The Marriage and Family Therapist's roles
A Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) is a mental health practitioner who provides psychotherapy and related change process services with individuals, couples, families, and groups, focused on the interpersonal and relational aspects of behavior. Through consideration of how behavior has developed within the social contexts of the family, social institutions such as schools and neighborhoods, and the larger sociopolitical context of culture, the MFT facilitates problem-solving and the achievement of satisfying, productive lives. The practice of MFT is regulated through licensure that is monitored by the state licensing agency, the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS). To practice independently, an individual must hold a valid MFT license issued by the state of California.
MFTs provide services in a variety of public and privateprofessional settings. The SDSU progam emphasizes preparation for community mental health. Employment settings are:
Non-profit organizations: Some MFT graduates choose a community mental health center or other non-profit community agency in which to practice. Agencies may be multi-service agencies meeting the needs of a particular geographic community, specialist agencies focusing on particular mental health issues, religious agencies serving spiritual and counseling needs, or governmental agencies.
Educational organizations: Educational institutions increasingly look to the MFT for specialized services for families and children. School districts increasingly refer children and families to MFTs in private practice, contract with agencies to provide individual and family therapy, and sometimes provide family and child therapy at the school site. Long and short-term residential treatment centers for children combine mental health and educational service provision. Additionally, community college and university counseling centers employ MFTs.
Health care organizations: Some graduates work as employees in health organizations such as hospitals or health maintenance organizations. For example, hospice programs, children's mental health programs, and outpatient mental health programs are frequently affiliated with physical health care facilities.
Private practice: Some MFT graduates anticipate working as independent practitioners after achieving MFT licensure. In private practice, fees for client services are paid directly to the practitioner rather than to an employer. Some practitioners develop expertise in a particular clinical area, such as domestic violence, eating disorders, or substance abuse, to contribute to a needed niche in the community. Private practice entails responsible, competent, and ethical management of both clinical issues and business tasks.
Advanced MFTs, with additional training, often engage in clinical supervision, agency administration, organizational consultation, teaching and other leadership positions.
Last Modified 10/16/10 02:08
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