About Marriage & Family Therapy

Who are Marriage and Family Therapists?

Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) are mental health professionals trained and licensed to serve individuals, couples and families. Trained to diagnose and treat mental health issues, such as depression, substance abuse, alcoholism, marital problems, child-parent problems, ADD/ADHD, and schizophrenia,MFTsreceive special training in family dynamics attending tohow thesedynamics shape and maintain our well-being.

Marriage and Family Therapists are skilled to address a wide array of relationship issues within the context of couples, family systems and communities.MFTs take a holistic perspective to health care; they are concerned with the overall, long-term well-being of individuals, their families and their communities.MFTs broaden the traditional emphasis on the individual and attend to the nature and role of individuals in their primary relationship networks. This unique training and focus differentiate MFTs from other mental health professionals.

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists have graduate training (a Master’s or Doctoral degree) in marriage and family therapy and at least two years of clinical experience. Marriage and family therapists are recognized as a “core” mental health profession, along with psychiatry, psychology, social work and psychiatric nursing.

Research has shown that MFT clients are highly satisfied with the services they receive. Upon completion of therapeutic services MFT clients report an increase in emotional health, and many report an improvement in their overall physical health.