The 2017 AAMFT Annual Conference will build on the victories and exciting changes of this last year, with a conference mantra that could very well be “Ambassadors of the Profession.” The workshops will not only provide the best in training for MFTs, but will emphasize the ways in which you can advance the profession locally and nationally
We’ve modified the schedule this year to give you more flexibility in your learning options. Added are additional workshops in one-hour increments and an improved research discussion schedule. Returning to the program is the career development track, MFT exam prep track, and other great sessions that aid members in growing and nurturing their career.
AAMFT’s Annual Conference is the world’s leading education and networking event for marriage and family therapists. It is an opportunity to learn from leaders in the field, network with peers, and discuss cutting edge research and techniques over four days filled with educational and professional development activities. Earn up to 28.5 continuing education credits by attending innovative and high-quality presentations.
View the 2017 Conference Website to learn more about the sessions, events, travel, pricing, and registration information. Register before June 30 to save $100!
Marriage and Family Therapy is sometimes misunderstood. It is easy to assume that Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) only work with married couples and families facing problems. After all, this is implied by our title. What MFTs want you to know, however, is that they work with a range of clients, including individuals, couples, and families. And at the core their identity is the relational aspect of how they work with everyone inside and outside of the therapy office, and how they think about the relationships that contribute to a problem and its potential solution. We are not, for example, Psychologists, Counselors, or Social Workers—we are Marriage and Family Therapists. Here are some thoughts from MFTs that separate fact from fiction when it comes to understanding our distinct identity.
Myth: A common myth about MFTs (Marriage and Family Therapists) is that we only work with couples and families.
Fact: Our training gives us the opportunity to see problems through a lens that includes the intricate influence of belief, culture, upbringing, and relationships. Our individual issues don't occur in a lab with all factors controlled. MFTs are a great fit for individuals, as we understand the elemental influences that exist in all our lives. Heather Holmgren, MFT, Salt Lake City, UT
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Myth: One myth about marriage and family therapy is that MFTs only help with certain relationship problems (e.g., infidelity, unexpected loss, family conflict).
Fact: MFTs are trained to address relationship problems, as well as many common issues that incline people to seek out therapy (e.g., depression, anxiety, trauma, & addiction). The systemic view of MFTs often fits a client's way of seeing the world because MFTS are equipped to address the context in which their problems reside. Eugene Hall, LAMFT, Minneapolis, MN
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Myth: Marriage and Family Therapists only see couples.
Fact: MFT's are highly trained clinicians who use a systems-approach when helping individuals struggling with any issue, whether in a relationship of not. Chris Fariello, Ph.D., LMFT, Philadelphia, PA
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Myth: The therapist can only provide marriage counseling if both members within the couple are in the office session.
Fact: The therapist can provide marriage counseling with one person, for the insights, tips, and tools can be the “difference that makes the difference” within the unit when meeting with one person. Karen Ruskin, PsyD, LMFT, Sharon, MA
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Myth: You will be able to solve all your problems in therapy.
Fact: Therapy is a catalyst for change in your life. You will not have enough time to cover every issue in therapy unless you stay in therapy for a few years. (By all means, if you need this, do it.) For most couples, therapy starts a conversation that must continue outside of therapy. Therapy will offer new insights into old issues and it will offer some behavioral guidance for how to make changes in your life. Ultimately, you are responsible for taking action on your own. I usually suggest that my couples do their own version of therapy outside of therapy to hold each other accountable. I will tell them to meet at a coffee shop or for lunch to discuss how therapy is going and how they feel about their progress. This seems to help couples begin to do the work outside of therapy as well. Angela Skurtu, M.Ed. LMFT, St. Louis, MO
If you know that it is time to seek therapy, we can help. Marriage and family therapists (MFTs) are trained in psychotherapy and family systems, and licensed to diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders within the context of marriage, couples and family systems. The unique feature you will find during treatment with an MFT is the therapist will focus on understanding your symptoms and diagnoses within interactions and relationships. The existing environment and context is given careful examination paying particular attention to the family system – as defined by you. MFTs treat predominantly individuals but always from the perspective that “relationships matter.” Find a therapist here.
The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy represents over 50,000 marriage and family therapists worldwide.
