Marriage and family therapists (typically referred to as MFTs or family therapists) are recognized by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, as one of the five core mental health professions along with psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, clinical social workers and psychiatric nurse specialists. Marriage and family therapists are mental health professionals with a minimum of a master’s degree, two years’ supervised clinical experience and are licensed to independently diagnose and treat mental health and substance abuse problems.
MFTs treat individuals, couples and families. The unique feature you will find during treatment with an MFT is the therapist will focus on understanding your symptoms and diagnoses within interactions and relationships. The existing environment and context is given careful examination paying particular attention to the family system – as defined by you. MFTs treat predominantly individuals but always from the perspective that “relationships matter.”
Research has shown that family-based interventions are as effective—and in many cases more effective—than alternative interventions, often at a lower cost. Studies suggest that family therapy is a preferred method of treatment for depression, substance abuse, alcoholism, relational discord problems, and child/adolescent challenges including suicide and high risk behavior. Family therapy outcomes for severe mental illness include improved well-being, fewer medical illnesses, decreased medical care utilization, and increased self-efficacy.
Family-based interventions are also effective for persons with medical problems. Treatment outcomes show improvement in the identified patient, as well as in other family members. Family therapy is particularly effective with families who are providing care to elders and to a child with a chronic illness (e.g., asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, cancer).
Everything you need to know about becoming a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT).
Family is considered the most basic unit of society, thought of as the first form of community and government. Michael Novak, a well-respected philosopher, famously considered family as the first, best, and original Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. So it’s a no-brainer that, when a family’s behavioral patterns negatively affect an individual member, a need for treatment arises. In marriage and family therapy, the treatment plan not only serves the individual, but the entire family unit. This is where licensed marriage and family therapists can step in.
What is Marriage and Family Therapy?
Marriage and family therapy is brief, solution-focused, specific with achievable therapeutic goals, and customized to fit the “end in mind” meaning a reconciled family unit that works together to solve their problems.
Marriage and family therapists handle a wide array of serious clinical problems, which include but are not limited to: depression, anxiety, marital issues, individual psychological problems, and complications surrounding the parent-child relationship.
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Who are you called to be?
Pursue your purpose at PLNU.
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Essentially, Licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs) are mental health professionals and practitioners trained in psychotherapy and family systems, with clinical practice experience averaging 13 years. LMFTs are licensed to evaluate, diagnose, and treat mental and emotional disorders, health issues, and behavioral issues, and a wide range of relationship dynamics within the context of couples, marriage, and family systems.
Research also suggests comparable effectiveness of marriage and family therapy relative to individual treatment. In some cases, studies show that marriage and family therapy poses better results than individual therapy for mental health problems such as:
- Adult schizophrenia
- Affective or mood disorder
- Adult alcoholism
- Drug abuse in adolescents and adults
- Conduct disorders in children
- Anorexia in young adult women
- Childhood autism
- Chronic physical illness in adults and children
- Marital distress disputes
On average, marriage and family therapy lasts about 12 sessions with about 65.6% of cases concluding within 20 sessions and 87.9% within 50 sessions. Individual treatment lasts 13 sessions on average. Marital/couples therapy and family therapy require a shorter duration, each averaging at 11.5 sessions and nine sessions, respectively. About half of marriage and family therapists provide one-on-one treatments, whereas the other half is divided between marital/couples therapy, family therapy, or a fusion of treatments.
Why Do We Need a Marriage and Family Therapist?
Studies repeatedly indicate marriage and family therapy’s success and effectiveness in treating various mental, emotional, and health disorders, such as adolescent drug abuse, alcoholism, depression, obesity, dementia, and marital conflicts.
Research also suggests that clients were highly pleased with the services of their marriage and family therapists. Almost 90% of clients report a significant improvement in their emotional health, and nearly two-thirds attributed it to developments in their overall physical health. Over three-fourths of clients undergoing marital/couples therapy reported an improvement in the couple relationship. And nearly 74% of parents with children identified as patients also reported an enhancement in their behavior, sociability, and overall school performance.
Studies repeatedly indicate marriage and family therapy’s success and effectiveness in treating various mental, emotional, and health disorders.
The treatment even showed effectiveness beyond the family’s confines as clients reported a significant improvement in work productivity, work relationships, social life, community involvement, and overall well-being.
In another study, over 98% of past clients rated therapy services as good or excellent and reported that they would recommend marriage and family therapists to friends. Due to the brief, solution-focused, family-centered approach and its demonstrated effectiveness, marriage and family therapy continues to develop and mark its prominence in the field of mental health.
Today, the field of marriage and family therapy continues to grow, with more than 50,000 professionals treating individuals, couples, and families nationwide. From 237 members in 1960 to a whopping 25,500 members in 2015, the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) has grown and is continuously increasing significantly. This progress may also be attributable, in part, to the renewed public awareness and perspective of the importance of family life.
How to Become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Becoming a licensed marriage and family therapist depends on the state where you wish to practice. The following are the qualifications or credentials most states require candidates to have:
- Hold a minimum of master’s degree in marriage and family therapy, or relevant mental health fields such as psychology.
