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Click on a question
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Who are
Family Therapists? |
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What Services are Provided by Marriage and Family Therapists? |
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What Disorders are Commonly Treated by Marriage and Family
Therapists? |
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Who are the Clients of Marriage and Family Therapists? |
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What distinguishes Marriage and Family Therapists from other mental health professionals? |
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Do I have to be married to go to a Marriage and Family Therapist? |
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Can you do family therapy with only one person? |
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Do clients typically like the services of Marriage and Family Therapists? |
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What is the Cost for a Family Therapist’s Services? |
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What Qualifications should I look for in a Family Therapist? |
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Where do Family Therapists Practice? |
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How do I Find a Marriage and Family Therapist? |
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How do I Choose a Marriage and Family Therapist? |
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What is the difference between a Marriage and Family Therapist and other mental health professionals? |
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Licensed mental health practitioners
Educated with a master’s or doctoral degree
Trained with a minimum of two (2) years supervised clinical experience
Family-focused psychotherapists and mental health generalists
One of the five core mental health professionals (along with psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and psychiatric nurses)
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Diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders
Individual child (15%) and adult (47%) psychotherapy
Couple, family, and group therapy (38%)
Treatment planning
Marriage and relationship counseling
Premarital education and marital enrichment
Life coaching
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Depression and other Affective Disorders
Childhood Behavioral and Emotional Disorders
Marital and Relationship Problems
Conduct Disorder and Delinquency
Substance Abuse
Alcoholism
Domestic Violence
Severe Mental Illness
Physical Illness
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6.1 Million People are seen Annually by Family Therapists
2,294,728 Individuals Per Year
808,798 Children Per Year
752,370 Couples Per Year
526,659 Families Per Year
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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. The training of MFTs includes live supervision by experienced MFTs, which is unique among the mental health disciplines.
Research shows that marriage and family therapy is a cost-effective, short-term, and results-oriented form of treatment. In a recent study, researchers found that clients report high satisfaction with marriage and family therapies, with significant improvements in emotional and physical health, functioning, and relationships. |
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No. Individuals often seek marriage and family therapy for help with behavioral problems, relationship issues, or mental and emotional disorders. Family Therapists provide the same services as other mental health professionals, with a different orientation. |
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Family therapy is effective with just one individual or with couples, families, or groups. |
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98% rated services good or excellent
97% got the kind of help they desired
91% were satisfied with the amount of help they received
93% said they were helped in dealing more effectively with problems
94% would return to the same therapist in the future
97% would recommend their therapist to a friend
97% were generally satisfied with the service they received
63% reported improved physical health
55% reported improvement in functioning at work
74% indicated improvement in children’s behavior
59% showed improvement in children’s school performance |
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Mental health services provided by Family Therapists are cost-effective. MFTs provide brief, solution-focused therapy that often results in lower costs to the client.
MFT fees are only 60% of what psychiatrists charge and 80% of what psychologists charge
Family therapy requires 30% fewer sessions than individual therapy
More than two-thirds of Private Practice MFTs will reduce fees based on an individual’s ability to pay
Family Therapy has been shown to reduce health care use by 22% |
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The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) has developed standards for the education and training of Marriage and Family Therapists. The U.S. federal government and many states have utilized the AAMFT’s standards when drafting laws regarding Family Therapists.
The AAMFT Clinical Members have a minimum of a master’s degree, including specific graduate training in marriage and family therapy. Clinical members have also completed at least two years of supervised clinical practice with individuals, couples and families; this includes live supervision of trainees’ cases by experienced MFTs.