AAMFT members have a unique opportunity to participate in an important federal committee that will be making recommendations to Congress concerning serious mental illness.
SAMHSA is recruiting MFTs and other mental health professions to serve on a federal committee, Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee, that will be examining advances in research relating to serious mental illness and serious emotional disturbance, and the effectiveness of federal programs related to SMI and SED. SAMHSA is looking for 14 non-federal employees to serve on this committee, including MFTs and other mental health professions willing to serve in one of the following five committee positions:
A licensed mental health professional with a specialty in treating children and adolescents with a serious emotional disturbance;
A mental health professional who has research or clinical mental health experience in working with minorities;
A mental health professional who has research or clinical mental health experience in working with medically underserved populations;
A person with experience providing services for homeless individuals and working with adults with a serious mental illness, children with a serious emotional disturbance, or individuals in a mental health crisis.
A representative of a leading research, advocacy, or service organization for adults with a serious mental illness
For more information on this committee and the eligibility requirements for providers, please visit SAMHSA's website. Nominations are due to SAMHSA by Friday, June 2.
The 2017 Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) Training Institute is a wrap! The Institute consisted of eight presenters from all areas of the Marriage and Family Therapy field, including the previous MFP Director Mudita Rastogi. The presentations consisted of a variety of subjects such as immigration, LGBTQ issues, being in the MFT field, and statistical training. The presentations allowed Fellows to look into research being conducted by presenters, while learning how to improve their own research through conversations and through a series of question and answer segments.
The Capitol Hill visit was a significant one, and the highlight of the Institute. The Fellows had an opportunity to advocate to Representatives and Senators on behalf of the mental health field. The Fellows did an excellent job in speaking with Representatives, legislative assistants, and Senators about the importance of training mental health practitioners in programs and fellowships such as the Minority Fellowship Program. The Fellows spoke about a wide variety of issues, including substance abuse (specifically opiod abuse in this country), cultural issues, and, trauma. The Fellows explained the significance of these issues and how continued financial and academic support would assist the government’s initiative in resolving these issues. The legislative assistants, Senators, and Representatives were impressed by the Fellows’ knowledge and passion for the mental health field. The visit to Capitol Hill was shared with followers of AAMFT's Facebook and Twitter page through photos of each visit, which you can see here or by scrolling through this post.
The Institute concluded with Fellow presentations. The Fellows did an extraordinary job presenting their research with passion and vast knowledge of their individual projects. In addition to all of the trainings and presentations, the Fellows had a terrific time catching up with one another, exploring Washington DC, and networking with presenters.
The MFP Staff is looking forward to the 2018 Training Institute and making future Institutes an even better experience for the MFP Fellows!
Pictured: Daniel Cooper, Sarah Crabtree, Eugene Hall, Damir Utrzan, and legislative assistant for Rep. Al Franken
Marriage and family therapy is built on a foundation of systems theory which, when applied to life’s problems, paves a path to wellness without stigmatization. MFTs are specifically trained to view problems in the context of our primary relationships – partners, parents, children, for example, as well as our secondary and tertiary relationships. This might include our relationships with co-workers or the community we live in. MFTs use a wide lens designed to capture the bigger system that makes up a client’s experience. When an individual, a couple or a family is dealing with a difficult situation, working with an MFT is an excellent choice. He or she will acutely assess your situation and provide treatment tailored to the unique problem or problems you face. Here are some of the things that MFTs want you to know…
As a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT), I would like others to know how my training sets me apart from other mental health professionals. I believe that if clients understood this better they would be more capable of making an informed decision about what type of approach would benefit them. Just because someone says they have expertise in relationships, doesn't mean that they do. Heather Holmgren, MFT, Salt Lake City, UT
Therapy is a place where struggle is honored and we, as MFTs, acknowledge the many barriers to seeking help. Whether you are seeking help for the first time or have been in therapy before, you have agency over your care. Don't hesitate to ask your provider questions about the process and don't wait to reach out. Therapists are there to help you and your loved ones in a way that you see as beneficial. Whether individually, as a couple, or with your family, there are many MFTs trained to help get you back to living a happy and healthy life. Eugene Hall, LAMFT, Minneapolis, MN
The number of people present in a session does not define what a family therapist is. In fact, helping even one member within the family unit in counseling while the remaining family members do not attend, is a service that is well within the wheelhouse of family therapy. Karen Ruskin, PsyD, LMFT, Sharon, MA
Sometimes things will get worse before they get better. During the first session, couples spend a lot of time going over the various issues they have struggled with over the years—essentially stirring the pot. After this session, it is common for couples to have some painful feelings as a result of talking through these old hurts. Some couples even have a few fights during that first week. This does not mean therapy is a failure. It just means you are dealing with the emotions surrounding those hurts. Keep going. It gets better. Angela Skurtu, M.Ed. LMFT, St. Louis, MO
