Section 1283.20  Clinical Experience

An applicant for a license as a marriage and family therapist shall, following receipt of the first qualifying education degree, complete at least 1,000 hours of face-to-face client contact with individuals, couples and families for the purpose of evaluation and treatment of mental, emotional, behavioral and interpersonal disorders and psychopathology of couples and families. [225 ILCS 55/40] At least 350 hours of the 1000 hours of face-to-face client contact must involve working with only one client present in therapy sessions as part of the therapy being provided to couples or families, and at least 350 hours of the 1000 hours of face-to-face client contact must involve conjoint therapy, i.e., working with two or more clients present in therapy sessions who are in significant relationships with each other outside the therapy context.  The applicant shall be supervised as defined in Section 1283.25 of this Part during the whole period the applicant is accumulating clinical experience.

a)         Clinical experience in the practice of marriage and family therapy may be gained by providing treatment that includes, but is not limited to:

1)         Individual and conjoint therapy;

2)         Counseling;

3)         Psychotherapy;

4)         Assessment and treatment of mental, emotional, behavioral and interpersonal disorders and psychopathology;

5)         Behavior modification;

6)         Hypnotherapy;

7)         Sex therapy;

8)         Consultation;

9)         Client advocacy;

10)       Crisis intervention;

11)       Testing and evaluation;

12)       Group therapy;

13)       Multi-family therapy;

14)       Psychoeducation; and

15)       Therapy with children and adolescents.

b)         Marriage and family therapy treatment shall include, but not be limited to, providing mental health services for the evaluation and treatment of mental, emotional, behavioral and interpersonal disorders and psychopathology, including making clinical assessments, certifying diagnoses, prescribing treatment and signing off on treatment plans for persons with mental illnesses or other clinical disorders.

c)         The use of specific methods, techniques or modalities within the practice of marriage and family therapy is restricted to licensed marriage and family therapists appropriately trained in the use of such methods, techniques or modalities.

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 12727, effective August 9, 2024)