Isms,Schisms, and the Freedom for Differences*

A historical perspective is used to argue that an insufficient tolerance of differences (a) fosters devisive isms and schisms, (b) hardens resistance to change and to new ideas, and (c) impedes the development of diversity and specialization in both the training and the professional practice of marriage and family counselors. Some historical sources and current examples of the low tolerance of differences are presented, followed by a reiterated plea that a greater tolerance of differences be implemented by encouraging a wider diversity in training programs and by granting a more equal status and importance to each of the many different specialty areas of practice by marriage and family counselors.     

A SURVEY OF TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PREDOCTORAL PSYCHOLOGY INTERNS IN MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY

The major clinical training experience for future psychologists is the one-year predoctoral internship. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of marriage and family therapy training available to predoctoral psychology interns. All identifiable internship programs were surveyed to determine training opportunities for doctoral psychology students interested in marriage and family therapy training. A questionnaire was developed and mailed to all predoctoral internshipslisted in the 1983–84 Internship Programs in Professional Psychology (IPPP) and 18 additional sites known to offer marriage and family therapy training. Results indicate that relatively few psychology internships offer substantial training in marriage and family therapy. A listing of internships offering significant levels of training was developed.     

Constructing a Life That Works: Part 1, Blending Postmodern Family Therapy and Career Counseling

Postmodern approaches to career counseling are well suited to addressing the challenges a postindustrial world poses to career development and overall life design. In this, the 1st of 2 articles exploring theory and practice, the authors examine the differences between traditional trait and factor models of career counseling and postmodern approaches using life narratives and social constructionism. As career counselors and marriage and family therapists, the authors' approach to career development integrates the literature on postmodern family therapy with emerging narrative approaches to career counseling. The 2nd article (C. Campbell & M. Ungar, 2004) discusses 7 aspects of the authors' daily practice as postmodern career counselors.     

Human Sexuality Education in Marriage and Family Therapy Graduate Programs

Given the likelihood that marriage and family therapists will encounter clients with sexual concerns, it is important to know how graduate training programs are preparing future clinicians to work with this domain of life. Sixty‐nine marriage and family therapy (MFT) program directors completed an online survey to examine how sexual health education is integrated into graduate training programs. Findings indicate that while the majority of program directors value sexuality curriculum, and most programs require at least one course in this area, there are barriers to privileging sex topics in MFT graduate programs. Barriers include few MFT faculties with expertise in human sexuality and marginalized sexual health topics. Implications for training MFT graduate students and their work with future clients are discussed.     

Lawyer and Counselor as an Interdisciplinary Team: The Timely Referral*

Lawyers and marriage and family counselors deal with people who have personal, legal, and emotional problems. As a matter of practice and procedure, lawyers refer individuals and couples to counselors, and counselors likewise refer to attorneys. Often this referrel comes too late to produce the desired results. This article indicates the areas where lawyers and counselors may function as an interdisciplinary team, making appropriate referrals at the proper time and in the proper manner.     

Measuring the Effect of Sexual Health Education Training in Professionals: Structure of the Sexual Health Education for Professionals Scale (SHEPS) Among Marriage and Family Therapy Graduate Students

Marriage and family therapists and sexual health therapists are likely to receive training in graduate school that prepares them to encounter sexual concerns among clients, but there are few standard ways to assess the efficacy of this training. The Sexual Health Education for Professionals Scale (SHEPS) was developed to address this deficit. In this preliminary study, 163 marriage and family therapy graduate students completed the SHEPS prior to starting a graduate course in assessing and treating sexual concerns. Exploratory factor analyses indicate that the SHEPS subscales have good psychometric properties. The Skills and Knowledge subscales have factors labeled Typical Clients, Special Clients, Conservative Clients, and Ethically Complicated Clients. The Attitudes subscale had factors called General Sexual Attitudes, Valuing Sexual Health Training, Open to Providing Sexual Help, and Conservatism. This new instrument may be used to assess education and training of sexual health and marriage and family therapists. Larger sample sizes and longitudinal studies are needed in future.     

Training family therapists to work with children and families: a modified Delphi study

This study examined child inclusion issues and training marriage and family therapists (MFTs) to treat children. This modified Delphi study utilized a panel of experts, and gathered data through questionnaires and qualitative interviews. Panelists believe children should participate in family therapy sessions for both child and adult problems, except when parents are discussing sex or sensitive issues. Child-focused courses should emphasize developmental issues, engaging techniques, theoretical issues, play therapy theory, MFT treatment for child disorders, and specific child/family problems. Panelists suggest numerous child-focused references, but reached consensus for only one. Key therapist attributes and skills were identified. Deductive and inductive training methods and the role of supervision were highlighted. Although therapist playfulness and creativity were emphasized, few play techniques were included in the final profile.     

Who Are the Marital Experts?

We asked whether professional training or personal experience with marriage predicted accuracy in judging (a) marital satisfaction and (b) marital stability. Nine groups of participants viewed 3‐minute videotaped conversations of 10 married couples and rated each on level of marital satisfaction and whether they were likely to divorce in the future. Group differences were found in accuracy of marital satisfaction judgments. Those for whom marriage held high personal meaning (satisfied and dissatisfied long‐term marriages, newlyweds, recent divorcé[e]s), as rated by a panel of judges, were more accurate than those with professional training (pastoral counselors, clinical psychology graduate students, marital therapists, marital researchers). Neither professional training nor personal experience was associated with the ability to predict divorce.     

