Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists

While many people are familiar with the concept of individual therapy, some are unaware of the avenue of therapy that is directed at a partnership or family unit. Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, or LMFTs as psychology professionals commonly refer to them, comprise a subspecialty of clinical psychology, with more than 50,000 marriage and family therapists active worldwide. These people are mental health professionals trained broadly in clinical therapy, with specific training in psychotherapy and group systems. MFTs generally have graduate training in marriage and family therapy and at least two years of clinical experience.

Couple Therapy

Popular culture paints a picture of "couples therapy," showing two individuals working through the problems in their relationship, often at one person's legacy. If there is conflict in a relationship, the distress may disproportionately fall on one person. They aim to improve productivity, relationships, emotional health, social life, and community involvement. Acceptance and pursuit of this service have increased as the public awareness of the value of healthy social connections and the impact of stresses on individuals and families has become more centralized. This service may be sought out when one member of a family unit is considered by other members to be contributing negatively to group culture or perhaps when seeking to improve the group's functioning, along with many different scenarios.

License / Degree requirements - family therapist

All American states issue licenses for the marriage and family therapist profession, with each state engaging in practice regulation in some form (even if they don’t refer to it directly as licensing). Depending on the state, a potential therapist may be able to work a supervised entry-level position without requiring any licenses. However, even this sort of position usually requires an associate license. Another state-dependent qualifier is whether students need a graduate-level degree to begin working with clients and whether or not they can begin the licensing process while still in school. On top of the state regulations, there is also a national board exam known as the National MFT (AMFTRB), which is only offered four times per calendar year (like other entrance exams such as the LSAT and GRE). Students must submit their official transcripts before being allowed to take the exam.

Supervisory requirements are set by each state, all of which require a significant amount of paperwork while doing a residency, with regular evaluations done by one’s supervisor. Some states may require the paperwork to be notarized. The process also requires thorough verification of character and professional fitness, professional and legal background, and any medical or mental conditions that could impair one’s ability to practice. Licensure can sometimes be issued with a restriction of some kind, such as a “with corrective vision” stipulation on your driver’s license. This is considered a permanent license but must be renewed periodically.

There are jurisdiction restrictions when it comes to being licensed to practice. Some states limit the hours of practice allowed by a licensed therapist whose primary residence is in another state. Moving to a new state requires that students update their licenses to reflect their new residency. While some may require students to begin the process entirely from the start, some allow for a process known as an endorsement, which will enable them to apply for transfer to a new jurisdiction and maintain their credentials. When looking to become an LMFT, it is essential to research the appropriate credentials for your region. If potential students are completing their education or are working towards their degree at an accredited institution, they will likely have resources to help guide them towards what they need, if not through their coursework, then through academic or career advising.

American Psychological Association

Students may be familiar with the American Psychological Association (APA), a scientific and professional organization with more than 115,000 members composed of researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants, and students representing the field of psychology. Similarly, there is an organization for the subfield of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), with membership not equal to licensing. These organizations can be invaluable resources in assisting you through the process and helping you network with others in the field.

Counselors will also look at the behavior of individuals in relationships within the context of broader relationship patterns, looking at the complex roles of positive behavior, cognitions, and emotions in relationship functioning. One’s relationships are affected by the environment in which they exist, with well-being impacted by nuanced elements of reality such as family systems, community influences, and life circumstances. Because of this, a counselor needs to take a contextual approach when trying to make sense of a client’s needs and motivations. Understanding an individual’s (or couple’s) reality does the job of modifying cognitions, addressing emotions and individual psychopathology, and instating interventions for environmental demands much more manageable.

CBT - cognitive behavioral therapy

One of the major approaches used by therapists is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), an evidence-based approach aimed at challenging and replacing maladaptive constructs with healthier reality-based constructs. Many people are put off by therapy, simply wanting a quick fix that will alleviate their discomfort, like salve to a wound, such as seeking a prescription for an anti-depressant. CBT is a process that, over time, helps one to heal and grow from the inside out, in many ways similar to the effects of physical exercise on a muscle. Over time, you are retraining the brain.

Personality psychology

Personality psychology is essential in therapy involving couples or family members, even in the workplace. As an LMFT, therapists will likely find that using constructs about individual personality differences can help resolve conflict between people seeking therapy, as a significant role is to help couples identify and comprehend their idiosyncrasies, any personal issues, or potential psychopathologies that might be at play.

