Family therapy: what it’s like and how to find a marriage and family therapist

1. Know what family therapy involves

The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) says marriage and family therapists treat individuals, couples and families, looking at problems within the family system, as you define it. That means “family” can include partners, children, parents, siblings, extended family or anyone you consider family.

Family therapy can mean:

• the whole family meeting together
• some members meeting, such as a parent and a teenager
• one person working on family relationships

How long it takes

AAMFT says MFT treatment is short-term: the median is 12 sessions, and about 65% of cases are finished within 20 sessions. Ask any therapist what they expect for your family.

2. Choose a marriage and family therapist or another clinician

Licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs). AAMFT says MFTs have at least a master’s degree and two years of supervised clinical experience, half of it with couples and families. All 50 states license marriage and family therapists.

Others who see families. Licensed professional counselors, clinical social workers and psychologists also see families, especially if they’ve had family therapy training. The American Board of Professional Psychology certifies psychologists in Couple and Family Psychology, who view behavior through a systemic lens and work with several people in a relationship at once.

3. Check a family therapist’s license

4. Search for a family therapist

LunahUP. As of November 5, 2026, LunahUP lists these licensed marriage and family therapists by license type:

Search your city and choose “Marriage and family therapist” as the provider type.

AAMFT’s TherapistLocator (therapistlocator.net) lets you search by state. AAMFT says it doesn’t examine or warrant the competence of therapists listed, and the directory shouldn’t be used to verify credentials. Use your state board’s lookup for that.

5. Ask a family therapist these questions

• “Are you a licensed marriage and family therapist?”
• “Who would you want to meet with: the whole family, some of us, or one person?”
• “How do you handle it if a family member doesn’t want to come?”
• “How many sessions do you usually expect?”
• “Do you offer telehealth, so family in different places can join?”

Our fit guide covers the general questions.

6. Plan for the cost of family therapy

AAMFT notes that some MFTs don’t take insurance. Plans often cover family therapy when it’s part of treating one person’s diagnosed condition. Our insurance guide explains why, and our EAP guide covers free counseling that often includes household members.

For couples, see our couples counseling guide and the EFT and Gottman Method guides. For families with young children, see our play therapy guide.

The short version

• Family therapy works with the family system, as you define your family.
• MFTs have at least a master’s degree and two years of supervised experience, half with couples and families.
• AAMFT says the median is 12 sessions.
• Check a license on your state board’s lookup.
• LunahUP lists over 3,000 marriage and family therapists across our four states.