Career in Marriage and Family Therapy
Marriage and Family Therapy is a particularly interesting area of Psychological study. This field offers adults and children resources to help cope with potentially damaging psychological issues within the family unit. Marriage and Family therapist offer an opportunity for spouse to reconcile their differences, while helping children understand the family hardships and issues. Marriage and Family therapist help couples, families and groups that deal with issues that have affected their mental health. This is to help redeem such problems as alcohol and drug abuse or marital stress. Treatment for marital stress normally last over duration of time of 12-50 weeks and combines individual and couples counseling. Most Marriage and family therapists need a license in their state of residents. This profession does typically require a master’s degree in a field related to marriage and family therapy. According to ONET MFT requires a therapist t
Diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders, whether cognitive, affective, or behavioral, within the context of marriage and family systems. Apply psychotherapeutic and family systems theories and techniques in the delivery of services to individuals, couples, and families for the purpose of treating such diagnosed nervous and mental disorders.(ONET)
Graduates with a Marriage and Family Therapist are trained mental health professionals who have a family-oriented perspective and treatment approach.
The family system is founded on the notions that for change to occur in the life of an individual, the therapist must understand and work with the family as a whole. In working with the family, the therapist can understand how the individual in counseling functions within his family system and how the client’s behaviors connect to other people in the family. This theory also holds the perception that symptoms are a set of family habits and patterns passed down by generation and not a result of a psychological problem or an inability to change (Corey, 2017). Furthermore, the family system theory holds the idea that when a change occurs everyone in the unit is affected by the change.
Marriage and Family Therapists (also known as MFTs) are relationship specialists. MFT focuses on the relationships that the client has and assists them to function as a stable individual and as a relationship parent. MFTs are trained assess to diagnose and treat individuals, couples, families and groups to achieve more adequate, satisfying and productive marriage, family and social adjustment (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists). According to American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) Marriage and Family Therapists are mental health professionals with a minimum of a master’s degree and two years supervised clinical experience. Marriage and Family Therapists are trained and licensed to independently diagnose and treat mental health and substance abuse problems. The role of a MFT is to help individuals and families to address issues and guide them in the situations and everyday life so that they can function within society. MFTs provide a wide variety of services for clients. Some services that MFT provide but are not limited to is diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders, marriage and relationship counseling, and pre-martial counseling. A few of common disorders treated by MFTs are depression, martial/family
In The Family Crucible, Augustus Napier and Carl Whitaker’s form of therapy was strongly influenced by family systems theory, a burgeoning theory of the time. General systems theory examines relationships between elements that constitute a whole (Andreae, 2011, p. 243). When applied to families, this theory views the family as an emotional unit and uses systems thinking to describe the complex interactions in the unit (The
Becoming a Licensed Family Therapist/Marriage Counselor is a career goal. Currently, I am studying to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, however, after accomplishing the bachelor’s degree, I will continue on to get a master’s degree. Focusing on my studies is a priority over full-time employment, meanwhile,
Marriage and family therapists help clients always with the help of the person’s family. I too believe that a person in order to resolve mental or emotional disorders requires the support and understanding of those closest to them, and with the use and knowledge of family systems theory this can be achieved. I also think that communication or lack of, very often is the seed behind problems within the family, that is why I appreciate the fact that marriage
The key philosophies of the field, wellness, prevention and resilience, were discussed alongside of the main concepts important to marriage and family as well as addiction counseling. In regard to a specific hypothetical case, it was illustrated how marriage and family counselors may work in collaboration with addiction counselors in order to provide beneficial services to clients. Finally, assumptions were made concerning efficient collaboration between professionals within a team and human services agencies.
The purpose of this paper is to examine the field of marriage and family counseling beginning with the history and development of the profession and its importance in the field of counseling. This paper will also evaluate five major themes relevant to Marriage and Family Therapy which include: roles of Marriage and Family Therapists; licensure requirements and examinations; methods of supervision; client advocacy; multiculturalism and diversity. The author will discuss significant aspects to the field of Marriage and Family Therapy such as MFT identity, function, and ethics of the profession. This paper will assess biblical values in relation to Marriage and Family Therapists and to the field
It takes very special people to want to make a difference in people’s lives, to want to help them to be better. Some people seek to become counselors after overcoming a most important life challenge. The individuals that seek the profession of marriage and family therapy do not think of this work as a job or career, more typically a constellation of life experiences that demand explanation and a sense that others seek one out for assistance and emotional sustenance become driving forces leading one to counseling profession (An Invitation to Counseling Work).
The case study of Ana will be analyzed using the Bowen Family Systems Theory Approach. Bowen Family Systems Theory is a theory of human behavior that views the family as an emotional unit and uses systems thinking to describe the complex interactions in the unit (Kerr, 2000). This paper will discuss the concepts of the theory that is appropriate for this case study; the reason this theory was chosen over the other ones; counseling goals and intervention strategies in accomplishing those goals; and designation of
While I am currently enrolled as a Marriage and Family Therapy student, my plan is to switch degrees and pursue a master’s degree in psychology instead. Because I am planning on moving back to my home country of Germany in the near future, and since counseling is not recognized as an independent field there, I will try to compare the role of a German psychologist with a certification in systemic family therapy to the role of a MFT in
therapy aims to improve family relations, and the family is encouraged to become a type of
A PAPER SUBMITTED TO DR. JAMES D. GIBSON FULFILLMENT OF REQUIREMENTS FOR CO 5740 INTRODUCTION TO MARRIAGE AND FAMILY COUNSELING
This paper will summarize the theory of family systems developed by Murray Bowen. It will describe the eight key components to Bowenian therapy and the techniques used during practice. Strengths and limitations will be exposed, followed by a summary of the importance of integration between psychology and family systems theory.
Approaches to Family Therapy: Minuchin, Haley, Bowen, & Whitaker Treating families in therapy can be a complex undertaking for a therapist, as they are dealing not only with a group of individuals but also with an overall system. Throughout history several key theorists have attempted to demystify the challenges families face and construct approaches to treatment. However, there have been key similarities and differences among the theoretical orientations along the way. While some have simply broadened or expanded from existing theories, others have stood in stark
Cognitive-behavioral family therapy provides many strengths for families. It also helps strengthen the relationship between couples that are married. Therapists treating couples who are married use strategies to improve the foundation of their marriage. In cognitive behavioral family therapy couples are taught to express themselves clearly and are taught new behaviors to improve communication and establish a solid union as partners. They are also taught strategies to solve marital problems and ways to maintain positive control. Toggle appreciable family therapy provides a number of treatment interventions for the family to improve their emotional regulation. An example of an intervention is the downward Arrow which helps families Express their feelings and the emotions behind them it allows them to express their emotions and understand them while projecting in a calm manner not leading to recrimination. Nichols 2014 says the greatest shape of behavior therapy is its insistence on its serving what happens and then measuring change 186. The goal of therapy is to help each family member recognize their distortions in thinking and improve and change their behaviors. A weakness of cognitive behavioral therapy is that the emotional state of a client may not be good even though their behavior changes. Nichols (2014) provides a good example of how a mother reports that her son is performing household chores however she feels as though her son does not really want to do the