Different people have different ways of experiencing the world. Identifying and working to understand these differences can be one way of resolving conflict and improving relationships between individuals or in a group (family). Variations in how one processes information and experiences stimuli and many other factors can influence how one interacts with others. So, it follows that when two or more individuals come together, their cocktail of similarities and differences leads to the unique chemistry between two people. You can also learn to identify their traits and observe how they mesh or clash.

As with any field of psychology, there is a lengthy path of education, training, and licensing that one must go through to become a professional in the field. LMFT is a subspecialty focusing more on group dynamics than personal pathologies, but inevitably, there is an overlap. Students interested in pursuing a career as an LMFT begin to consider what steps they need to take to reach their goals successfully.

Universities for a Degree as a Family Therapist

University of Colorado (Anschutz Medical Campus)

• Another popular Family and Marriage therapy university is the University of Colorado (Anschutz Medical Campus). The university is famous for providing a wide range of counseling courses. However, the university's MA in Family & Couple Counselling is the most notable program.
• One of the reasons that the MA in Family & Couple Counseling program is due to the wide variety of subjects it offers. Some subjects under the degree are Counseling theories, Human Development over the life span, and Introduction to Research Methods.
• Potential students must submit their official transcripts, a CV, and three letters of recommendation. It is optional to submit GRE scores to the university.
• The annual fee for the program is $15,000.

University of Nebraska (Lincoln Campus)

• The University of Nebraska offers an MSc in Marriage & Family Therapy. The university offers a degree certificate in the program, training, and certifications in Medical Family Therapy.
• Additionally, students in this program can choose from multiple subjects such as Issues & Ethics for Family Professionals, Clinical Family Therapy, and many more.
• Potential students must submit their official transcripts, a CV, GRE scores, a statement of purpose, and letters of recommendation.
• The annual fees for the program are $10,000 (in-state) and $26,000 (out-of-state).

University of Maryland

• The University of Maryland is another renowned university offering a fantastic Family & Marriage Therapy course. The course is known as MSc in Family & Couples Therapy.
• Unlike similar programs, the course offered by the University of Maryland is not only for educational training, but it also trains the students enrolled in researching extensively about the topic to improve and expand this field of study.
• Potential students must submit their official transcripts, a CV, GRE scores, a statement of purpose, and letters of recommendation.
• The annual fees for the program are $11,000 (in-state) and $40,000 (out-of-state).

California State University (Northridge)

• The California State University (Northridge) course is a little different than the rest. The program is known as MSc in Marriage & Family Therapy; the program is a well-received degree in California mostly because the course is quite intensive in training future therapists.
• Students study various subjects under the program, such as Therapy with Children, Adolescents, & their Families, Mental Health Counseling, Clinical Research, and many more.
• Potential students must submit their official transcripts, a CV, an application form, and letters of recommendation. Additionally, successfully selected students will be called in for an interview.
• The annual fees for the program are $7,000 (in-state) and $19,000 (out-of-state).

Nova Southeastern University

• The Nova Southeastern University in Florida is one of the best universities for training in Family and Marriage Therapy.
• The university offers an MSc in Family Therapy Program, which includes subjects such as Couples Therapy, Group Psychotherapy, and Theories of Marital and Family Therapy - making the course an all-rounder.
• The course is available part-time and full-time. Hence, it is readily available to people from different backgrounds and economic positions.
• Potential students must submit their official transcripts, a CV, and letters of recommendation.
• The annual fee for the program is $26,000.

Salary

This subsect of mental health care pays higher and lower than some other disciplines, with the median salary in 2017 being $49,500. However, the salary has significantly increased to between $80,000 and $100,000 as of 2021. The reason for the salary increase is that this field has shown efficacy in treating mental and emotional disorders, distress, and conflict in relationships and improving the functioning of the couple or family unit. However, most cases are considered short-term therapy, usually only 12 sessions, with 65.6% of cases completed within 20 sessions. While for some people, a therapeutic relationship may last a lifetime, seeing an LMFT is often more of a temporary stint. Marriage-related and family issues are prevalent. Hence, there will be a consistent demand for marriage and family therapists, making it a more lucrative field of study.