Marriage and Family Counselor Licensure: Special Reference to Nevada*

The background of licensure-certification of marriage and family counselors is briefly sketched and major provisions of California compared. Special attention is given to the Nevada law. (Editor.)     

Sex Role Stereotyping and Marriage Counseling*

Evidence that sex role stereotyping (SRS) reflects a strong negative valuation of women and is a factor in clinical evaluation raises the question of its affects upon evaluation and treatment in marriage counseling. The counseling literature was reviewed and although data on SRS was found, it seldom was related specifically to marriage counseling. The purpose of this paper is to consider the implications of SRS for marriage counselors in the light of current research findings on this issue. Suggestions for assisting counselors to deal with SRS in themselves and as professionals in the field of marriage counseling are presented.     

Relationships Between Parental Attachment,Work and Family Roles,and Life Satisfaction

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between parental attachment and satisfaction with work and family roles, as well as the relationship of these variables to life satisfaction. Results from a multiple regression analysis indicated that satisfaction with work and marriage, but not parenting satisfaction or parental attachment, was significantly related to life satisfaction. Responses to open‐ended questions indicated that parental attachment relationships affected participants' career, marriage, parenting, and life satisfaction in varied and complex ways. Implications for counselors and directions for future research are discussed.     

Money Over Marriage: Marriage Importance as a Mediator Between Materialism and Marital Satisfaction

While the negative relationship between materialism and marital satisfaction is well documented, mediators that possibly explain this association have not been widely explored. Based on the Incompatibility of Materialism and Children Model and Marital Paradigms Theory, this article explores the perception of marriage importance as a potential mediator between materialism and marital satisfaction. Using a sample of 1310 married individuals, we found evidence of partial mediation in that materialism was negatively associated with perception of marriage importance, and this association partially explained why being materialistic was associated with lower marital satisfaction. Thus, as counselors, therapists, and financial planners work with married clients, it is important that they consider how their clients’ materialistic tendencies may influence the family both financially and relationally. Suggestions for future research are discussed.     

Licensing Marriage and Family Counselors: A Model Act

The author presents a model bill for the licensing of marriage and family counselors and describes some of the historical context in which it developed within the Conciliation Court movement. The model bill is similar to the one proposed by the American Association of Marriage and Family Counselors. Editor.     

Changing Roles for Women: Implications for Marriage Counselors*

Noting that marriage counselors focus on the male-female relationship and that changes affecting women also affect men, the author examines changes in womens' roles in American society and draws implications for marriage counselors. Editor.     

DOES ACADEMIC TRAINING BACKGROUND MAKE A DIFFERENCE AMONG PRACTICING MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS?

Using a national sample of practicing marriage and family therapists (MFTs) and their clients, this study investigated whether academic training background is associated with differences in pracice patterns and client outcomes. Clinical members of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy with academic training in psychology, social work, counseling, and marriage and family therapy were compared on a wide range of clinical practice variables, and their clients were surveyed about thier satisfaction and outcomes. Results showed highly similar practice patterns and client outcomes across all four disciplinary groups. Although the findings showed little evidence for the uniqueness of academic marriage and family therapy training among experienced MFTs, they also refute the notion that therapists trained in MFT degree programs practice in unusual or inferior ways compared to MFTs trained originally in other mental health disciplines.     

Conceptualizing and Treating Problem Gambling as a Family Issue

Few family therapists have training in the identification, assessment, and treatment of problem gambling and its impact on couple and family relationships. The authors conceptualize problem gambling (PG) as a family issue and encourage clinicians and researchers to pay attention to the systemic antecedents and consequences of PG on family relationships. A review of the literature and clinicians' experiences regarding the impact of PG on couple and family relationships are presented and discussed. In light of the limited systemic-based treatments for PG, marriage and family therapists are urged to begin paying attention to this emerging issue that has significant couple and family ramifications.     

Relational safety and liberating training spaces: an application with a focus on sexual orientation issues

This article describes and discusses a teaching case of a clinical training situation involving a gay marriage and family therapy student working with a same-sex affectional couple. The conceptual pillars of this teaching case, relational safety and liberating spaces, are advanced as illustrations of how the student developed his voice in the training process. Pivotal moments in this process are discussed, as are implications for training and personal and professional growth.     

Use of standardized assessment instruments in couple therapy: the role of attitudes and professional factors

The study examined therapeutic approach, professional affiliation, training, seniority, and work setting as predictors of attitudes toward standardized instruments and their use in couple therapy. Data were gathered from 163 certified marriage and family therapists in Israel. Results showed that 27.6% of marital therapists used standardized instruments for assessment. More positive attitudes toward standardized instruments were associated with the extent of training in their use and with a structural-strategic approach. Logistic regression analysis indicated that positive attitudes, training, and work setting best predict the application of standardized assessment instruments. Reasons for the relative lack of use of standardized assessment instruments are discussed. It is recommended that more training in assessment instruments be included in marriage and family therapy training.