What is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

What is an LMFT?

An LMFT is the designation for a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.  According to the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, which regulates and licenses Marriage and Family Therapists, an LMFT provides individuals, couples, families or groups with counseling wherein “interpersonal relationships are examined for the purpose of achieving more adequate, satisfying, and productive marriage and family adjustments. This practice includes relationship and premarriage counseling.”.

“The application of marriage and family therapy principles and methods includes, but is not limited to, the use of applied psychotherapeutic techniques, to enable individuals to mature and grow within marriage and the family, the provision of explanations and interpretations of the psychosexual and psychosocial aspects of relationships, and the use, application, and integration of the coursework and training required.”  LMFTs do not prescribe medication, but will refer to MDs for medication assessment when appropriate.

How is an LMFT different than a Social Worker, Psychologist or Psychiatrist?

According tot he CA BBS, a Social Worker (MSW or LCSW) has “special knowledge of social resources” in the community, and is able to work individually without examining interpersonal relationships.  Social workers most often work in agency settings with particular skill sets for certain populations, but can also work in a general or specialized private practice.  Social workers cannot prescribe medications, but provide referrals to MDs for prescribing.

According the Calfornia Board of Psychology, licensed Psychologists “develop, give and interpret psychological tests. For example, they perform intelligence and achievement evaluations, disability evaluations, workers’ compensation evaluations, fitness-for-duty evaluations, and child-custody evaluations. They also help patients understand and resolve various psychological problems like depression, anxiety and substance abuse. They may provide treatment to individuals (adults and children), couples, families, groups, organizations or businesses using behavior modification, psychotherapy, hypnosis or consultation. They provide these services in in-patient psychiatric hospitals, day treatment programs, and out-patient offices.”  Psychologists do not prescribe medication.  They refer to MDs for prescribing.

A Psychiatrist is a medical doctor (MD) who specializes in diagnosing and treating mental health issues and illness.  Treatment from a psychiatrist may include the applicaiton of psychotherapeutic techniques as well as prescribing medication, and/or monitoring medication.  A LMFT might refer a client to a psychiatrist for medication for depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues and in this case, because the LMFT is providing psychotherapy, the psychiatrist would provide medication monitoring only or primarily.