Marriage and Family Therapy Essay -- Counseling

Marriage and Family Counseling: An Overview History and Development The field of marriage and family therapy is the youngest of all the fields of science. Physical science is the oldest, then the social sciences and then the fields of marital and family therapy (Olson, 1970). David Olson (1970) describes marital and family therapy as fraternal twins, with marital therapy being just slightly older than family therapy. Clinicians began showing an interest in the relationships between husbands and wives in the early 1930’s. Some of the main catalysts to the growth and development of family therapy was the establishment of training programs such as the Marriage Consultation Center in New York (1929), the Marriage Council of Philadelphia in 1932 and the founding of the American Institute of Family Relations in 1939 (Olson, 1970). In 1942, the American Association of Marriage Counselors (AAMC) was organized to help facilitate the development of this growing profession of marital therapy (Olson, 1970). The fields of marriage and family therapy were born around the same time and developed along similar lines but were developed because of different needs. Marital therapy began because of the need to help improve the relationship between husbands and wives. Family therapy came along later as therapist began to realize that treating the family as a system was more effective than focusing on one individual in the family unit (Olson, 1970). In 1970, the AAMC changed their name to the American Association of Marriage and Family Counselors (AAMFC) to include family therapist (Olson, 1970). Although, marriage and family therapy is considered a young discipline, it is recognized as one of the five core mental health professions (AAMFT, 201... ...ilies, 16(3), 258-260. International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors (2011). IAMFC ethical codes. Retrieved May 7, 2012, from http://www.iamfconline.com/PDFs/Ethical%20Codes.pdf Jencius, M., & Duba, J. D. (2002). Creating a multicultural family practice. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families, 10(4), 410-414. Murdock, N. L. (2009). Theories of counseling and psychotherapy: A case approach (2nd ed.). Olson, D. H. (1970). Marital and family therapy: Integrative review and critique. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 32(4), 501-538. Smith, R. L., & Stevens-Smith, P. (1992). Basic techniques in marriage and family counseling and therapy. Retrieved May 7, 2012 from ERIC (ED350526). Sporakowski, M. J. (1995). Assessment and diagnosis in marriage and family counseling. Journal of Counseling Development, 74(1), 60-64. Marriage and Family Therapy Essay -- Counseling Marriage and Family Counseling: An Overview History and Development The field of marriage and family therapy is the youngest of all the fields of science. Physical science is the oldest, then the social sciences and then the fields of marital and family therapy (Olson, 1970). David Olson (1970) describes marital and family therapy as fraternal twins, with marital therapy being just slightly older than family therapy. Clinicians began showing an interest in the relationships between husbands and wives in the early 1930’s. Some of the main catalysts to the growth and development of family therapy was the establishment of training programs such as the Marriage Consultation Center in New York (1929), the Marriage Council of Philadelphia in 1932 and the founding of the American Institute of Family Relations in 1939 (Olson, 1970). In 1942, the American Association of Marriage Counselors (AAMC) was organized to help facilitate the development of this growing profession of marital therapy (Olson, 1970). The fields of marriage and family therapy were born around the same time and developed along similar lines but were developed because of different needs. Marital therapy began because of the need to help improve the relationship between husbands and wives. Family therapy came along later as therapist began to realize that treating the family as a system was more effective than focusing on one individual in the family unit (Olson, 1970). In 1970, the AAMC changed their name to the American Association of Marriage and Family Counselors (AAMFC) to include family therapist (Olson, 1970). Although, marriage and family therapy is considered a young discipline, it is recognized as one of the five core mental health professions (AAMFT, 201... ...ilies, 16(3), 258-260. International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors (2011). IAMFC ethical codes. Retrieved May 7, 2012, from http://www.iamfconline.com/PDFs/Ethical%20Codes.pdf Jencius, M., & Duba, J. D. (2002). Creating a multicultural family practice. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families, 10(4), 410-414. Murdock, N. L. (2009). Theories of counseling and psychotherapy: A case approach (2nd ed.). Olson, D. H. (1970). Marital and family therapy: Integrative review and critique. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 32(4), 501-538. Smith, R. L., & Stevens-Smith, P. (1992). Basic techniques in marriage and family counseling and therapy. Retrieved May 7, 2012 from ERIC (ED350526). Sporakowski, M. J. (1995). Assessment and diagnosis in marriage and family counseling. Journal of Counseling Development, 74(1), 60-64.