Introduction
The profession of a marriage and family therapist can hardly be called an undemanding one. In addition to being certain of their moralities and sterling principles, one also has to follow seemingly cumbersome sets of rules that obtaining a licensure in this field requires. Moreover, these sets of rules may vary depending on the residence of the candidate, and it is essential to verify what exactly are the specifications in a particular organization. Only then can one be sure of their suitability for the role of a MFT specialist.
Becoming a Marriage and Family Therapist in South Carolina
Obtaining Licensure in the State of South Carolina
First of all, obtaining a licensure is impossible without meeting the criteria in regard to coursework. These are the following definitions for categories of required coursework in the state of South Carolina:
- Theoretical Foundations, which include coursework that enables students to understand and differentiate between critical issues relating to marriage and family therapy (MFT). Materials in this area must be conceptually related to clinical concerns. All courses must focus on systems theory orientation. One of the courses must be an introductory one.
- Clinical Practice, which deals with practice directly related to marriage and family therapy and is conceptually connected to theory. Coursework in this area is to be focused on evaluation, including MFT methods and mental health evaluation techniques and tools. A comprehensive research and a thorough understanding of basic models of MFT, alongside with addressing of a variety of clinical problems, must be attested.
- Individual Development and Family Relations, which are to present a considerable amount of material on individual and family development, as well as family relationships. Coursework is also to include significant material on sexuality issues in relation to MFT theory and practice. It is also necessary to consider sexual dysfunctions and difficulties alongside gender, multicultural and sexual orientation in the context of MFT.
- Professional Identity, Legal and Ethical Issues, which includes information on legal obligations and responsibilities in the MFT practice. Coursework must provide research, law of domestic relations, issues regarding confidentiality and ethical codes.
- Research, which must expose a considerable amount of research material on marriage and family therapy. This area should focus on research methodology, data analysis and evaluation of studies.
- Clinical Experience, which includes client contact and clinical supervision of individuals, couples and families in an appropriate setting. The clinical experience is to present a minimum of three hundred (300) hours of personal contact with client, one half of which (½) must be relational. A MFT supervisor must provide at least fifty (50) hours of clinical supervision.
Scope of Practice for the LMFT License in South Carolina
Additionally, in order to obtain a license, it is necessary to follow requirements regarding the scope of practice. Coursework Requirements and Clinical Experience for Licensure as Marriage and Family Therapist or Marriage and Family Therapist Intern state that by law, in order to apply, a person must have at least 48 graduate semester hours or 72 quarter hours in MFT alongside an earned degree – master’s, specialist’s or doctoral. Each course must be at least a 3 semester per hour graduate level course with at least 45 classrooms or 4.5 quarter hours; one course cannot meet two different categories. This course might be passed through during the qualifying degree program. Another option is the completion of an additional graduate-level coursework at one of the corresponding institutions of higher learning.
Confidentiality, Protection, Privileged Communication
The AAMFT Code of Ethics
Speaking of the security of information, Limits of Confidentiality according to Standard II of the AAMFT Code of Ethics state that MFT specialists inform clients of the principles of confidentiality and other possible limitations on clients’ right to it. The circumstances in which confidential information may be requested and where disclosure of confidential information may be required are reviewed by therapists with clients.
The AAMFT Code of Ethics additionally reports that MFT specialists, when providing treatment for a couple, family or group, do not uncover data beyond the scope of the treatment, if only there is not a written permission from everyone who is competent to issuing one. Specialists does not disclose data about a person to other individuals in the client unit if only the person had not given their written permission prior to that.
South Carolina
When it comes to the rules of the state of South Carolina, no licensed specialist is to disclose data of any sort that they may have gained while treating patients, except when required or allowed by the law. South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 40 – Professions and Occupations, Section 40-75-190 states that communication that occurs between therapists and clients is privileged communication, which means confidences between mentally ill patients or patients with emotional conditions and those licensed under the chapter are protected, as well as moderate protection for the occupied with the acquisition of data concerned with journalistic or literary purposes is provided. Treatments of all records are considered confidential and are not to be uncovered except for the particular cases stated.
To add something that has not been mentioned above, the unit on Confidentiality in Code of Ethics for Marriage and Family Therapists in Code of Regulations and Code of Ethics, Chapter 36 states that MFT specialists may use client and/or clinical materials in educating, writing and public presentations only if the client has complied with the written consent or when appropriate measures were assumed to protect the identity of the client.
Ethical Conflicts and Possible Change in Rules
One of the delicate ethical issues that may arise when providing therapy for couples or spouses is connected to information one may wish to hide from the other. Bass and Quimby (2006) warn that therapists in such cases experience the right of one person to privacy colliding with the right of a partner or spouse to have access to information concerning their personal well-being. Although open and honest communication is encouraged by all specialists at all times, some oftentimes find having to compromise and accept requests from their clients to keep certain information secret.
Therefore, a therapist’s system of values conflicts with their ethical bounds. According to the AAMFT Code of Ethics, when treating a couple, a family or a group, the specialist is not to reveal data of any sort in relation to the individual to others in the client unit if the individual had not given their permission in a written form. However, the Code of Ethics also states that therapists are to advance the well-being of their patients and set out to find the common ground between goals in the family system that might conflict. Whether that means that a therapist is allowed to break the rule of confidentiality is not very clear. And that might be one of few things that demands closer scrutiny – that is, a change, or, rather, an alteration in the Code of Ethics that provides additional information on who to consult or what to refer to in complicated cases such as this. It is most likely to make a profession of a therapist or a counselor in marriage and family therapy easier in terms of a professional’s need to compromise with their values in order to solve a delicate problem.
Relevant Strategies for Establishing and Maintaining Relationships
Touching on the subject of identifying appropriate strategies for establishing and maintaining in-person and technology-assisted relationships, the basic rules are simple. When maintaining a relationship in person, one is simply to follow all the standards specified in the AAMFT Code of Ethics and one’s state’s statutes. To sum up, a therapist must only engage in therapy when obtaining relevant licensures and resign when these are no longer relevant, rely on law and ethical codes and be as respectful as possible to a client. A therapist is to provide a client’s confidentiality, maintain a strictly professional relationship with them and acquire a written permission when using the records and sessions’ materials for research and other purposes. When it comes to performing therapy or supervision with the help of electronic devices, MFT specialists automatically agree to laws when delivering such services and only embark on using them after proper education or training. Therapists are to make sure that technology-assisted services are suitable for patients, inform them about all the advantages and disadvantages of these services and to provide security of the chosen information-bearer channel.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the profession of a marriage and family therapist is a profession demanding strict adherence to massive sets of rules and moral standards. Those who decide to become a therapist are bound to prove their professional competence via obtaining relevant education and learning how to make people in vulnerable positions trust them. It seems to be extremely challenging, but if one is able to meet all the criteria, they deserve to be considered someone helping to change the world for the better.
References
Bass, B. A., & Quimby, J. L. (2006). Addressing secrets in couples counseling: An alternative approach to informed consent. The Family Journal, 14(1), 77-80.
Code of Ethics, American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy. Web.
South Carolina Code of Laws, Unannotated, South Carolina Legislature. Web.
State Licensure Comparison, Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards. Web.