Would you like to be more involved with the professional side of your profession? We are a very small (5-8), hard-working, diverse group who desperately need to find members
with energy, excitement, and commitment to our growing field, and are
talented at bringing new skills and expertise our way,... maybe that someone is YOU!
The AK Marriage and Family Therapy Board truly needs you NOW more than ever!
Please consider joining your Alaska state MFT Board
President-Elect, Board Member at Large (both must be Alaska licensed)
Student/Associate Board Member at Large
General Committee Members for Special Interest Topics or General Volunteers
PLEASE consider reaching out and emailing
me, Lori Patin at [email protected] if you are interested, I can meet with you personally to discuss any questions or concerns you may have.
Welcome to Alaska Marriage and Family Therapy!
Why use a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist?
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists are Relationship Experts! They work in private practice as well as various other settings with individuals, couples, families, children and adolescents, and the elderly, providing support and perspective as patients struggle with life's challenges.
Marriage and family therapists (LMFTs) practice early crisis intervention and brief, focused psychotherapy to resolve problems or reduce symptoms in the shortest time possible. They also have the expertise and skills to work with persons where more intensive, long-term treatment is necessary to cure or relieve mental or emotional conditions.
They work in Alaska's courts and schools as well as its health institutions, child protective services, mental health treatment centers, research centers, organizations and businesses.
Marriage and family therapists are core mental health practitioners educated and trained to help with relationship difficulties, and diagnose and treat the mental disorders and emotional problems of individuals, couples, families and groups. Marriage and family therapy is highly effective because of the "systemic" orientation that its therapists bring to treatment. In other words, they believe that an individual's mental or emotional problems must be treated within the context of his or her current or prior relationships if the gains are to be meaningful and productive for the patient. This treatment philosophy is consistent with current thinking in the health care field, which increasingly emphasizes inter-agency cooperation, involvement of the family, integration and coordination of services. Our health care system is now moving toward a more systemic approach and is increasingly rejecting individually focused care.
As a result, marriage and family therapists are often able to treat a patient's condition quickly - a cost-effective and practical approach to mental healthcare and a prime reason so many physicians and others refer patients to marriage and family therapists. When it is in the best interest of the patient or outside the scope of the marriage and family therapist's license, therapists collaborate with and refer to other health professionals, such as physicians or psychiatrists in the case of prescribing medication.
Competent therapists do not offer solutions or take sides. They help clients work out solutions according to individual values and lifestyles. Seeking professional assistance is a sign of courage and a willingness to deal with life's many changes.
Distress signals where Marriage and Family Therapists can help
A Marriage and Family Therapist helps individuals, couples, families and children explore and solve problems.
Clients can expect that discussions will be kept confidential, except as otherwise required or permitted by law. Examples of times when confidentiality must be broken are when child abuse has occurred or where the patient threatens violence against another person.
Information from: http://www.camft.org/Content/NavigationMenu/AboutCAMFT/WhoareLMFTs/WhyUseaMFT/default.htm
Marriage and family therapists (LMFTs) practice early crisis intervention and brief, focused psychotherapy to resolve problems or reduce symptoms in the shortest time possible. They also have the expertise and skills to work with persons where more intensive, long-term treatment is necessary to cure or relieve mental or emotional conditions.
They work in Alaska's courts and schools as well as its health institutions, child protective services, mental health treatment centers, research centers, organizations and businesses.
Marriage and family therapists are core mental health practitioners educated and trained to help with relationship difficulties, and diagnose and treat the mental disorders and emotional problems of individuals, couples, families and groups. Marriage and family therapy is highly effective because of the "systemic" orientation that its therapists bring to treatment. In other words, they believe that an individual's mental or emotional problems must be treated within the context of his or her current or prior relationships if the gains are to be meaningful and productive for the patient. This treatment philosophy is consistent with current thinking in the health care field, which increasingly emphasizes inter-agency cooperation, involvement of the family, integration and coordination of services. Our health care system is now moving toward a more systemic approach and is increasingly rejecting individually focused care.
As a result, marriage and family therapists are often able to treat a patient's condition quickly - a cost-effective and practical approach to mental healthcare and a prime reason so many physicians and others refer patients to marriage and family therapists. When it is in the best interest of the patient or outside the scope of the marriage and family therapist's license, therapists collaborate with and refer to other health professionals, such as physicians or psychiatrists in the case of prescribing medication.
Competent therapists do not offer solutions or take sides. They help clients work out solutions according to individual values and lifestyles. Seeking professional assistance is a sign of courage and a willingness to deal with life's many changes.
Distress signals where Marriage and Family Therapists can help
- Emotional stress or anxiety
- Child behavior problems
- Feelings of loneliness, isolation
- Depression
- Moodiness
- Sexual disturbances
- Unexplained fatigue
- Unusual eating patterns
- Unexplained injuries to family members
- Excessive alcohol or drug use
- Family conflict or tension
- Divorce or separating lifestyles
- Fear, anger or guilt
- Grief or emotional pain
A Marriage and Family Therapist helps individuals, couples, families and children explore and solve problems.
Clients can expect that discussions will be kept confidential, except as otherwise required or permitted by law. Examples of times when confidentiality must be broken are when child abuse has occurred or where the patient threatens violence against another person.
Information from: http://www.camft.org/Content/NavigationMenu/AboutCAMFT/WhoareLMFTs/WhyUseaMFT/default.htm