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Student Info

WELCOME!

We are delighted that you have decided to pursue training as a Marriage and Family Therapist at VSU. This page provides students with information, forms, and resources you will need as you pursue your degree.

The VSU Graduate School has prepared an excellent online Graduate School Orientation for new graduate students. You'll find helpful information about everything from parking permits to registration.

  MFT PROGRAM HANDBOOKS, MANUALS, & FORMS


Handbooks & Manuals

Advising Forms

Clinical Training Forms

Client Contact and Supervision Documentation Forms

Internship Packet Forms

  1. Cover Page
  2. Table of Contents
  3. Internship Guidelines
  4. Request for Internship
  5. Statement of Relationship
  6. Internship Contract
  7. Mid-term Evaluation
  8. Final Evaluation
  9. Intern Evaluation of Site

THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY (AAMFT)

The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy is the organization that provides the primary identity as well as social, clinical, and political support to family therapy. The program at VSU will be seeking accreditation by AAMFT and all our programs and policies are designed to reflect that goal. You will want to join AAMFT as a student member as soon as possible. By joining, you will receive the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, the Family therapy News, and access to a host of resources on the web. 

AAMFT's home page: http://www.aamft.org

- AAMFT Membership Benefits -

Building Your Future In Marriage & Family Therapy

MFTs who are dedicated to their ongoing growth and professional development are not hard to find. They are members of the AAMFT.

The AAMFT provides a unified voice for all marriage and family therapists. We believe that relationships are foundational to the health and well-being of individuals, all forms of the family, and communities. We know that family therapy is effective and that family therapy works. We also believe that consumers should have access to mental health care, including the services of marriage and family therapists.

The following is a brief list of all the professional development opportunities you will receive through your AAMFT membership.

Policy and Advocacy
AAMFT is the primary advocate for the profession, and the primary force for advancing the practice of family therapy. We are the only voice for Marriage and Family Therapists on Capitol Hill. Our staff and leaders meet regularly with legislators and principals of health care organizations to persuade them that family therapy works, and that family therapists should be accepted throughout the healthcare system.

FamilyTherapyResources.net
This is AAMFT's online resource for information on a wide range of marriage and family therapy topics. This collection of resources includes AAMFT publications, events and articles, tapes from AAMFT conferences, and books by AAMFT members. AAMFT members can view and print out complete magazine and journal articles for free. Members are also invited to add their books and products to the list of resources at no charge. Click here to visit the site.

TherapistLocator.net
This free on-line therapist directory is a public service of the AAMFT. Clinical Members receive a free listing that they can personalize with practice and biographical information, and a photograph.  The AAMFT regularly advertises the service to the media and the public. Click here to visit TherapistLocator.net.

AAMFT.org
Your professional home on-line has an abundant amount of information. From helpful practice information to the latest in research, AAMFT.org has it all for you.

On-Line Networking Directory
Use the directory, located at www.aamft.org, to make referrals to other AAMFT members. Whereas TherapistLocator.net contains only Clinical Members, this directory includes Student and Associate members and van be accessed only by AAMFT members. To view the directory, please log in as a member.

Job Connection
Click here to find position vacancies and resumes. Anyone can post a job, but searching the listings is an exclusive AAMFT member benefit. 

Resources to Keep You Informed
AAMFT members automatically receive a free subscription to the Family Therapy Magazine, AAMFT's bimonthly publication. Family Therapy Magazine reports on current events and clinical developments in the MFT profession and in the mental health community.

Members also receive the quarterly Journal of Marital and Family Therapy (JMFT) as a free member benefit. The JMFT is known worldwide for its incisive coverage of current marriage and family therapy theory and clinical practice, qualitative and quantitative research, and training.

Practice Tools
AAMFT members receive discounts on all products. Click here to view a complete listing of all AAMFT practice tools.

Division Membership
AAMFT divisions advocate for members on the state and local level and offer a variety of networking opportunities. Click here to access the division directory.

AAMFT Training on Tape
Choose from hundreds of audio and videotapes from AAMFT annual conferences by clicking here. Discounts apply to AAMFT members.

The last three semesters of your program, you will be participating in practica at the Moore Street Clinic and in internships at locations in the community. In order to participate in practicum, you must have liability insurance.  AAMFT provides a very reasonably priced plan for MFT students (another reason to have membership!).  Be sure that you have become a member and secured your liability insurance by the first night of practicum.

- Liability Insurance -

http://www.cphins.com/DesktopDefault.aspx?SDI=0
CPH and Associates
AAMFT endorsed Student Malpractice Insurance

- AAMFT Code of Ethics -

http://www.aamft.org/resources/lrmplan/ethics/ethicscode2001.asp

The AAMFT Code of Ethics provides guidelines for members in the conduct of therapy research, and other professional activities. (Note: in general, codes of ethics derived from governmental sources frame the minimum standards of conduct; codes of ethics written by professional organizations tend to frame the highest ideals of conduct.)

THE GEORGIA ASSOCIATION FOR MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY (GAMFT)

http://www.gamft.org
Each state (and Canadian Province) has a state-level organization that works on behalf of MFTs in that state. In turn, states are divided into regions with local representation.  Valdosta is represented by the South Georgia Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (SGAMFT).  As a student member you are encouraged to get involved in the profession by attending seminars and business meetings of both the SGAMFT and the GAMFT.

LICENSURE AS A MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST 
IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA

The MFT program at VSU is designed to prepare you for eventual licensure as an MFT in the State of Georgia.  The process of licensure is governed at the state level by the Composite Board of Social Workers, Professional counselors, and Marriage and Family Therapists. Information regarding licensure laws, licensure rules, and the code of ethics for Georgia licensed professionals may be found at:

http://www.sos.state.ga.us/plb/counselors

RESOURCES FOR  ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

A key to your success as a student in the MFT Program is a willingness to "raise the bar" on your ability to write. We recommend that students take full advantage of the many resources at VSU for improving your writing. In particular, the VSU Student Success Center has free tutoring for writing at any stage of the process.

Hours

Monday 9:00am - 9:00 pm Tutorials are available by appointment or on a walk-in basis. You can make an appointment for yourself online (www.valdosta.edu/ssc) or by calling 229-333-7570.
Tuesday 9:00am - 9:00 pm
Wednesday 9:00am - 9:00 pm
Thursday 9:00am - 9:00 pm
Friday 9:00am - 3:00 pm
Sunday 4:00pm - 9:00 pm

APA Writing Style Resources