Steps to Become a Family Therapist
Step 1: Complete an Undergraduate Degree in Counselling, Psychology or Social Work
Start with a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. Choose from a Bachelor of Counselling, Bachelor of Psychology, or Bachelor of Social Work. These AQF Level 7 degrees take 3 to 4 years full-time at a university. Look for a course that covers human growth, mental health, ethics in counselling, and therapy practice.
Step 2: Complete a Postgraduate Qualification in Family Therapy or Counselling
Complete a postgraduate qualification to practice as a family therapist. Enrol in a Master of Counselling or Master of Family Therapy at a university, taking 1 to 2 years full-time. Another option is the Graduate Diploma of Relationship Counselling (CHC81015, confirm the current code on training.gov.au). This takes around 1 year through an accredited RTO or university. Make sure your qualification meets the standards of PACFA or the Australian Counselling Association.
Step 3: Build Up 750+ Hours of Supervised Clinical Practice
Build up your supervised clinical hours during training or early career work. PACFA requires at least 750 supervised client hours for clinical membership. Much of this is done during your master’s program, but you may need to add hours after graduation. Keep clear records, as you will need them for your membership application.
Step 4: Apply for Professional Association Membership
Apply for membership with a professional body once you meet the training requirements. In Australia, the main bodies are PACFA, the Australian Counselling Association (ACA), and the Australian Association of Family Therapy (AAFT). Each has different membership tiers and requirements. Allow around 4 to 8 weeks to apply and have your qualifications checked.
Step 5: Complete Your Annual CPD Requirements
Complete your ongoing professional development (CPD) once you are a registered member. PACFA requires at least 30 CPD hours per year. Training can include workshops, online courses, clinical supervision, and peer consultation. Many family therapists specialise over time in areas such as trauma, family law, or child and adolescent therapy.
A family therapist spends their day helping clients tackle the things that strain relationships and family life. They run counselling sessions with individuals, couples, and entire families. In each session, they assess what clients need. They then apply techniques such as cognitive behaviour therapy or interpersonal therapy. They build tailored plans for each client, track progress, and share tools to use between appointments. Working with teachers, doctors, and social workers is a regular part of the job. It is active, varied, and deeply rewarding work.
Family therapists are the people who help when family life gets hard. They create a space where clients can speak openly and start to heal. Learning to communicate better is part of that process. Every day looks a little different, and that variety is one of the best parts of the job.
- Conducting counselling sessions – Meeting with individuals, couples, and families to talk through their concerns and emotional issues.
- Developing treatment plans – Building tailored strategies based on each client’s needs and goals.
- Using therapeutic techniques – Applying methods such as cognitive behaviour therapy and interpersonal therapy to support healing.
- Assessing client progress – Checking how clients are going and updating plans as needed.
- Providing resources and referrals – Pointing clients to support groups, educational materials, and other helpful services.
- Facilitating communication – Helping clients improve the way they talk and listen to each other.
- Addressing family dynamics – Exploring patterns of behaviour that affect how the family works together.
- Keeping client records – Noting session details and progress to ensure consistent care.
- Continuing professional development – Attending training and reading new research to keep skills sharp.
- Working with other professionals – Linking with psychologists, social workers, and doctors to give clients full support.
Working as a family therapist takes both people skills and clinical know-how. The most important skill is the ability to listen and show genuine empathy. Clients need to feel heard before they can open up and work through their challenges.
Problem-solving is just as vital. Family therapists look at the dynamics within a family and find ways to shift patterns that are causing harm. Cultural awareness also plays a big role, since therapists work with people from all kinds of backgrounds.
On the clinical side, therapists need to know techniques such as cognitive behaviour therapy and interpersonal therapy. These tools help clients deal with mental health issues, relationship conflicts, and other life challenges. The ability to bounce back from tough sessions is key, since the work can be emotionally demanding.
