About Marriage and Family Therapy

Marriage and Family Therapy is one of the core mental health disciplines and is based on the research and theory that mental illness and family problems are best treated in a family context. 

Who are Marriage and Family Therapists?  

  • Mental health practitioners
  • Educated with a master's or doctoral degree
  • Trained with a minimum of two years supervised clinical experience
  • Family-focused psychotherapists and mental health generalists
  • One of five core mental health professionals (psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and psychiatric nurses)

Trained in psychotherapy and family systems, Marriage and Family Therapists focus on understanding their client's symptoms and interaction patterns within the context of the family system. 

Who can benefit from Family Therapy?

Marriage and Family Therapists treat predominantly individuals, but also provide couples, family and group therapy.  Commonly treated disorders may include: 
  • Depression
  • Childhood behavioral and emotional disorders
  • Marital and relationship problems
  • Conduct disorder and deliquency
  • Substance abuse
  • Alcoholism
  • Domestic violence
  • Severe mental illness

Marriage and Family Therapy is not a substitute for other necessary treatments if people are suffering from a serious physical or mental illness.    For example:  family therapy can help people cope when a relative has schizophrenia, but the person with schizophrenia should continue with his/her individualized treatment plan, such as medication and possibly hospitalization.

For more information, or to book an appointment call (905)392-1959 or email us at info@nxstep.org