Marriage and family therapists are governed by the statutes of the states in which they practice. The laws, rules, and regulations governing mental health practice are determined by each state. Therapists are also guided by the ethical codes of the primary organization representing their profession: AAMFT. These standards, statutes, and codes help to protect both therapists and clients. Advocacy regarding state statutes or rules pertains to joining with your LMFT peers to seek changes to laws, rules, or access to treatment for identified populations (homeless, LGBTQIA, youth etc.).
Read the Codes of Ethics and Synopsis of State Laws rubric to learn how this will be evaluated and to ensure you have addressed the grading criteria. Refer to the following for state statutes:
- AMFTRB. (n.d.). State requirements LinksLinks to an external site..
For this, review the following:
- Ethics, Standards, and Legal Information for Marriage and Family TherapyLinks to an external site..
- Week 6: Code of Ethics and Synopsis of State LawLinks to an external site. reading list.
- Official state board websites: You may also find links to states’ rules and statutes on their official state board websites.
Instructions
- Describe the process you need to follow to obtain licensure in your state.
- Discuss the state’s limits to confidentiality. Discuss what the AAMFT Code of Ethics state about confidentiality based on the licenses that you are obtaining.
- Describe how you could use the AAMFT Code of Ethics to advocate change for the profession of MFT.
- Evaluate, using the AAMFT Code of Ethics, how you see your value system and how it might conflict with what you are ethically bound to do as a therapist.
- Compare the AAMFT Code of Ethics with your state’s statutes governing the practice of marriage and family therapist: How is privileged communication defined?
- Explain how a duty to warn or protect is defined by your state. What are the limitations?
- Describe how ethical complaints are handled in your state.
- Describe the scope of practice in your state for the MFT license. That is, what are the limitations of practice for a registered intern or licensed marriage and family therapist in your state?
- Apply ethical and culturally relevant strategies for establishing and maintaining in-person and technology-assisted relationships.
Organize your stuff according to the Codes of Ethics and Synopsis of State Laws rubric, making sure to address all Distinguished criteria.
Refer to the AAMFT Code of Ethics and the statutes governing the practice in your state.
