To be a marriage therapist takes a lot of schooling. First, the interested individual must complete their high school diploma or obtain their GED. Next they must attend college, and ultimately graduate with a bachelor's degree from a 4-year university. Most aspiring marriage therapists major in fields like psychology, philosophy, humanities, liberal arts, sociology, anthropology, social work, and family and child sciences. After college, there are four paths that a potential marriage counselor has available to them. The first option is to go to grad school to earn a Master's in Counseling. This will allow the therapist to work as a licensed counselor. The next option is to go to graduate school to obtain a Master's in Psychology. This degree, plus a state certification, will allow the therapist to practice as a counselor as well. This third path is to earn a Master's in Social Work. This degree will allow the therapist to practice as a licensed clinical social worker, or LCSW. The most rigorous path is to earn a Ph.D. in Psychology, which will allow the therapist to practice as a psychologist. Once licensed to practice as a counselor, LCSW, or psychologist, the therapist simply chooses to specialize in marriage therapy.