It seems that many people are confused about Marriage and Family Therapists scope of practice. A lot of you have asked if I am a marriage counselor and work with married couples only. I will briefly go over what is MFTs scope of practice and what kind of individuals MFTs work with.

Having a degree in Marriage and Family Therapy allows an individual to diagnose and treat mental health issues a patient is presenting. A MFT is a psychotherapist who looks at the individual and his/her identified problem(s) or issue(s) within the context of his or her relationships, marital, familial or otherwise. This may include work relationships, friendships, or other relationships outside of marriage or family. Meaning, it is within the scoop of practice for MFTs to treat individuals who are not married or are not involved in a romantic relationship. So, what is MFTs scope of practice? The answer is RELATIONSHIPS. Practically every person is involved in relationships of some kind. Virtually everyone has parents, grandparents, or siblings, or persons in their lives that resemble familial relationships. The patient’s mental state or disorder is regularly either impacted by or may affect these other relationships. Therefore, a patient’s problem(s) or issue(s) can be address within the context of his/her relationships. Thus, the profession of marriage and family therapists.

I hope this cleared out the confusion many of you had. Feel free to get in touch with me if you have any further questions.

Have a blessed day,

Shushan