- Complete a supervised internship that meets the required number of hours of experience and types of practice in the field.
- Pass the MFT exam created and assessed by the AMFTRB (Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards), or equivalent state-mandated examination.
- Obtain a state-issued license by applying to the relevant state board of examiners.
It’s worth noting that the process of becoming a licensed marriage and family therapist usually takes four years of full-time study, from pursuing a master’s program in marriage and family therapy such as PLNU’s Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling program to finally obtaining a license. However, the duration may be longer or shorter depending upon the licensing state’s clinical hour requirements.
Click on the image above to learn the differences between an LMFT and LPCC track.
It’s also important to note that preparing for and passing a state-required licensing examination may require additional time. Case in point, if you do not pass the MFT Exam on your first try, the soonest allowable time to register and retake the exam is three months later.
Marriage and Family Therapist Certification Requirements By State
As now established, each state has its standards for certifying and licensing marriage and family therapists. Although some of these discrepancies are subtle, others are significant enough to note. The significant differences among permitting and licensing standards of different states likely fall into the following categories:
Number of Post-Degree Client Contact Hours
Some states require a total of 1,000 hours of direct client contact. Others need over 1,500 hours. Idaho, for example, requires 2,000 hours of post-degree direct client contact within a two-year window.
Aside from the specific number of hours, the breakdown of these hours into different therapeutic settings — such as one-on-one therapy, group therapy, and couples therapy — varies.
The Ratio of Supervised to Non-Supervised Clinical Hours
While it’s imperative to document all post-degree direct client contact hours, they do not necessarily need to be supervised directly. The difference in the supervision requirement as part of the marriage and family therapy clinical experience is dependent on each state.
Who Qualifies as a Supervisor
Some states impose stringent qualifications as to what constitutes an acceptable supervisor for Marriage and Family therapy. Some states impose more relaxed qualifications. It is up to the candidates for MFT certification to conduct their background checks to ensure that their chosen supervisor meets the standard of experience and credentials.
Reciprocity Across State Lines
Given each state’s various standards of certifying and licensing marriage and family therapy candidates, they’re free to accept or reject an MFT license issued by another state. The AAMFT promotes license portability and interchange to make it more convenient for LMFTs to relocate without accomplishing redundant coursework, supervision, and other necessary efforts to address this issue. Some states, though, are still more flexible than others.
Fees
Each state is free to set its price from the issuance to the renewal of an MFT license.
Marriage and Family Therapist Job Opportunities
A degree in marriage and family therapy exposes you to different environments that eventually hone your skills needed to work in various diverse settings such as mental health clinics, hospitals, social service departments, and even schools. Licensed marriage and family therapists may also opt to practice privately.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) forecasts that marriage and family therapy professionals’ employment will increase by 22% from 2019 to 2029.
The following are a few job opportunities awaiting individuals who wish to pursue a career in marriage and family therapy:
School Counselor
School counselors primarily work with the school administrators to address the psychological needs of the student body. Specifically, they:
- Engage with the students, evaluating their needs and providing them with proper mental and emotional support.
- Create counseling programs to improve student performance and evaluate the programs’ effectiveness.
- Provide counseling to parents of children who are undergoing challenging circumstances at school.
School counselors with a background in marriage and family therapy can use their knowledge base to better grasp their students’ psychological issues and offer adequate solutions.
Marriage and Family Counselor
A marriage and family counselor works with couples or specific family members to help them cope with interpersonal conflicts or challenges, or emotional disorders such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, among many more.
More specifically, marriage and family counselors:
- Conduct both individual and group sessions to diagnose disorders and provide necessary treatment and interventions.
- Mediate conflicts within families and promote better communication.
- Manage a private practice, but still in conjunction with social service agencies, medical centers, mental health facilities, and other related establishments.
Clinical Director
As clinical directors, LMFTs will be responsible for managing the daily tasks of a clinical counseling department. More specifically, clinical directors:
- Ensure all administrative activities run smoothly and efficiently, and at all times, promote top-quality care for patients.
- Evaluate staff performance and hire and train new staff as needed.
- Determine budgets and prepare financial reports.
- May be responsible for managing a department or an entire facility, depending on the hospital or facility’s size.
Students who complete post-graduate degrees in marriage and family therapy prepare with hands-on knowledge of clinical practices that are translatable to various, diverse environments or settings. This experience could also prepare them to manage and oversee staff and ensure the quality of training and smooth day-to-day operations.
Start Your LMFT Career in San Diego
Becoming a licensed marriage and family therapist isn’t necessarily easy, but it sure is a fulfilling career path in a lucrative and growing field that supports people with their most significant relationships. The fact that the profession includes a commitment to ongoing education is a reassuring and encouraging sign that the field will continue to progress and thrive on providing the best service to future clients and society in general.
If you have the desire to help mend families and strengthen marriages, you can start your progress toward becoming a licensed marriage and family therapist with PLNU’s Clinical Counseling, M.A. program. PLNU is ready to jumpstart your career as a licensed marriage and family therapist with our highly-rated program, which includes on-site practice, internship placements, multicultural training, strong partnerships throughout San Diego and Southern California, and more!
