The therapists and relationship coaches at Marriage and Family Center are highly trained and experienced personal and relationship experts who are all current or former Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors each with over 20 years of clinical experience.
We operate our own independent private practices.
Scroll down to read more about our qualifications and the training Marriage and Family Therapists and other helping professionals get.
Here is a summary of some of the training and experience our licensed professionals get:
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT)*
After completing a four year Bachelor’s degree in the social sciences, and then an additional two-year Master’s or a Doctorate degree in Counseling, Psychology, or Social Work in a qualifying postgraduate degree program, LMFTs must get a minimum of 2 additional years of supervised experience (internship), for a total of 3000 hours, to qualify to take the exams. Even so, it often takes successful candidates between two to three additional years (up to 5 years after graduation) to get all the experience needed in all the different categories. LMFTs get supervised experience in individual counseling, crisis counseling, grief counseling, and telephone/video counseling. They must also get at least 500 hours working directly with children and families. This, along with the family systems-oriented coursework, gives LMFTs a relationship-oriented approach to helping people. The California Board of Behavioral Sciences and the California Department of Consumer affairs each sees that your LMFT meets or exceeds all the standards above.
Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW)
In addition to a postgraduate degree from an accredited school of social work, LCSWs must meet a variety of other strict academic and educational requirements that well qualify them as helping professionals in the community. Some of the educational requirements include course work in law and ethics, human sexuality, chemical abuse, and domestic violence. In order to qualify to take a licensing exam, LCSWs must spend at least 104 weeks accruing 3000 hours of supervised clinical experience. At least 2000 of those supervised hours must be obtained working directly with clients in a clinical setting. There are no exceptions. When you work with an LCSW you can be sure you are meeting with a professional who has had substantial experience helping people get better. The California Society for Clinical Social Work’s code of ethics sets a high standard for California’s LCSWs.
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCC)
As with LMFTs and LCSWs, Licensing as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor also requires a Master’s or a Doctorate degree in Counseling, Psychology, or Social Work in a qualifying postgraduate degree program and at least two years of supervised experience, for a total of 3000 hours, to qualify to take their exams. Where LMFT training focuses more on family and relationship issues, LPCCs focus more on psychological disorders, substance abuse, and other behavioral issues not typically seen primarily as relationship issues. The supervision and licensing examination requirements for a California LPCC are among the most stringent in the nation. Even after achieving the post-graduate education, training, and experience, about 50% of people taking the licensing exam fail to pass. Because there are a great number of people who change their direction before this point, 50% of people who pass the test and get licensed are already among the candidates who are the most dedicated and successful clinicians. The California Board of Behavioral Sciences sees that your LPCC is qualified to help you.