Clinical Practice

Clinical practice in marriage, couples, and family therapy can be defined as the professional application of therapeutic and family systems theories and techniques in the delivery of services to families, couples, and individuals. Services include the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of a wide variety of serious and developmental mental, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral disorders and issues. Clinical issues in practice can include depression, anxiety, premarital counseling, marital problems, divorce, child and parent issues, addictions, and much more. Additionally, clinical practice includes referrals to and collaboration with health care and other professionals when appropriate. This entry presents an overview of clinical practice in marriage, couples, and family therapy, beginning with an outline of the history and development of clinical practice, including major concepts and theories. The ...