What is a Marriage and Family Therapist?
Marriage and family therapists are mental health professional with a minimum of a master’s degree and two years supervised clinical experience. Marriage and family therapists (commonly referred to as MFTs or family therapists) are trained and licensed to independently diagnose and treat mental health and substance abuse problems.
Marriage and family therapy is one of the core mental health disciplines and is based on the research and theory that mental illness and family problems are best treated in a family context. Trained in psychotherapy and family systems, marriage and family therapists focus on understanding their clients’ symptoms and interaction patterns within their existing environment. MFTs treat predominantly individuals, but also provide couples, family and group therapy.
A family orientation coupled with rigorous training requirements make marriage and family therapists uniquely qualified to provide mental health services. Family therapists are trained in various modes of therapy in order to prepare them for work with individuals, families, couples and groups.
As a MFT, I am committed to strengthening marriages, couples, civil unions and families. I believe in asserting the value and positive impact of stable, long-term, emotionally enriching relationships. I recognize that all family forms have inherent strengths and challenges. As a marriage and family therapist, I will assist in these relationships whether that means a marriage has occurred in the legal sense, whether there is co-habitation, or other forms family. I invite members of heterosexual, same-sex, culturally similar, intercultural/interracial and other forms of family composition to engage in marriage and family therapy for relationship development and problem solving within their cultural contexts. I welcome all who would seek out my services in order to build strength and health in their lives, relationships and in society.