THEN I had practicums where experienced couples therapists watched me work with couples from behind a one method mirror (supplying feedback and coaching). THEN I was allowed to do an internship in couples counseling where I got more feedback, more coaching, did case presentations and continued learning. Then, after I graduated I needed to work for years (years!) collecting thousands of supervised hours counseling couples under the supervision of another licensed marital relationship and family therapist, plus pass a tough national exam that evaluated my understanding of couples and household theory, techniques, and more. Just then I was awarded my marriage and family therapist license.
Estes Therapy
3333 Camino del Rio S #215
San Diego, CA 92108
(619) 558-0001
On the other hand, somebody who is a psychologist (or psychological health counselor or clinical social worker) has await it practically no explicit training, education, experience or mentorship in couples and household therapy. Since I like what I do and wanted to learn everything there was to learn about assisting people, after I completed my master's degree in couples and household therapy and ending up being and LMFT I decided to continue my education with a Ph, D in counseling psychology. This needed 4 more years of coursework, scientific practicums, internships, examinations, and while I did learn much more about the psychology of individuals, finding out how to be a medical manager, and psychological evaluations I was shocked, actually that I was only required to take ONE couples and family class.
In four years. Additionally, my doctorate really highlighted the evaluation and diagnosis of psychopathology not systems. And this is what frequently happens when psychologists try to do couples therapy: They quickly fall into detecting one partner with a mental disease and focusing the "couples work" on that one partner's "concerns." As a result, couples work quickly breaks down into specific treatment since that is what psychologists know how to do. A marriage and household therapist, on the other hand, would not fall into that type of one-sided focus. We look at the system of a relationship, and how partners are impacting each other.
Marriage Counselor
It's an entirely different method of thinking that is unique to MFTs. So. the punchline: click here Simply since somebody has "Dr." in front of their name it does not mean they have any specialized training or experience in working with couples Try to find an MFT. It matters. Now, in some cases, therapists who are certified as psychologists, or who are certified expert counselors have actually gone on to total robust, post-graduate training programs in evidence-based types of couples and household treatment such as the Gottman Technique of marriage counseling, and/ or Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy. This kind of post-graduate training includes (typically) months to years of additional coursework and training, medical experience in dealing with couples, and supervision by licensed marriage and family therapists or non-MFT's who have actually become accredited in couples counseling.
( Or the therapist may select not to complete the additional years-long MFT licensing process, naturally.) However, competent non-MFT's will almost always know about their post-graduate couples therapy training in their bio details. For example, at Growing Self we have a strenuous talking to and vetting process to make sure that we have just the most blazingly effective therapists and couples counselors on our group. (We have actually numerous therapists use with us every year, and we accept practically none). We have therapists use with us all. the. time. who submit resumes talking about all their experience in dealing with couples.