What sets MFT apart?

Wow? Is it true that if I am looking for a therapist, there are many different types of therapists that could take on my case? Why are there so many and what sets them apart? 





In the world of counseling/therapy, there are many options regarding who to go to if you are seeking help. These options include the clinical social worker, the clinical psychologist, the marriage and family therapist, the psychiatrist and the advanced practice psychiatric nurse (Heisler, 2026). I chose the field of marriage and family therapy. Marriage and family therapy focuses on the systems theory and sees within a client's systemic context. Below are descriptions of different types of mental health providers. 

- Clinical Social Worker  
This field focuses on people and resources (Caldwell, 2012). 
- Clinical Psychologist  
This field focuses on the individual and the mind (Caldwell, 2012). 
- Marriage and Family Therapist 
Marriage and family therapists look at the context of the individual (social and relational) (Caldwell, 2012). 
- Psychiatrist 
Psychiatrist can diagnose problems and prescribe medication. 
- Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurse 
This is one of the least common among the mental health providers mentioned (Caldwell, 2012). 

Next we take a dive and look into licenses. 

License Types: 
LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist)  
This license allows the therapist ability to talk to the client and do therapy. It does not allow the therapist to prescribe medication. 
LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) 
This one is more broad. One LCP can be a professional counselor focused on the health of the mind. One LCP could focus on rehabilitation counseling. There are many options (Caldwell, 2019). 
LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) 
This field can provide counseling as well as work in legal situations. 
LCMHC (Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor)
This license is more broad. Within this license, one can specialize in many different things (Caldwell, 2019).

Why I chose the path of Marriage and Family Therapy
Originally I wanted to be a psychologist. Growing I loved trying to figure out why people do what they do. I did not love reading fantasy, only self-help type of books. Along side this, I loved my family. I grew up with the knowledge that God sent us to families to help us to learn a grow. Happy families lead to positive growth I remember the amazement I had when I looked on the back of one of the books I had read and saw the title "marriage and family therapist." That title felt even closer to what I wanted to do. I wanted to work with families. I believed that a strong marriage can help foster a strong family. At age 16 shoce this path and have stuck with it ever since. I resonated with the systems thinking perspective of a marriage and family therapist. If there is someone struggling, it is important to look at the family system they come from to learn more and truly be able to help! 

I invite you to figure out for yourself if the marriage and family therapy resonates with you! It just might take you on a wonderful journey of learning. 

References

Caldwell, Ben (October, 2012). How are an MFT (or LMFT), an LPC (or LPCC), and an LCSW different? https://www.psychotherapynotes.com/whats-the-difference-between-an-mft-an-lpc-or-lpcc-and-an-lcsw/ 

Caldwell, Ben (February, 2019). Decoding counselor alphabet soup: LPC, LPCC, LMHC, and more. https://www.psychotherapynotes.com/decoding-counselor-alphabet-soup-lpc-lpcc-lmhc/ 

Heisler, Elayne J. (August,2026). The mental health workforce: A primer. https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R43255 

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