Marriage and Family Therapists

Diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders, whether cognitive, affective, or behavioral, within the context of marriage and family systems. Apply psychotherapeutic and family systems theories and techniques in the delivery of professional services to individuals, couples, and families for the purpose of treating such diagnosed nervous and mental disorders.

Job Task

• Contact doctors, schools, social workers, juvenile counselors, law enforcement personnel and others to gather information in order to make recommendations to courts for the resolution of child custody or visitation disputes.
• Follow up on results of counseling programs and clients' adjustments in order to determine effectiveness of programs.
• Provide family counseling and treatment services to inmates participating in substance abuse programs.
• Provide instructions to clients on how to obtain help with legal, financial, and other personal issues.
• Supervise other counselors, social service staff and assistants.
• Write evaluations of parents and children for use by courts deciding divorce and custody cases, testifying in court if necessary.
• Provide public education and consultation to other professionals or groups regarding counseling services, issues and methods.
• Ask questions that will help clients identify their feelings and behaviors.
• Collect information about clients, using techniques such as testing, interviewing, discussion, and observation.
• Confer with clients in order to develop plans for post-treatment activities.
• Counsel clients on concerns such as unsatisfactory relationships, divorce and separation, child rearing, home management, and financial difficulties.
• Determine whether clients should be counseled or referred to other specialists in such fields as medicine, psychiatry and legal aid.
• Develop and implement individualized treatment plans addressing family relationship problems.
• Encourage individuals and family members to develop and use skills and strategies for confronting their problems in a constructive manner.
• Maintain case files that include activities, progress notes, evaluations, and recommendations.
• Confer with other counselors in order to analyze individual cases and to coordinate counseling services.

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