The Role of a Marriage and Family Therapist
The focus of a marriage and family therapist or MFT in family counseling, couples counseling, or individual work is on relationship. It is the relationship one has with others and the relationship one has with the inner life of thoughts, feelings, sensations, intuitions, dreams, visions, fantasies and so on.
The therapist is a guide for the heart and mind in relationship. There is usually profound love in families, marriages, and friendships but the love gets over-shadowed by confused ideas about relationship. Love is in the heart but there can be some crazy ideas in the mind on how that love is or is not expressed.
For example, as parents we want the best for our children but we can get out of balance by being overly rigid with their behavior or negligent in a “whatever” sort of attitude. We can only do the best we know how, so this is where the therapist can guide toward a more balanced approach.
Another example is in marriage, the partners love each other, but when it comes to sorting out differences it turns into a power struggle. This creates a winner and a loser which builds resentment and dissatisfaction. The marriage and family therapist can explain how to talk about these differences to reawaken the love and insight needed to proceed.
AAMFT has some links and resources for those who are interested in the field of Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), including required education, therapist salary, and so forth.
