks as a main culprit, which can be exacerbated for those accepting insurance.”
While the mental health shortage can be seen across the board, it is especially prevalent in the field of child therapy. A child therapist shortage can be seen across the United States, as “during the 2021–22 school year, there was, on average, just one psychologist for every 1,127 students in kindergarten through 12th grade across the United States, as the National Association of School Psychologists has reported in this study.”
This is due to various factors, from a lack of compensation for the labor they are putting into a feeling of futility due to the lack of resources many hospitals have available. A survey from 2021 found that, on average, 88 children’s hospitals admit four teens per day to inpatient programs. This means that children with grave mental health issues, such as thoughts of self-harm or suicide, are unable to be given the proper assistance for days or even weeks. As a child therapist who wants to help, this is a grim reality to face, and it only further pushes burnout in mental health professionals who feel unable to help these children properly.
Educational Path To Becoming a Marriage and Family Therapist
Therapists are needed desperately in today’s world. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of MFTs is projected to grow by 16% from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations.With an MFT degree from The Chicago School, you can enter the workforce in a high-demand field and make a genuine difference in the lives of your patients and your fellow mental health workers—our M.A. and Psy.D. Marriage and Family Therapy programs are designed for those looking to make this change and just need the right tools to start that journey. Are you ready to make a positive impact on the lives of others? Connect with us today and learn more.