Marriage & Family Therapy – Northern Mariana Islands
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
The Northern Mariana Islands require that applicants for this licensure have completed a master’s or doctoral program in marriage and family therapy from a program accredited by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) or completed a master’s or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a regionally accredited educational institution; or earned a master’s graduate degree in another mental health field (psychiatry, psychology, clinical social work, psychiatric nursing, etc.) from an accredited counseling program from a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in counseling and completed a COAMFTE accredited post-graduate degree clinical training program in marriage and family therapy or completed a post-graduate degree clinical training program in marriage and family therapy from a regionally accredited educational institution.
Of the graduate credit hours required above, at least forty-five (45) credit hours shall be in the following areas:
- Three (3) courses in the analysis of family systems, with one (1) course in each of the following:
- A supervised clinical practice that includes at least sixty (60) hours of approved supervision and 300 hours of direct client contact with couples, families, and individuals, at least 100 hours of which are relational therapy.
- Normal and abnormal personality development which includes individual development across the life span and the family life cycle.
- And Psychopathology with emphasis on standard diagnostic manuals, as well as family systems models.
- Courses in couples therapy theory and techniques as follows:
- One course in diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders in family systems.
- A comprehensive survey course with substantive overview of the extant major models of family therapy.
- And two (2) additional courses which focus on one (1) or several marriage and family therapy models, or three (3) separate courses, each of which focuses on one (1) or several marriage and family therapy models
- Courses in couples therapy theory and techniques as follows:
- A comprehensive survey of extant, major models of couples’ therapy.
- An intensive study of at least three (3) different models.
- Or three (3) separate courses, each of which addresses a separate couples’ model.
- One (1) course covering gender and ethnicity as they relate to marriage and family theory and practice, or two (2) separate courses with one (1) focusing on gender issues and the other one (1) on ethnicity.
- One (1) course covering sexual issues in marriage and family therapy, including sexual normality, sexual dysfunction, and sexual orientation.
- And one (1) course in ethical, legal, and professional issues in marriage and family therapy.
Supervision: Practicum Experience
Applicant must complete the supervised counseling work experience required of this section. There must be at least 400 hours of supervised practicum, inclusive of at least 150 face-to-face counseling hours. The practicum may include seventy-five (75) hours of client-centered advocacy; if not, there must be an additional seventy-five (75) hours of face-to-face counseling. Some students will complete more than the minimum supervised hours. The practicum experience shall be completed under the on-site clinical supervision of a person who is a licensed mental health counselor, licensed psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed physician with a specialty in psychiatry or other licensed provider approved by the board.
For more information:
https://www.cnmilicensing.gov.mp/health-care-professions-licensing-board/