New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 13 - LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY
Chapter 34 - BOARD OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY EXAMINERS
Subchapter 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 13:34-1.2 - Scope of practice

Marriage and family therapy is a specialized field of psychotherapy, which includes premarital counseling and therapy, pre- and post-divorce counseling and therapy and family therapy that may be with couples, families or individuals. The practice of marriage and family therapy consists of the application of principles, methods and techniques of counseling and psychotherapy for the purpose of resolving psychological conflict, modifying perception and behavior, altering old attitudes and establishing new ones in the area of individual, marriage and family life. In its concern with the antecedents of marriage, with the vicissitudes of marriage and with the consequences of the failure of marriage, marriage and family therapy keeps in sight its objective of enabling clients to achieve the optimal adjustment consistent with their welfare as individuals, as members of a family and as citizens in society.