American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
Encyclopedia
The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) is the professional association for the field of marriage and family therapy
representing more than 25,000 marriage and family therapists throughout the United States, Canada, and abroad.
1. facilitate research, theory development and education,
2. establish and implement standards for programs that serve as the basis for accreditation,
3. establish implement standards for clinical supervision, professional ethics and the clinical practice of marriage and family therapy.
4. serve as a recognized accreditor in North America for the accreditation of MFT academic programs in the United States and Canada.
The AAMFT conducts an annual national conference in the United States each fall as well as a week-long series of continuing education institutes in the summer and winter. The AAMFT publishs the scholarly research journal Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, news about the field in Family Therapy Magazine, and a variety of brochures and pamphlets that inform the public about the field of marriage and family therapy. They also offer a range of professional and practice development products, including videotapes, books and brochures.
throughout the United States
and Canada
."
In 2009, Version 11 of the Standards for Accreditation governed the criteria for accredited programs.
Individuals seeking Master's, doctoral, or post-graduate clinical training programs in preparation for careers in Marriage and Family Therapy
in the United States
and Canada
often seek the accredited programs which can be found in the Directory of MFT Training Programs.
, marriage and family therapy is regulated by individual states.
Family therapy
Family therapy, also referred to as couple and family therapy, family systems therapy, and family counseling, is a branch of psychotherapy that works with families and couples in intimate relationships to nurture change and development. It tends to view change in terms of the systems of...
representing more than 25,000 marriage and family therapists throughout the United States, Canada, and abroad.
History
Founded in 1942 as the American Association of Marriage Counselors, the AAMFT has been involved with the problems, needs and changing patterns of couples and family relationships. Marriage and family therapists treat relationships within families rather than the symptoms of individuals based on a view that individuals are part of relationship systems.Goals
The association focuses on increasing understanding, research and education in the field of marriage and family therapy, and ensuring the quality training of marriage and family therapists. oals of AAMFT are to1. facilitate research, theory development and education,
2. establish and implement standards for programs that serve as the basis for accreditation,
3. establish implement standards for clinical supervision, professional ethics and the clinical practice of marriage and family therapy.
4. serve as a recognized accreditor in North America for the accreditation of MFT academic programs in the United States and Canada.
Membership categories
AAMFT members meet standards for education and training and are held to the ethical standards of the profession. Clinical Members have met the highest standards of the profession for education and clinical experience. Associate and Student membership categories are available for therapists in training for clinical practice. Members of allied professions and other persons who are interested in marriage and family therapy are eligible to become Affiliate Members.The AAMFT conducts an annual national conference in the United States each fall as well as a week-long series of continuing education institutes in the summer and winter. The AAMFT publishs the scholarly research journal Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, news about the field in Family Therapy Magazine, and a variety of brochures and pamphlets that inform the public about the field of marriage and family therapy. They also offer a range of professional and practice development products, including videotapes, books and brochures.
Accreditation of academic programs
AAMFT's Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education "is the nationally recognized accrediting agency that accredits Master's degree, doctoral degree, and post-graduate degree clinical training programs in marriage and family therapyFamily therapy
Family therapy, also referred to as couple and family therapy, family systems therapy, and family counseling, is a branch of psychotherapy that works with families and couples in intimate relationships to nurture change and development. It tends to view change in terms of the systems of...
throughout the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
."
In 2009, Version 11 of the Standards for Accreditation governed the criteria for accredited programs.
Individuals seeking Master's, doctoral, or post-graduate clinical training programs in preparation for careers in Marriage and Family Therapy
Family therapy
Family therapy, also referred to as couple and family therapy, family systems therapy, and family counseling, is a branch of psychotherapy that works with families and couples in intimate relationships to nurture change and development. It tends to view change in terms of the systems of...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
often seek the accredited programs which can be found in the Directory of MFT Training Programs.
Licensing of marriage and family therapists
Within the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, marriage and family therapy is regulated by individual states.
Marriage and family therapy journals
- Contemporary Family TherapyContemporary Family TherapyContemporary Family Therapy is a peer-reviewed academic journal covering research on family therapy, focusing on recent applied practice and developments in theory and research that is published quarterly by Springer Science+Business Media. The editor-in-chief is Dorothy S. Becvar...
- Family ProcessFamily Process (journal)Family Process is a quarterly peer-reviewed academic journal covering research on family system issues, including policy and applied practice. It is published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the Family Process Institute...
- Family RelationsFamily Relations (journal)Family Relations is a peer reviewed academic journal published on behalf of the National Council on Family Relations by Wiley-Blackwell. It covers family studies and social work research, educational practices or philosophies, and professional development for researchers, educators, family policy...
- Journal of Child and Family Studies, ISSN: 1062-1024 (Print) 1573-2843 (Online), Springer
- Journal of Family Psychology
- Journal of Marital and Family Therapy
External links
- American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy – Official website
- American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Commission on Accreditation – Official website
- TherapistLocator.net - a website of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy with a listing of over 15,000 marriage and family therapists
- Social Construction Therapies Network