21-1013.00 · Learning planner
Marriage and Family Therapists: a task-based learning plan
Diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders, whether cognitive, affective, or behavioral, within the context of marriage and family systems. Apply psychotherapeutic and family systems theories and techniques in the delivery of services to individuals, couples, and families for the purpose of treating such diagnosed nervous and mental disorders.
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Understand the profile before choosing priorities
The table shows the ten highest importance ratings among 25 skills with usable ratings. Skills tied on importance can share a rank. Importance (1–5) and level (0–7) describe different dimensions. A level of 4 is not 4/7 of a course, and neither scale is your personal score. Source dates refer to the underlying rating, not the database release date.
| Skill | Importance / 5 | Level / 7 | Rating date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.75 | 4.88 | 08/2026 · Analyst |
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.38 | 5.62 | 08/2026 · Analyst |
| Speaking | 4.25 | 4.12 | 08/2026 · Analyst |
| Service Orientation | 4.12 | 4.25 | 08/2026 · Analyst |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.00 | 4.25 | 08/2026 · Analyst |
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.00 | 4.12 | 08/2026 · Analyst |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.00 | 4.12 | 08/2026 · Analyst |
| Writing | 3.88 | 4.12 | 08/2026 · Analyst |
| Critical Thinking | 3.88 | 4.12 | 08/2026 · Analyst |
| Active Learning | 3.88 | 4.12 | 08/2026 · Analyst |
Anchor the plan in an actual task
Choose one reported task you want to understand better. Then choose one to three skills and describe an appropriate learning activity, evidence you will review and a date. For practical work requiring authorization, choose relevant coursework, observation or supervised training.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for marriage and family therapists.
Level 4: Answer inquiries regarding credit references
Level 6: Serve as a judge in a complex legal disagreement
What would you ask the other person to clarify, and how would you confirm you understood?
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for marriage and family therapists.
Level 6: Counsel patients who are depressed during a crisis period
Level 4: Be aware of how a coworker's promotion will affect a work group
What perspective or concern might another person bring to this task?
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for marriage and family therapists.
Level 4: Interview applicants to obtain personal and work history
Level 6: Argue a legal case before the Supreme Court
How would you explain the task, audience needs and next step in a short conversation?
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for marriage and family therapists.
Level 4: Make flight reservations for customers using an online booking site
Level 6: Direct relief agency operations in a disaster area
What does the person receiving the work need, and how would you confirm the need was met?
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for marriage and family therapists.
Level 4: Understand an email from management describing new personnel policies
Level 6: Read a scientific journal article describing surgical procedures
Which instruction, constraint or exception in a document would you need to explain accurately?
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for marriage and family therapists.
Level 4: Redesign a floor layout to take advantage of new manufacturing techniques
Level 6: Develop a plan to provide emergency relief for a major metropolitan area
How would you separate the problem into parts and compare possible explanations?
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for marriage and family therapists.
Level 4: Evaluate a loan application for degree of risk
Level 6: Decide whether a manufacturing company should invest in new robotics technology
Which options, constraints and consequences would you compare, and what could change the choice?
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for marriage and family therapists.
Level 4: Write an email to staff outlining new directives
Level 6: Write a novel for publication
What document would another person need, and how would you check that they could act on it?
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for marriage and family therapists.
Level 4: Evaluate customer complaints and determine appropriate responses
Level 6: Write legal brief challenging a federal law
What assumption could change your conclusion, and what evidence would you check first?
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for marriage and family therapists.
Level 4: Determine the impact of new menu changes on a restaurant's purchasing requirements
Level 6: Identify the implications of a new scientific theory for product design
What new information would change your approach, and how would you record the change?
Review the result
Your plan should explain why the selected skills matter for your chosen task, what you will do next and what evidence you will examine. Revisit the plan after that activity. Completing a worksheet or matching an occupation’s ratings does not establish professional competence.
Keep your worksheet
Download before leaving this page. Unsaved writing remains only in the page and is cleared on refresh. Notes and learning actions are not sent to a server. This guide describes an occupation and supports study planning; it does not provide clinical, legal or equipment-operating procedures.
Source and practice material
Occupational context uses the O*NET® 31.0 Database from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. View the occupation.
Skill Workbench selected and adapted the occupational information and added its own fictional cases, calculations, guidance and worksheets. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these additions. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.