FEATURES

Embracing A Lifestyle of Wellness: Self-care for MFTs

The last couple years have been full of disruptions, chaos, and disequilibrium due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, the pandemic has contributed to disorientation in almost every area of life and has “exposed every crack in our personal and professional tapestry” (Gould, 2021, p. 203). Most helping professionals, including marriage and family therapists (MFTs), have fallen off the proverbial train of wellness during the pandemic and are leading busy lives, which have left them with little sleep, poor nutrition, and little time for recuperation and relaxation.
Marlon C. Robinson, PhD

Insomnia: A Beginner’s Guide for Marriage and Family Therapists

Impacting millions of individuals every year, insomnia is a common, costly, and problematic sleep issue affecting everyone from children to senior citizens. Insomnia is considered the most common sleep disturbance in the United States (Cleveland Clinic, 2020). It is associated with several emotional, behavioral, social, and physical health complaints and elevated rates have been found among persons diagnosed with mental health disorders. As a result, mental health professionals are likely to work with clients impacted by insomnia on a regular basis.
Jerrod Brown, PhD

Excessive Sugar-sweetened Beverage Consumption Among Clinical Mental Health Populations: A Review for MFTs

Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are drinks that are sweetened with fruit-juice concentrates, high-fructose corn syrup, sucrose, and other forms of added sugar. Common examples of SSBs can come in the form of hot or cold drinks and include soda, sweetened mineral water, sweetened coffees, sweetened energy drinks, sweetened teas, and sports drinks.
Jerrod Brown, PhD

NEWS FROM AAMFT
Departments

A Message from the CEO

AAMFT’s Next Revolution

Throughout AAMFT’s history, there have been eras of focus by the Association. Of course, in the early days, AAMFT was simply focusing on establishing itself as an association. Such things as naming, determining who could be a member, and deciding what exactly its purpose was marked the era. Nichols (1992) referred to this time period as the Elitist Period. Of course, other periods were highlighted by Nichols including the Washington Period which he identified as beginning in 1982 and included advocacy.
Tracy Todd, PhD

Perspectives

Treating Families of Young Children with Disruptive Behavior at School: A Systemic Approach

Several years ago, before starting my journey as a marriage and family therapist (MFT), I found myself inside a preschool meeting room, seated across from a row of tense-faced women—a teacher, a psychologist, and the school director. They had a problem on their hands—an oddly precocious five-year-old boy who wouldn’t always cooperate, frequently talked back, and, most recently, had hit and kicked his teacher, boldly identifying her as, not only “mean,” but “stupid.”
Marisa Beck, MS

Perspectives

Systemic Perspectives on Perinatal Mental Health: Six Major Changes for Parents

Amy* was sitting slumped on a couch in my office for her initial appointment. She appeared a little nervous but was trying to hold it together. After pleasantries were exchanged, she stated she had her son four months ago, and since then, things had changed a lot around the house and with the family, especially with her in-laws. She explained she was feeling anxious, was short of breath, had overwhelming worries, and was irritable for the last couple of months.
Keiko Yoneyama-Sims, MS

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Noteworthy

AAMFT Foundation Awardee Spotlight

The AAMFT Foundation can improve outcomes by supporting the groundbreaking work of licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs). One of the ways we do this, is through our awards program. To support future awards, consider a charitable gift. Today, we are highlighting a past awardee: Aimee Hubbard, MS, PhD, PLMFT

Special to This Issue

Marriage and Family Therapist Workforce Study 2022

In the first half of 2022, AAMFT conducted an industry workforce study to examine the shifts related to COVID-19, their short- and longer-term impacts, and what challenges and opportunities are facing the field. In each issue of Family Therap-eNews, we examine a data point from this report.

Noteworthy

AAMFT Announces New Chief Executive Officer: Christine Michaels

After a 10-month process, with the aid of world-class Consulting and Executive Search Firm Korn Ferry, the AAMFT Board of Directors is pleased to announce the successful hiring of the next AAMFT Chief Executive Officer Christine Michaels. Tracy Todd, CEO, will be retiring after 15 years of staff service with AAMFT, 10 of those years as CEO.

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FTM is a connector to and from diverse family therapy practice, policy, supervision, and research leaders.


—Angela Lamson, PhD, LMFT


With cutting-edge and relevant articles, the FTM is the place I find practical systemic information.


—DeAnna Harris-McKoy, PhD


The magazine is great because it shows what other remarkable things my fellow colleagues are doing in the field.


—Sheldon Jacobs, PsyD, LMFT