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American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy

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The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) is a professional association in the field of marriage and family therapy representing more than 50,000 marriage and family therapists throughout the United States, Canada, and abroad.[1]AAMFT represents the interests of MFTs through education, advocacy, clinical standards, and ethical practice. The association plays a central role in the development, recognition, and growth of the marriage and family therapy profession.

History

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Founded in 1942 as the American Association of Marriage Counselors, the AAMFT has been involved with the problems, needs and changing patterns of couples and family relationships. A central premise of AAMFT is that marriage and family therapists should treat relationships within families rather than the symptoms of individuals based on a view that individuals are part of relationship systems.[2]

Mission Vision

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Mission:

To advance the profession of marriage and family therapy and promote the well-being of families and individuals through education, advocacy, and ethical practice.

Vision:

A world where healthy relationships are valued and supported as essential to individual and community well-being.

Goals

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The association focuses on increasing understanding, research and education in the field of marriage and family therapy.

The AAMFT aims to:

  1. Facilitate research, theory development and education,
  2. Establish and implement standards for programs that serve as the basis for accreditation,
  3. Establish implement standards for clinical supervision, professional ethics and the clinical practice of marriage and family therapy.
  4. Serve as a recognized accreditor in North America for the accreditation of MFT academic programs in the United States and Canada.
  5. Promote high-quality clinical practice.
  6. Advocate for the MFT profession at state and federal levels.

Continuing Education

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The AAMFT conducts an annual national conference in the United States each fall as well as a week-long series of continuing education institutes in the summer and winter.

Accreditation of Academic Programs

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AAMFT's "is the nationally recognized accrediting agency that accredits Master's degree, doctoral degree, and post-graduate degree clinical training programs in marriage and family therapy throughout the United States and Canada."[3]

Licensing of Marriage and Family Therapists

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Within the United States, marriage and family therapy is regulated by individual states.[4]

Membership

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AAMFT offers several membership categories:

  • Student Members: For individuals enrolled in MFT training programs.
  • Associate Members: For recent graduates pursuing licensure.
  • Clinical Fellows: Fully licensed MFTs.
  • Retired Members and Allied Professionals: For those with aligned interests.

Benefits of Membership Include:

  • Access to continuing education and conferences
  • Networking opportunities
  • Subscriptions to professional publications
  • Professional advocacy and resources
  • Discounts on liability insurance and clinical tools

Code of Ethics

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The AAMFT Code of Ethics is a cornerstone of the profession. It outlines principles of integrity, competence, informed consent, confidentiality, dual relationships, and cultural responsiveness. All members are required to adhere to these standards, which are reviewed and updated regularly.

Marriage and Family Therapy Journals

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  • Contemporary Family Therapy
  • Family Process
  • Family Relations
  • Journal of Child and Family Studies, ISSN 1062-1024 (Print) ISSN 1573-2843 (Online), Springer
  • Journal of Family Psychology
  • Journal of Marital and Family Therapy

References

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  1. ^ AAMFT. "About Us". aamft.org. Archived from the original on 20 April 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  2. ^ [1] Archived 2017-08-01 at the Wayback Machine – About AAMFT. From AAMFT website.
  3. ^ [2] Archived 2012-10-24 at the Wayback Machine – AAMFT Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education. From AAMFT website.
  4. ^ [3] – Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulation Boards website. National Council on Family Relations (NCFR). (n.d.). Home. National Council on Family Relations. Retrieved March 21, 2025, from https://www.ncfr.org 5. The Gottman Institute. (n.d.). Home. The Gottman Institute. Retrieved March 21, 2025, from https://www.gottman.com 6. Therapy Tribe. (n.d.). Marriage counseling and relationship therapy. Therapy Tribe. Retrieved March 21, 2025, from https://www.therapytribe.com 7. Verywell Mind. (2022, October 5). Marriage therapy: What to expect, types, and how it works. Verywell Mind. Retrieved March 21, 2025, from https://www.verywellmind.com/marriage-therapy-5197884
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