Family, marriage and other related counsellors

About this job

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Source: WorkBC’s Career Trek

Family, marriage and other related counsellors:

help people and groups of clients identify, understand and overcome personal problems and achieve personal objectives
work for counselling centres, social service agencies, group homes, government agencies, family therapy centres, and health-care and rehabilitation facilities
may work in private practice

Common job titles

consultant, behavioural
consultant, disability / special needs
consultant, psychoeducational

counsellor / therapist, addictions
counsellor, bereavement / grief
counsellor, child / youth / family
counsellor, clinical / registered clinical
counsellor, community mental health
counsellor, crisis
counsellor, family planning
counsellor, genetic
counsellor, group home

counsellor, special needs
counsellor, vocational rehabilitation
counsellor, welfare organization

officer, human relations
psychoeducator
sexologist
therapist, couples
therapist, eating disorder
therapist, play
therapist, registered
therapist, sex
zootherapist

consultant, behavioural
consultant, disability / special needs
consultant, psychoeducational
counsellor / therapist, addictions
counsellor, bereavement / grief
counsellor, child / youth / family

counsellor, clinical / registered clinical
counsellor, community mental health
counsellor, crisis
counsellor, family planning
counsellor, genetic
counsellor, group home
counsellor, special needs
counsellor, vocational rehabilitation
counsellor, welfare organization
officer, human relations
psychoeducator
sexologist
therapist, couples
therapist, eating disorder
therapist, play
therapist, registered
therapist, sex
zootherapist

Earnings

Annual provincial median salary

$57,354

Source: 2016 Job Bank Wage data

Note:Estimated median employment income based on 2016 Job Bank median hourly wage rate (median annual salary = hourly wage rate x 40 (hours per week) x 52.14 (weeks per year))

Provincial hourly rate

High
Median
Low

Source: 2016 Job Bank Wage Report

B.C. Labour Market Outlook (2017-2027)

Provincial outlook

Forecasted average employment growth rate

2017 - 2022
2022 - 2027

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job openings

10 year expected job openings: 2,320

2017
2022
2027

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Composition of job openings

New jobs due to economic growth:
36.2%
840 openings

Replacement of retiring workers:
63.8%
1,480 openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Regional outlook

Cariboo

Employment in 2017:

130

Average annual employment growth:

0.5%

Expected number of job openings:

50

Kootenay

Employment in 2017:

140

Average annual employment growth:

0.7%

Expected number of job openings:

50

Mainland / Southwest

Employment in 2017:

3,160

Average annual employment growth:

1.7%

Expected number of job openings:

1,420

North Coast & Nechako

Employment in 2017:

80

Average annual employment growth:

0.5%

Expected number of job openings:

30

Northeast

Employment in 2017:

N/A

Average annual employment growth:

N/A

Expected number of job openings:

N/A

Thompson-Okanagan

Employment in 2017:

520

Average annual employment growth:

1.1%

Expected number of job openings:

230

Vancouver Island / Coast

Employment in 2017:

1,140

Average annual employment growth:

1.5%

Expected number of job openings:

540

N/A - Data not available

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Duties

Family, marriage and other related counsellors:

interview clients, prepare case histories and assess problems
do vocational testing and psychometric assessment
develop and put in place counselling and intervention programs to help clients set and achieve goals
counsel clients, provide therapy and mediation services, and run group sessions
coordinate with community agencies or partners, and identify additional or alternative services and provide referrals
evaluate the effectiveness of counselling programs and interventions, and clients' progress in resolving identified problems and movement toward their goals
follow up on results of counselling programs and clients' adjustments
prepare assessment, progress, follow-up and court reports
may supervise other counsellors, social service staff and assistants
may provide public education and consultation to other professionals or groups regarding counselling services, issues and methods
may provide witness testimony in court proceedings
may conduct research, publish research papers, educational texts and articles, and deliver presentations at conferences
may participate in fundraising activities

Special duties

Family, marriage and other related counsellors often specialize in dealing with a specific client group such as: injured workers, people with drug and alcohol addiction, people with marital difficulties or people with behavioural disorders.

Work environment

Key aspects of the work in this occupation:

Work takes place in an office setting.

Workforce and employment statistics

Workforce characteristics

4,500 workers are employed

46% of workers are working mostly full time

Source: 2011 National Household Survey

Employment by gender

Men

Women

Source: 2011 National Household Survey

Employment by age group

15 - 24 years

25 - 44 years

45 - 64 years

65+ years

Source: 2011 National Household Survey

Labour force by industry

Health Care and Social Assistance:

76%

Public Administration:

11%

Other Private Services:

5%

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services:

3%

Educational Services:

2%

View more industry data

Source: 2011 National Household Survey

Employment by region

% employment of this occupation

% employment of all occupations

Cariboo

Kootenay

Mainland / Southwest

North Coast & Nechako

Northeast

Thompson-Okanagan

Vancouver Island / Coast

Source: 2011 National Household Survey

Job requirements

Education, training & qualifications

A master's degree in the field of counselling, mental health or a related social service discipline is usually required.
In Quebec, a master's degree in psychoeducation is required to practise as a psycho-educator.
An undergraduate degree or college diploma in a social science is required for certain areas of counselling.
Membership with a provincial association for marriage and family therapists or clinical counsellors is required to use the title "Registered Marriage and Family Therapist" or "Registered Clinical Counsellor", and in Quebec, to use the title "marriage and family therapist (MFT)", "family therapist (FT)" or "marriage therapist (MT)". Membership with a provincial association may be required by some employers.
In Quebec, membership in the professional association is mandatory for counsellors and psychoeducators.
Registered marriage and family therapists and registered clinical counsellors must meet strict criteria involving post-graduate education and a period of supervised clinical work with clients.

Skills

Social
Detail-Oriented
Clerical Ability
Directive
Manual Dexterity
General Learning Ability

View skills definitions

Education programs in B.C.

The following program areas are related to this occupation:

Social Work

For more information about programs offered specifically for this career, visit EducationPlannerBC.

Related careers

Career paths and resources

Career paths

Counsellors usually become specialized in a particular area through training and experience.

Progression to social service management positions is possible with additional training and experience.

Additional resources

Additional resources are not currently available for this career.

Family, marriage and other related counsellors (NOC 4153)

About this job

Earnings

Annual provincial median salary

Provincial hourly rate

B.C. Labour Market Outlook (2017-2027)

Provincial outlook

Forecasted average employment growth rate

Job openings

Composition of job openings

Regional outlook

Duties

Special duties

Work environment

Workforce and employment statistics

Workforce characteristics

Employment by gender

Employment by age group

Labour force by industry

Employment by region

Job requirements

Education, training & qualifications

Skills

Education programs in B.C.

Related careers

Career paths and resources

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