Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) are core mental health practitioners educated and trained to help with relationship difficulties, and diagnosis and treatment of the mental disorders and emotional problems of individuals, couples, families and groups.

Marriage and family therapists practice early crisis intervention and brief, focused psychotherapy to resolve problems or reduce symptoms in the shortest time possible. They also have the expertise and skills to work with persons where more intensive, long-term treatment is necessary to cure or relieve mental or emotional conditions.

Marriage and family therapists can help with: emotional stress or anxiety, feelings of loneliness, isolation, depression, moodiness, family conflicts or tension, divorce and separation, difficulty coping with changing lifestyles, fear, anger or guilt, grief or emotional pain, conflicts with co-workers, and coping with chronic or life-threatening illness.

Marriage and family therapists treat couples in the context of their lives to address their diverse lifestyles, cultural backgrounds, and religious/political affiliations. Marriage and family therapists are trained in family dynamics. They work to develop healthy and productive relationships and nurture positive behaviors in families so that each family member can realize his or her full potential.

Persons who are treated by marriage and family therapists are more productive at work, visit their doctors less often, and have lower average lengths of stay at in-patient facilities.

Marriage and family therapists are licensed by the State of California.

They undergo extensive education, training, and clinical fieldwork, and pass two rigorous exams to demonstrate professional competency. The National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH) recognizes marriage and family therapy as a core mental health discipline along with psychiatry, psychology, social work and psychiatric nursing.

-from; Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling: A Unique Healing Art, CAMFT, 1995)

Therapists at Integrated Healing Arts are:

Sue Peck, M.F.T.
Nicholas Zirpolo, Ph.D