What is a Marriage & Family Therapist?

The MFT Credential

A Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) is a mental health professional who specializes in treating individuals, couples, and families within the context of their relationships and family systems. Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) hold advanced graduate degrees -- typically a master's or doctoral degree -- in marriage and family therapy or a closely related field.

Education and Training

Becoming a licensed MFT requires extensive education and clinical training:

• A master's or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy, counseling, or a related mental health discipline from an accredited program
• A minimum of two years of post-graduate supervised clinical experience, typically including 3,000 or more hours of direct client contact
• Passing a national licensing examination, such as the MFT National Examination administered by the AMFTRB
• Ongoing continuing education requirements to maintain licensure

What Makes MFTs Different

While psychologists, licensed professional counselors (LPCs), and clinical social workers (LCSWs) all provide valuable mental health services, MFTs bring a distinctive lens to their work. MFTs are trained in systemic and relational therapy from day one of their graduate programs. This means they view an individual's challenges not in isolation, but in the context of their relationships, family history, cultural background, and interpersonal patterns.

This relational focus makes MFTs especially effective for concerns like couples conflict, family dysfunction, communication breakdowns, attachment issues, and navigating major life transitions as a unit.

Common Areas of Specialization

MFTs work with a broad range of concerns, including:

• Couples therapy and marriage counseling
• Family therapy and parenting support
• Anxiety, depression, and mood disorders
• Trauma and PTSD
• Child and adolescent behavioral issues
• Grief and loss
• Divorce and separation
• Substance abuse and addiction
• Infidelity recovery
• LGBTQ+ affirming therapy

Therapeutic Approaches

MFTs are trained in evidence-based methods such as Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), the Gottman Method, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Structural Family Therapy, and Narrative Therapy. Many MFTs integrate multiple approaches based on the needs of each client or family.

How to Find an MFT

MFTFinder makes it simple to locate a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist near you. Search by your location, specialty area, insurance provider, or session format to find a therapist who fits your needs.