What is a Marriage and Family Therapist?

     In my first blog, I talked about the college I wanted to go to. Yet, I didn't explain what my future career was going to be. So, that's what I intend to focus on today. When I get older, I really want to be a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT). The fact that I get to help people in need fills me up with so much joy. Being able to do that as a career is just fantastic.
    So, what is a MFT exactly? Well, I went to the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy webisite. It says,  " Marriage and Family Therapists are mental health professionals trained in psychotherapy and familiy systems, and licensed to diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders within the context of marriage, couples and family systems." They treat a wide range of serious clinical problems including: depression, marital problems, anxiety, individual psychological problems, and child-parent problems. Alright, MFTs have a lot of work on their hands, but I'm willing to put my all into it.
   An important point to consider is the difference between MFTs and other clinical social workers. MFTs and clinical social workers are both considered mental health practitioners. Clinical social workers not only include mental health therapy but also many services performed in medical settings. The social worker may, for example, plan for patient discharge, making sure that things like social services are in place. They may work with families who are under stress or a crisis, but they typically do more counseling than casework. As for MFTs, they are the "Relationship Experts." Marriage and Family Therapy is approached from a systemic perspective and focuses on familial and other close relationships. Both MFTs and clinical socail workers routinely deal with the impact of alcoholism and illness, work in a variety of settings, and include private practice. Although, clinical workers are more likely to be employed in medical areas.
    To conclude, MFTs are people who have the desire to help relationships between families and couples. They love to help people, as do I. I like the fact that MFTs are probably one of the best people to go to when you just don't feel right. They do their best to figure out what is the problem. MFTs should be known as one of the main social workers to help the people of this country.
 
 

Sources:

“About Marriage And Family Therapists.” About Marriage and Family Therapists. Web. 22 Oct. 2015. <http://www.aamft.org/imis15/aamft/content/about_aamft/qualifications.aspx?hkey=2d5f6fac-24c6-40fd-b74f-5f3eaf214e55>

“Marriage And Family Therapists.” Marriage and Family Therapists. Web. 22 Oct. 2015. <https://www.therapistlocator.net/imis15/aamft/content/consumer_updates/marriage_and_family_therapists.aspx>

“Marriage And Family Therapists.” Career Information: Web. 22 Oct. 2015. <http://www.campusexplorer.com/careers/92117a0f/marriage-and-family-therapists/>