|
Research indicates that Marital and Family Therapy is as effective,
and in some cases more effective, than standard and/or individual treatments, for many mental health problems.
According to AAMFT, Marital and Family Therapists (MFTs) regularly practice short-term therapy; 12 sessions on average.
Nearly 65.6% of the cases are completed within 20 sessions, 87.9% within 50 sessions. Marital/couples therapy (11.5 sessions)
and family therapy (9 sessions) both require less time than the average individuated treatment (13 sessions). I have
found this to be true of most of my cases, with my average case lasting three to five months.
Research studies repeatedly demonstrate the effectiveness of marriage and family therapy in treating the full range of
mental and emotional disorders and health problems. Studies also show that clients are highly satisfied with services
of Marital and Family Therapists. Clients report marked improvement in work productivity, co-worker relationships, family
relationships, partner relationships, emotional health, overall health, social life, and community involvement.
In a recent study, consumers report that Marital and Family Therapists are the mental health professionals
they would most likely recommend to friends. Over 98 percent of Marital and Family Therapists' clients report therapy
services as good or excellent.
After receiving treatment, almost 90% of clients report an improvement
in their emotional health, and nearly two-thirds report an improvement in their overall physical health. A majority of clients
report an improvement in their functioning at work, and over three-fourths of those receiving marital/couples or family therapy
report an improvement in the couple relationship. When a child is the identified patient, parents report that their child's
behavior improved in 73.7% of the cases, their ability to get along with other children significantly improved and there was
improved performance in school.
|
