Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure and Ethics

Overview 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: For marriage and family therapists, that is the AAMFT Code of Ethics. These ethical standards in the AAMFT Code of Ethics along with state laws and statutes help to protect both therapists and clients. This assignment gives you the opportunity to explore these ethical standards and the laws, rules and regulations for your state. Preparation Read the State Laws and Ethics rubric to learn how this assignment will be evaluated. Then review the following: AAMFT Code of EthicsLinks to an external site.. The laws, rules, and regulations for your state. Pay particular attention to state mandates regarding confidentiality and reporting requirements, and how a duty to warn or protect is defined by your state. You can find links to these rules and statutes on your state’s official board website (that is, Minnesota Board of Marriage and Family Therapy or California Board of Behavioral Sciences). To find your state information, go to the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory BoardsLinks to an external site. (AMFTRB) website. Hover over your state and click the “Web Site” link. Or you can conduct an Internet search for your state’s MFT Board website. The Finding Laws and Licensure InformationLinks to an external site. page on the Ethics, Standards, and Licensure Information for Marriage and Family TherapyLinks to an external site. library guide can also help you find information about your state’s laws and licensure. Instructions Write a 56 page paper that addresses the following: Describe the process you need to follow to obtain licensure in your state. Include both pre- and post-graduate requirements. Describe how you could use the AAMFT Code of Ethics to advocate change for the profession of MFT, including examples of current advocacy initiatives.. Advocacy regarding state statutes or rules pertains to joining with your licensed marriage and family therapist peers to seek changes to laws and rules, or access to treatment for identified populations (homeless, LGBTQIA, youth, et cetera). Discuss both privilege and confidentiality, including HIPPA, their definitions, and how a therapist must adhere to all. Consider the state’s limits to confidentiality and what therapists are mandated to disclose. 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. 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 paper according to the State Laws and Ethics rubric, making sure to address all Distinguished criteria. Refer to the AAMFT Code of Ethics and the statutes governing the practice in your state. Additional Requirements Your assignment should also meet the following requirements: Components: Include the following components in your paper: Title page. Body. Reference list. Cite the codes and state statutes, along with any other resources you incorporate in your paper. Written communication: Writing must be free of errors that detract from the overall message. APA formatting: Resources and citations must be formatted according to current APA style and formatting. See the Writing CenterLinks to an external site. for APA resources specific to your degree level. Use double-spaced paragraphs. Length of paper: 56 pages, excluding title page and references. Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point. Portfolio Prompt: You may choose to save this learning activity to your ePortfolioLinks to an external site.. Competencies Measured By successfully completing this assignment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and rubric criteria: Competency 1: Apply legal standards, including HIPAA, that regulate the practice of marriage and family therapy. Discuss both privilege and confidentiality including HIPPA, their definitions, and how a therapist must adhere to all. Competency 2: Apply ethical standards of care in the practice of marriage and family therapy, including the use of telehealth therapy. Explain how duty to warn or protect is defined, including the state’s limitations. Describe how ethical complaints are handled in one’s own state. Apply ethically relevant strategies for establishing and maintaining technology-assisted therapeutic relationships. Competency 3: Analyze the impact of a clinician’s personal value system, culture, and ethnicity on their practice and ethical decision making. Describe how the AAMFT Code of Ethics can be used to advocate change in the profession of MFT, including examples of current advocacy initiatives. Evaluate one’s own value system in comparison to AAMFT Code of Ethics. Competency 4: Define the criteria for licensure for marriage and family therapists in the learner’s specific state. Discuss the particular state licensure being sought and the path toward licensure. Competency 5: Communicate effectively through the appropriate application of grammar, punctuation, spelling, writing mechanics, and a professional tone, while adhering to current APA style and formatting. Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for members of the therapy professions.