We are working on our own issues. MFTs often come into the field due to our own recovery journeys. I myself became interested after dealing with the fallout of my parents’ divorce and learning how to make my own progress, I wanted to support others facing the same hardship. That doesn’t mean we are looking for our own therapy in the room with you, but often we are doing our own therapy, getting guidance from a supervisor, or doing personal work to address our health. John Stinebaugh, LMFT, Fort Morgan, CO
If you know that it is time to seek therapy, we can help. Marriage and family therapists (MFTs) are trained in psychotherapy and family systems, and licensed to diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders within the context of marriage, couples and family systems. The unique feature you will find during treatment with an MFT is the therapist will focus on understanding your symptoms and diagnoses within interactions and relationships. The existing environment and context is given careful examination paying particular attention to the family system – as defined by you. MFTs treat predominantly individuals but always from the perspective that “relationships matter.” Find a therapist here.
The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy represents over 50,000 marriage and family therapists worldwide.
May is National Mental Health Month, which raises awareness about mental illness and related issues in our country. Attitudes towards mental health issues are shifting, negative attitudes and stigma associated with mental health are being bridged and there has been growing acceptance towards mental health issues and support for people with them. The AAMFT Research & Education Foundation is excited to announce thank you gifts for contributions that fall into particular levels of giving to the Foundation in the month of May. This is a great opportunity for members to contribute and make an impact for not only the future of the MFT profession, but for mental health awareness in the country.
Marriage and Family Therapists, also known as MFTs, have a unique skill-set that differentiates them from other mental health professionals. We are often overlooked or listed under “or similar training” on a job description after "LCSW, LCPC preferred." What is interesting is that MFT training is intensely clinical compared to other professional programs: a minimum requirement of 500 face-to-face client hours, half of which are couple and family hours, are required to graduate from an accredited Masters program. What this means is that while MFTs work with individuals, couples and families, they also have extensive training working with, and thinking about, problems in the context of our relationships. After all, we are shaped by where we come from and that informs so much of what we do in other relationships. It is crucial to understand that MFTs view individuals and problems in this larger context, allowing for strengths to emerge and holistic treatment to empower the clients. MFT training is specialized and distinctive from other modalities and its offers remarkable benefits to everyone (individuals, couples, and families). Here are some myths and realities from marriage and family therapists.
A common myth about MFTs (Marriage and Family Therapists) is that we only work with couples and families. Our training gives us the opportunity to see problems from a lens that includes the intricate influence of interaction, belief, culture, upbringing, and relationship. Our individual issues don't occur in a lab with all factors accounted for or eliminated. MFT's are a great fit for individuals, as we understand the elemental influences that exist in all of our lives. Heather Holmgren, MFT, Salt Lake City, UT
One myth about marriage and family therapy is that MFTs only help with certain relationship problems (e.g., infidelity, unexpected loss, family conflict). However, MFTs are trained to treat relationship problems as well as common reasons that people seek out therapy (e.g., depression, anxiety, trauma, & addiction). The systemic view of MFTs often fits a client's way of seeing the world and they are equipped to address the context in which their problems reside. Eugene Hall, LAMFT, Minneapolis, MN
Myth: Marriage and Family Therapists only see Couples. MFTs are highly trained clinicians and use a systems approach when helping individuals struggling with any issue, whether in a relationship of not. Chris Fariello, PhD, LMFT, Philadelphia, PA
It is a myth that marriage and family therapists can only provide marriage counseling if both members within the couple unit are in the office session. The therapist can provide marriage counseling with one person, for the insights, tips and tools can be the ‘difference that makes the difference’ within the couple unit when meeting with one person.Karen Ruskin, PsyD, LMFT, Sharon, MA
Every therapist is not the same, and it does matter who you pick. Different therapists specialize in different things. If you are coming in for couples or family therapy, picking an marriage and family therapist is beneficial because we specialize in the treatment of couples and families. There are also additional specialties that can be helpful. A marriage therapist can also specialize in play therapy, high conflict couples issues, or sexual health issues. When you look for a therapist, pick someone who has training in the issue you are trying to resolve. Not all therapists are going to be comfortable working with your problem. It is better to pick someone who has been trained to work with the problem you need help for. Angela Skurtu, M.Ed. LMFT, St. Louis, MO
If you know that it is time to seek therapy, we can help. Marriage and family therapists (MFTs) are trained in psychotherapy and family systems, and licensed to diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders within the context of marriage, couples and family systems. The unique feature you will find during treatment with an MFT is the therapist will focus on understanding your symptoms and diagnoses within interactions and relationships. The existing environment and context is given careful examination paying particular attention to the family system – as defined by you. MFTs treat predominantly individuals but always from the perspective that “relationships matter.” Find a therapist here.
