{"id":109321,"date":"2020-02-21T11:20:34","date_gmt":"2020-02-21T17:20:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/?p=109321"},"modified":"2024-02-01T18:42:40","modified_gmt":"2024-02-02T00:42:40","slug":"types-of-therapy-mfts-use","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/career-development\/types-of-therapy-mfts-use\/","title":{"rendered":"Types of therapy MFTs use"},"content":{"rendered":"

Depending on the needs of clients or patients, therapy can take on several different forms. Marriage and Family Therapy specialists, for example, employ different types of therapy to help their clients reach their goals.<\/p>\n

What is an MFT?<\/h2>\n

A certified marriage and family therapist<\/a> (MFT) provides counseling services to couples, families, and individuals in need of help with relationships. An MFT is a <\/span>therapy specialist <\/span>who focuses on interrelationships between the self and others. <\/span>They use a systematic <\/span>MFT approach<\/span> that considers the broader context of an individual’s life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

An MFT considers not just the client but all the systems and people around him or her. In doing this, MFTs use a high-level view of the client\u2019s life to identify what parts need changing or evaluating to help the client heal. Because this type of therapy involves parties in the subject\u2019s life, it\u2019s not uncommon that other people may be involved in the patient\u2019s therapy.<\/span><\/p>\n

MFTs, like therapists in other specialties, earn both bachelor\u2019s and master\u2019s degrees and can go on to pursue a doctorate. Following their education, they pursue clinical experience and licensure, which certifies them to practice. Read our blog that explains more specifics<\/a> and in-depth information on how to become an MFT.<\/p>\n

Three Different Types of <\/span>MFT Techniques<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are a few different types of <\/span>MFT techniques<\/span> that a therapist can use. The <\/span>MFT approach<\/span> they choose is based on their needs and what is best suited for the problems their patient is experiencing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Structural family therapy (SFT)<\/h3>\n

Created by Salvador Minuchin<\/a> in the 1960s, therapists using SFT<\/a> observe familial dynamics, boundaries, and structures. Through this observation, therapists work with family units to disrupt negative behaviors or make changes to the dynamics within a familial relationship. The focus of this work is on changing familial structures rather than individual family members.<\/p>\n

Structural family therapy (SFT) is an MFT technique often used for situations in which family behaviors and interactions contribute to problems. This MFT approach helps address issues such as conflicts between parents and children or when adjusting to changes in family structure such as with blended families. The goal is to identify and modify the family’s interaction patterns that are causing problems, focusing on improving communication and establishing clear roles and boundaries within the family unit.<\/p>\n

Cognitive behavioral therapy<\/h3>\n

Cognitive behavioral therapy<\/a> is a form of psychological treatment that involves patients and their therapists discovering unhealthy thought patterns, behaviors, and coping mechanisms and making efforts to change these disruptive behaviors. Within Marriage and Family Therapy, this treatment could be used to further understand a patient’s impact on their family dynamic and ways they can work to improve it.<\/p>\n

This MFT technique is particularly effective in addressing issues such as anxiety, depression, marital problems, and parent-child conflicts. By focusing on how thoughts and beliefs influence behaviors within the family context, CBT helps patients develop healthier coping strategies and communication skills. This MFT approach is collaborative and goal-oriented, often resulting in improved understanding and relationships among family members.<\/p>\n

Intergenerational family therapy<\/h3>\n

Intergenerational family therapy<\/a> is an MFT technique for understanding how family dynamics across generations influence an individual\u2019s behavior and relationships. This MFT approach identifies and addresses recurring patterns, behaviors, and emotional responses that are passed down through generations.<\/p>\n

By exploring these deep-rooted family histories, MFTs help clients recognize and break negative cycles, leading to healthier family dynamics and improved personal well-being. It’s particularly effective for cases in which families experience repetitive issues such as addiction or mental health disorders, offering insights that can drive transformative change.<\/p>\n

Empower Change as an MFT<\/h2>\n

Becoming a therapist and helping to heal others is a tremendous undertaking. Marriage and Family Therapists work not only with their clients but also with the structures and people with whom they interact every day. MFTs help clients, and often their families, feel safer, stronger, and better equipped to make good choices.<\/p>\n

