What is Marriage and Family Therapy?

A family's behavior pattern influences the individual and, therefore, may need to be a part of the treatment plan. In marriage and family therapy, the unit of treatment isn't just the person - even if only a single person is interviewed - it is the set of relationships in which the person is embedded. Marriage and family therapy is:

• Brief
• Solution-focused
• Specific, with attainable therapeutic goals
• Designed with the "end in mind."

Marriage and family therapists treat a wide range of serious clinical problems, including depression, marital issues, anxiety, individual psychological problems, and child-parent problems.

Research indicates that marriage and family therapy is as effective and in some cases more effective than standard and individual treatments for many mental health problems such as adult schizophrenia, affective (mood) disorders, adult alcoholism, and drug abuse, children's conduct disorders, adolescent drug abuse, anorexia in young adult women, childhood autism, chronic physical illness in adults and children, and marital distress and conflict.

Marriage and family therapists regularly practice short-term therapy; 12 sessions on average. Nearly 65.6% of the cases are completed within 20 sessions, 87.9% within 50 sessions. About half of the treatment provided by marriage and family therapists is one-on-one with the other half divided between marital/couple and family therapy, or a combination of treatments.

Reference:
About Marriage and Family Therapists. https://www.aamft.org/About_AAMFT/About_Marriage_and_Family_Therapists.aspx

What is Evidence-based Treatment Models?

Evidence-based treatment (EBT) is an academically and scientifically proven useful theory and methodology replicated through qualitative and quantitative research by more than one investigation or study. The purpose of using evidence-based treatments is to provide safe and effective interventions likely to achieve results and lessen the use of unproven and potentially unsafe practices. This model integrates medically researched evidence with individual patient values with the clinical experience of the provider.

The American Psychological Association (APA) advocates for evidence-based practices (EBP) and treatments in dealing with mental health issues. In a statement from the APA Council, EBP is "integrating the best available research with clinical expertise in the context of patient characteristics, culture, and preferences." (American Psychological Association, 2005)

The incorporation of EBT is just one facet of evidence-based practice; EBP also stresses the importance of informed decision-making when determining how to approach a person's health situation. Mental health professionals need to be aware of current discoveries and dialogue in the research field, thereby enabling them to examine all potential treatment approaches.

Mental health therapists integrate their clinical experience with the efficacy of EBT to achieve a resolution to the issues clients bring to therapy. Therapists using EBT theory guards against following the latest self-help books, pop trends in psychology, and unproven interventions that may be harmful.

References:
American Psychological Association. (2005). (Policy Statement on evidence-based practice psychology). https://doi.org/http://www.apa.org/practice/guidelines/evidence-based-statement.aspx

Evidence-Based Treatment (EBT). (n.d.). Evidence-Based Treatment (EBT). Retrieved September 16, 2020, from https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/evidence-based-treatment

What are the risks in therapy?

In counseling, major life decisions are sometimes made, including decisions involving separation within families, developing other types of relationships, changing employment settings, and changing lifestyles. The decisions are a legitimate outcome of the counseling experience due to an individual's calling into question many of their beliefs and values. Furthermore, symptoms may be intensified, and the emotional experience may be too intense to deal with at the time. I will be available to discuss any assumptions or possible adverse side effects in our work together.

Do you take insurance?

I do not file insurance claims. Clients can receive an invoice giving the CPT and NPI codes and other additional information to file for reimbursement from their insurance company as an out of network provider. Of course, it is at the insurance company's discretion whether they will pay the claim.

Most health insurance companies likely do not cover marriage therapy. due to health coverage only covers counseling for your mental health, and marriage counseling doesn't fall under that category. However, check with your plan administrator.