The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy represents over 50,000 marriage and family therapists worldwide.
SAMHSA is currently recruiting LMFTs and other behavioral health providers to serve as SAMHSA Peer Reviewers. LMFTs interested in serving as peer reviewers are encouraged to send a resume and completed Review Contact Information form to SAMHSA at [email protected].
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities. SAMHSA’s Office of Financial Resources (OFR), Division of Grant Review (DGR) is responsible for coordinating the peer review process for non-formula discretionary grant applications.
Processes include: Review of the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA); Peer Reviewer Recruitment; Application Screening; Collaborative Review and Discrepancy Calls. Peer reviewers are an invaluable and critical component of the non-formula discretionary grant review process. The primary role of the SAMHSA Peer Reviewer is to conduct an expert, equitable and objective assessment of each application in relation to the FOA evaluation criteria as well as provide accurate feedback to SAMHSA and applicants. In order to ensure a fair and objective review, the DGR selects reviewers based on their knowledge, skills and expertise related to the grant program under review. In addition, the DGR assembles peer groups that reflect diversity based on geography, gender, racial/ethnic and sexual and gender minority status.
To ensure that there is a sufficient number of qualified individuals to review for each FOA, the DGR is currently recruiting licensed behavioral health experts to serve as peer reviewers to evaluate applications in response to the requirements of the FOAs. If you are interested in learning more about the SAMHSA peer review process or if you would like to sign up to become a SAMHSA Peer Reviewer, please send a copy of your resume/CV and a completed Reviewer Contact Information (RCI) form to [email protected].
Up here in North Dakota, where we get around on sled dogs and live in igloos year-round, there are 38 LMFTs to serve a large, rural state. With high occurrences of substance use disorders, mental health conditions, and family and trauma-related stressors, there is often significant distance between clients and the nearest mental health practitioner. Despite lacking mental health provider access statewide, our profession has struggled to gain reimbursement and provider status of our allied professionals, making the already difficult work of MFTs in North Dakota more challenging.
In North Dakota, legislative sessions are held every other year which results in an intense session for the house and senate representatives. This legislative session, a bill was proposed with a tier system that would have placed MFTs below our master’s educated allied professionals. There was reasonable concern that this might be used in the future for reimbursement and defining of qualifications for mental health professionals, which would have been immeasurably detrimental to MFTs. To further complicate this impending challenge to our practice, the North Dakota division of AAMFT (NDAMFT) had a complete change in officers in October, 2016 (right before the legislative session), making legislative efforts and advocacy an even more daunting task.
Thankfully, AAMFT’s advocacy team helped NDAMFT solidify our goals for the legislative session and identify the steps we could take to protect our profession in ND. With their help and guidance, our small division in North Dakota quickly learned some of the necessary language and skills to combat this unjust tier system placement. AAMFT also helped us hire a lobbyist, a task that would have been impossible without the Practice Protection Fund. Without this financial assistance and guidance from AAMFT, there is no doubt that MFTs would have remained on a tier beneath our other master’s educated allied professionals, perhaps changing the trajectory of the profession for the worse in North Dakota.