The AAMFT Clinical Members are trained in diagnosis, assessment, and treatment and are trained to use a variety of therapeutic techniques and processes. The AAMFT Clinical Members observe a strict code of ethics and welcome inquiries about their training, experience, theoretical orientation, and fees. These therapists can be found on
TherapistLocator.net
or ask an MFT whether they are a Clinical Member of the AAMFT. |
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Family therapists provide services in all segments of the health care arena, with the majority offering direct health care delivery. Half of all family therapists work in private practice. One quarter are located in institutional or organizational settings, and the remaining clinicians practice in both. MFTs also provide to specialty populations; minority populations make up 25% of their clientele; 25% work in faith-based settings; 17% work in rural settings; and 9% are in elementary or secondary schools. Overall, family therapists can be found almost anywhere health care is delivered or practiced. |
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- Private Practice
- Community Mental Health Centers
- Inpatient Facilities
- Employee Assistance Programs
- Health Maintenance Organizations
- Business and Consulting Companies
- Schools and Head Start Centers
- Social Service Agencies
- Universities and Research Centers
- Courts and Prisons
- Rural Clinics
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You can find a family therapist by searching the free online Web site,
TherapistLocator.net. All therapists located through this site are Clinical Members of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and have met the AAMFT’s rigorous education and training standards. It is recommended that you interview several family therapists to ensure compatibility. Often people ask their family physician, clergy, or friends for recommendations. |
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| You should telephone and interview potential family therapists to find out if they satisfy your needs. Some questions to ask include: |
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1. Are they a Clinical Member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
(AAMFT)?
Family therapists who are Clinical Members of the AAMFT meet the educational, supervision, and training standards of the Association. Licensure standards are based on the AAMFT’s Clinical Membership requirements, and the AAMFT accepts licensed MFTs for Clinical Membership in most states. As of 2004, 46 states and the District of Columbia license MFTs, and for those states without licensure, Clinical Membership will demonstrate equivalent education and training.
2. What is their educational and training background?
Family therapists have a doctorate or a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy or an allied discipline such as psychology, medicine/psychiatry, clinical social work, psychiatric nursing, or the ministry. If the professional’s degree is not in marriage and family therapy, you may ask about additional post-graduate training they have completed in marriage and family therapy. MFTs also receive two years of clinical experience of which half is with couples and families.
3. Do they have experience treating the kind of problem you are experiencing; for example, depression, child’s behavior, marital stress, intimacy, sexual problems, alcohol or drug abuse?
While MFTs are trained and licensed to provide the full range of mental health services, like all mental health professions, each individual therapist may vary according to expertise. You should inquire as to the therapist’s training and experience with the problem you are facing.
4. Are their services covered by your health insurance?
The majority of managed care organizations and third-party payers reimburse services provided by MFTs. Additionally, most employee assistance programs provided through an employer also contract with family therapists. You should contact your plan or payer to ensure they reimburse services provided by MFTs.
5.What is the average length of marriage and family therapy?
Length of marriage and family therapy depends upon various factors, including seriousness of the problem. Generally, marriage and family therapy tends to be short term. Research shows that the median length is 12 sessions, with 65% of cases completed within 20 sessions. Though length of therapy differs from case to case, marriage and family therapy tends to be briefer than many other types of therapy. |
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Sprenkle, D. H. (Ed.) (2002). Effectiveness Research in Marriage and Family Therapy. Alexandria, VA: American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
Bird, D., Hartley, D, Lambert, D., Lous, S. and Ziller, E. (2002) Effects Of Licensure Laws And Rules On Access To Mental Health Services In Rural Areas. Maine Rural Health Research Center, Edmund S. Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine.
Northey, W. F., Jr. (2002). Characteristics and Clinical Practices of Marriage and Family Therapists: A National Survey. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 28, 487-494.
U.S. Census Data & CSAT Practice Research Network Survey
QS&A Research & Strategy (1998). Relationships, mental health, and marriage and family therapy. Washington, DC: The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
Doherty, W.J. & Simmons, D.S. (1995). Clinical Practice Patterns of Marriage and Family Therapists: A National Survey of Therapists and Clients. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 21, 9-25.
New Data Shows Exactly What Clinicians are Facing. Psychotherapy Finances, Vol. 26, No. 10, Issue 318, October 2000
Cigna Behavioral Health Data, 2000-2003.
Law, D.D. & Crane, R.C. (2000), The Influence of Marital and Family Therapy on Health Care Utilization in a Health-Maintenance Organization, Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 26, No. 26, 281-291. |
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