Start your Marriage and Family Therapy journey with The Chicago School<\/a>! Our M.A.<\/a> and Psy.D.<\/a> programs in MFT are designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills to make a meaningful impact in people’s lives. By focusing on hands-on experience and practical knowledge, you’ll be prepared to navigate the complexities of modern relationships and family dynamics. Take the first step toward a fulfilling career that changes lives and fosters healthier relationships.<\/p>\n

Discover more about our dynamic MFT programs<\/a> and join a community committed to professional excellence. Apply today<\/a> to shape your future in Marriage and Family Therapy with The Chicago School.<\/p>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Marriage and family therapy aims to help clients navigate the complexities of their familial relationships. Learn more about the types of therapy MFTs use.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":109344,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[110],"tags":[],"coauthors":[1073],"class_list":["post-109321","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-career-development"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n3 Different Types of Therapy MFTs Use | The Chicago School<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn about transformative MFT techniques, from structural family therapy to cognitive behavioral methods, and their role in enhancing family relationships.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/career-development\/types-of-therapy-mfts-use\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"3 Different Types of Therapy MFTs Use | The Chicago School\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn about transformative MFT techniques, from structural family therapy to cognitive behavioral methods, and their role in enhancing family relationships.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/career-development\/types-of-therapy-mfts-use\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Insight Digital Magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-02-21T17:20:34+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-02-02T00:42:40+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/MFT_BlogPost.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"628\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"The Chicago School\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"The Chicago School\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"3 Different Types of Therapy MFTs Use | The Chicago School","description":"Learn about transformative MFT techniques, from structural family therapy to cognitive behavioral methods, and their role in enhancing family relationships.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/career-development\/types-of-therapy-mfts-use\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"3 Different Types of Therapy MFTs Use | The Chicago School","og_description":"Learn about transformative MFT techniques, from structural family therapy to cognitive behavioral methods, and their role in enhancing family relationships.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/career-development\/types-of-therapy-mfts-use\/","og_site_name":"Insight Digital Magazine","article_published_time":"2020-02-21T17:20:34+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-02-02T00:42:40+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":628,"url":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/MFT_BlogPost.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"The Chicago School","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"The Chicago School","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/career-development\/types-of-therapy-mfts-use\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/career-development\/types-of-therapy-mfts-use\/"},"author":{"name":"Abby Colich","@id":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/#\/schema\/person\/a517ec1e24b0744be2b18008382f1053"},"headline":"Types of therapy MFTs use","datePublished":"2020-02-21T17:20:34+00:00","dateModified":"2024-02-02T00:42:40+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/career-development\/types-of-therapy-mfts-use\/"},"wordCount":768,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/career-development\/types-of-therapy-mfts-use\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/MFT_BlogPost.jpg","articleSection":["Career Development Articles"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/career-development\/types-of-therapy-mfts-use\/","url":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/career-development\/types-of-therapy-mfts-use\/","name":"3 Different Types of Therapy MFTs Use | The Chicago School","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/career-development\/types-of-therapy-mfts-use\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/career-development\/types-of-therapy-mfts-use\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/MFT_BlogPost.jpg","datePublished":"2020-02-21T17:20:34+00:00","dateModified":"2024-02-02T00:42:40+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/#\/schema\/person\/a517ec1e24b0744be2b18008382f1053"},"description":"Learn about transformative MFT techniques, from structural family therapy to cognitive behavioral methods, and their role in enhancing family relationships.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/career-development\/types-of-therapy-mfts-use\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/career-development\/types-of-therapy-mfts-use\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/career-development\/types-of-therapy-mfts-use\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/MFT_BlogPost.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/MFT_BlogPost.jpg","width":1200,"height":628,"caption":"Different MFT techniques graphic"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/career-development\/types-of-therapy-mfts-use\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Types of therapy MFTs use"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/","name":"Insight Digital Magazine","description":"The Chicago School","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/#\/schema\/person\/a517ec1e24b0744be2b18008382f1053","name":"Abby Colich"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/109321","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/45"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=109321"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/109321\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":118235,"href":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/109321\/revisions\/118235"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/109344"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=109321"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=109321"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=109321"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=109321"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}