Together with our AAMFT advisors, lobbyist, and the grassroots efforts of our small membership, we crafted an amendment for this bill and created template letters and guides for our membership and allies to unify our message to the legislature. In our efforts to gain approval for our amendment, we held weekly strategy meetings with our lobbyist and AAMFT, made our presence known at hearings (even when we could not testify), wrote testimony, gave oral testimony, created fact-sheets comparing the profession to allied professions, and started utilizing grassroots outreach. Due to the small number of MFTs in the state, allied professionals, hospital administrators, and professors were recruited to help advocate for our profession (sometimes more than once for the same message to be conveyed).
Our experience during this session could only be described as a roller coaster. The Senate denied our amendment, which was later approved by the house after oral and written testimony from MFTs and allied professionals. The bill had to be heard in a conference committee due to continued opposition by some of the senate members. During these hearings, we were able to turn to some of the long standing MFTs in our state, some of which hold positions on our licensure board, to attest to facts and dispel myths about MFT qualifications. This effort was a turning point on the conference floor, and our amendment was approved and signed by our governor after a lengthy and heart-wrenching session. LMFTs are now listed on the same tier as Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers and Professional Clinical Counselors. One of the main lessons we learned during this session is the imperative need for interim work with the legislature to advocate for the profession before a bill is drafted.
Looking back at this whirlwind of a session, NDAMFT is incredibly grateful to have had the guidance and support of AAMFT in strategizing and accessing the Practice Protection Fund. With this, we were able to access an excellent lobbyist who knew our state’s legislature well and was as dedicated to our goals as we were throughout the session. We are proud to have had their support that will help advance our profession up here in North Dakota!
Therapy provides an opportunity for each of us to explore and understand the complexities that make our lives challenging. Life itself can be unpredictable, change is inevitable, and each change—small, medium, or large—requires us to adapt. The by-products of change can manifest themselves in ways that feel unpleasant. We may find ourselves worrying excessively, perhaps to the point of missing an important deadline at work, for example. This is where therapy can be most helpful. A skilled professional, such as a marriage and family therapist, can facilitate positive change. Having a safe place to explore difficult feelings that may keep us from meeting our potential and reconnecting with joy can only be of benefit to ourselves, as well as to our relationships. Here are some insights from marriage and family therapists on how therapy can benefit you.
Our thoughts are a product of our experiences, of years of lessons that become our truth. It can be hard to see outside of those experiences and gain insight into the things that we don't know about ourselves or our situation. Therapy can be greatly beneficial by offering a new perspective or the "Aha!" moment we need to propel us toward a solution that we could have never come up with on our own. Heather Holmgren, MFT, Salt Lake City, UT
Through therapy, we can begin to alleviate the problems in our lives and return to a preferred way of being. During the therapeutic process, we get to know ourselves better and can also gain insight into how we engage in our relationships. This self-understanding helps to build resiliency so that we can cope more effectively with difficulties in our lives, stay connected in the relationships we value, and know when to seek help in the future. Therapy can provide healing, insight, and simply a space to ask questions and seek out answers from a trained professional. Eugene Hall, LAMFT, Minneapolis, MN
One benefit of therapy is prevention. Often our society sees therapy as a last-ditch effort before divorce. Rather than waiting until your relationship is on its last legs, you can come into therapy around different life transitions. Before getting married, before having a new baby, and before your children leave your household and you plan to retire are all great times to come into therapy. These life transitions often come with a lot of stress. Coming into therapy to get ahead of the game is a great way to develop some tools for the upcoming transition. Angela Skurtu, M.Ed. LMFT, St. Louis, MO
If you know that it is time to seek therapy, we can help. Marriage and family therapists (MFTs) are trained in psychotherapy and family systems, and licensed to diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders within the context of marriage, couples and family systems. The unique feature you will find during treatment with an MFT is the therapist will focus on understanding your symptoms and diagnoses within interactions and relationships. The existing environment and context is given careful examination paying particular attention to the family system – as defined by you. MFTs treat predominantly individuals but always from the perspective that “relationships matter.” Find a therapist here.
The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy represents over 50,000 marriage and family therapists worldwide.
