If you’ve started searching for a mental health therapist online, you’ve probably noticed
an alphabet soup of licenses. You’ll see counselors, clinical psychologists, clinical social
workers, art therapists, and more. Among them, you will likely spot therapists with LMFT
or LCMFT after their names.
Those letters stand for Licensed (Clinical) Marriage and Family Therapist. While the
license still uses the traditional word “marriage,” the profession today uses the broader
term Couple and Family Therapist (CFT).
So, who exactly are MFTs, and how are they different from other licensed
therapists?
The “Systemic Lens”
MFTs are therapists who completed a specialized master’s or doctoral program focused
on couple and family therapy. These programs train MFTs to view clients through what
we call a “systemic lens.”
Having a systemic lens means the therapist isn’t just looking at the distinct traits of the
individuals in a room—they are looking at the underlying relational patterns that connect
them. To put it simply: they look at the dance, not just the dancers.
As you may have experienced in your own life, it’s quite natural to focus on the
individual quirks of the people we are close to. When tension or conflict arises in a
relationship (which is unpleasant, but entirely normal), this individual focus can easily
turn into pointing fingers. We might find ourselves asking, “What’s wrong with you?” or
“Why are you acting this way?”
As most of us know firsthand, those questions rarely lead to constructive conversations.
What we often miss are the repeating cycles of interaction that actually fuel the conflict.
MFTs are specifically trained to spot these hidden patterns and help you meaningfully
change them. While different MFTs might use different specific techniques, their
fundamental approach relies on treating the relationship system as a whole.
How MFTs Compare to Other Therapists
You may have noticed that therapists who are not MFTs also offer couples and family
counseling. It is absolutely possible for therapists to learn how to work with relationships
after their initial graduate training. Like all professionals, therapists continually grow and
acquire new skills throughout their careers.
The primary difference is that for an MFT, this systemic view isn’t an add-on—it has
been the core foundation of their professional training from day one. Because of this,
MFTs usually enter the field with significantly more clinical experience working
specifically with couples and families than other providers.
Is help from a MFT Right for You?
If you are a couple or family seeking therapy for relationship struggles, looking for a
provider who specifically holds an MFT license is a great place to start.
And MFTs don’t only see couples! Even if you are seeking individual therapy, our
relationships deeply impact our well-being. If the issues you are struggling with are tied
to the relationships in your life, an MFT can help you uncover and understand the
relational patterns you may not even realize you are a part of.
Are you ready to work with a MFT? We’d love to help you get started in therapy. Send us a consultation request today.
This post was written by Dr. Shawn Kim, LCMFT. He is a licensed clinical marriage and family therapist and an Associate Professor in the Department of Family Science at Towson University.