Rises in technology have created change in the family therapy field. The ethics code and regulatory boards now include areas on technology in family therapy practices. These additions require competency in the area of couple and family therapy technology practices. Previous researchers suggest there is a gap between these competencies needed and the training provided, as well as the research available. Thus, the purpose of this mixed-data survey study was to gain information regarding family therapists' experiences and perceptions of education regarding online family therapy practices. To do this, we administered a survey to family therapists across the United States. Reported, are both quantitative, as well as qualitative findings. The majority of the sample reported that they did not learn about online technologies in clinical practice; however the majority of the participants would like to learn more about couple and family therapy technology practices. The most direct implication of the findings from our study is the need to offer specific education around couple and family therapy technology practices. Suggested core competency areas to cover include theory, research, and practice around technology.

The literature on the impact of entertainment media on sex education is typically pathology-focused, unclear regarding the effects of such usage, and void of dialogue between those who actually work in the areas of sexuality education and entertainment. To address this gap, this paper is the product of joint authorship between media figures from varied sexually-focused programming fields and academics who teach and conduct research in the areas of sexuality and relational health. The authors focus on the role that various forms of entertainment media play in educating members of the public and college classrooms in the areas of sex and sexuality. Additionally, examples of the inclusion of entertainment media in educational contexts are discussed.

In their book, Rewriting the Rules: An Integrative Guide to Love, Sex and Relationships, Dr. Meg (John) Barker (2013) makes the case that we are in a state of great flux, transition, and uncertaint...

Technology use in the practice of couple and family therapy has many advantages. The use of online and technology-based modes of communication for therapy, however, presents several valid ethical concerns. In a survey of 226 licensed Marriage and Family Counselors, students, and supervisors, participants were asked to identify ethical concerns and drawbacks of online therapy. Five themes related to this topic emerged: (a) confidentiality, (b) impact to the therapeutic relationship, (c) licensing and liability issues, (d) issues related to crises and risky clinical situations, and (e) training and education. Implications for practice, training, and research are discussed.

Despite the growth in computer and Internet use, marriage and family therapists’ (MFT) use of such technologies to communicate with clients has received limited attention. The purpose of the current research was to understand the frequency and ways in which MFTs are communicating online with clients and identify their level of comfort with online treatments. We administered a survey to practicing MFTs across the US to identify the frequency with which they used online communications with their clients, and the extent to which they felt comfortable using online communications in various treatment modalities. Implications for research, training, and practice are discussed.

Many experiencing the recent “great recession” in the United States have faced unemployment and economic difficulties. Yet sparse literature regarding how to be of assistance in working with clientele facing such issues exists. In this qualitative study, data from 16 marriage and family therapy trainees regarding their perceptions after participating in a “Counseling the Unemployed” program was attained. From the participants’ experiences, four themes emerged, which included: common presenting problems, differences in clinical work with those employed versus those experiencing unemployment, helpful therapeutic experiences when working with unemployed clientele, and some of the unhelpful components in counseling the unemployed.

Incorporating fiction and fantasy into a client's clinical reality is a helpful tool in accomplishing the task of rewriting problematic stories. Several methods for incorporating existing fiction are available, including the employment of client-identified characters, plots, role models, or inspirational figures. Such characters can be used to represent the client and members of his or her family in their shared systemic struggles and successes. Client-generated fiction and fantasy writing can also be useful in deconstructing and reconstructing meaning. The literature with regard to the incorporation of fiction and fantasy into therapy, cultural considerations, and examples of clinical composites are presented.

In the fifteen years since the explosion of the Internet, using cyber technology for work and social functions has exponentially increased. Yet, questions around how to manage such changes remain elusive in family therapy literature. In this investigation, we conducted a content analysis to determine to what extent marriage/couple and family therapy (M/CFT) journals have responded to the integration of the Internet in couple and family life. We found 79 of 13,274 articles across seventeen journals focused on the Internet in some capacity. Implications for clinical practice, training, and future research are discussed.

Cisgenderism is the ideology that delegitimizes people's own designations of their genders and bodies. Family therapy (FT) offers a systemic, non-pathologizing framework for working with people who have experienced cisgenderism. Unfortunately, FT practices, like those of many mental health professionals, are often cisgenderist. The authors discuss literature on cisgenderism, explore implications of therapists’ and supervisors’ cisgenderist practices, and provide a brief self-reflection tool.

Female survivors of childhood sexual abuse make up a population that warrants special clinical attention. Despite the amount of literature devoted to childhood sexual abuse, little attention has been paid to the culture of the individual survivor and her family in the field of couple and family therapy. There are unique aspects about women's experiences with childhood sexual abuse that require attention to gender and cultural issues. To attend to this identified gap, an overview of some of the common problem areas that survivors and their families experience is provided, and feminist family therapy is discussed as a suggested treatment approach.