Hi folks,
After reading the MFT doing reiki thread, I realized I have more research to do on what I'm thinking of...
I am interested in obtaining training in eastern psych (acupuncture), somatic psych (MFT or a Psy.D), and energy psychology (via ACEP approved programs). I'm already a CMT.
I already support my own mental/emotional/spiritual health with acupuncture, counseling, and energy work, and bodywork and can see ways that they would all integrate nicely.
My question is: do the powers that be for MFTs or Psychologists demand that folks with other scopes of practice keep them separate? Would they say I couldn't do acupuncture with my counseling clients?
After reading the MFT doing reiki thread, I realized I have more research to do on what I'm thinking of...
I am interested in obtaining training in eastern psych (acupuncture), somatic psych (MFT or a Psy.D), and energy psychology (via ACEP approved programs). I'm already a CMT.
I already support my own mental/emotional/spiritual health with acupuncture, counseling, and energy work, and bodywork and can see ways that they would all integrate nicely.
My question is: do the powers that be for MFTs or Psychologists demand that folks with other scopes of practice keep them separate? Would they say I couldn't do acupuncture with my counseling clients?
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SF Bay Area
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Re: Mixing practice types (was MFT doing reiki)
Fri, August 17, 2007 - 12:19 AMI believe that is true--as I remember it from my recent Law and Ethics course. One can only practice within the scope of practice that one advertises themselves to be, or something like that. The example that was given was that if someone was a dentist and an MFT, they would not be allowed to practice dentistry with their counseling clients. So I assume the same would be true, even if it seems that the practices might be more compatible. On an ethical level--it seems dicey to me because the role is different-one (mft) is more about guidance and support, empowering the client to navigate their own healing, whereas the others involve doing the healing for the client...so I could see that getting messy (and I do believe it is against the rules too).
I am a CMT, also trained in Hakomi or what is now called Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, and also on an MFT track. I sometimes bring the Hakomi work into my massage practice, and feel okay about that. It is slightly different intentions, but fully legal to mix other modalities into a massage practice as the rules are not strict as a massage therapist.
Best of luck figuring out what direction(s) you want to go in. :) -
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Re: Mixing practice types (was MFT doing reiki)
Fri, August 17, 2007 - 9:29 AMjosh
you could contact the BBS (Board of Behavioral Sciences) and ask. you could even ask anonymously.
some people integrate massage, or some level of touching their clients, but you need to be careful with borderline clients (or other personality disorders) or others who either have poor personal boundaries or have been abused in the past ....... especially with needle work! of course you could assess them for their tolerance but you never know how a client will respond.
that said, i think there are people out there who integrate all kinds of different modalities into their practice. movement therapy (yoga maybe), tarot cards or astrology, hypnosis, soul retrieval and other spiritual work, etc. not everything is under the scrutiny of "big brother", you just need to be aware of your clientele and what their tolerance / needs are . -
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Re: Mixing practice types (was MFT doing reiki)
Mon, August 20, 2007 - 12:58 PMThank you! So is the BBS the final authority on my question?
Thanks to the others who posted... I am not, however, asking whether anyone else thinks this is a good idea or not--I trust the answers to shake out during the educational process. I'm just wanting to know about the feasibility of trying.
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Re: Mixing practice types (was MFT doing reiki)
Mon, August 20, 2007 - 2:41 PMThe BBS is the entity that gives us our licenses to practice in CA, so, I would say, Yes, they are the final authority on if this is allowable. Depending on the type of clients you are working with, it could be a good idea, but it also could go really wrong. That would be something that would come with experience.
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Re: Mixing practice types (was MFT doing reiki)
Mon, September 10, 2007 - 11:42 PMactually, the practice of therapy is under the scrutiny of "big brother" aka the bbs. The danger for a practitioner who is caught doing these things is not only do they risk their license, but they also may damage the client, and the client may sue, and will win. If a client is seeking the advice of an astrologer or wishes to know their past lives, they need to find people who offer those services outside of any psychotherapy they might be receiving from a licensed therapist. Many astrologers work with psychological concepts, and talking with them at that level is one way to integrate those ideas, but the licensed therapist is prevented from these activities with clients. I think if someone is called to be a healer in another way, they should pursue that, and leave the psychotherapy for people who are more inclined to work within the guidelines. If you were offering such things as tarot consultations, you would not be able to advertise that as a licensed therapist. If you later suggest it to a client, this adds an element of deception to your practice that should be avoided.
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Re: Mixing practice types (was MFT doing reiki)
Sat, August 18, 2007 - 8:27 AMMy concern would be that I can't imagine being able to do so many different types of practice and doing them all well. Being a really excellent MFT involved 4 years of MA and PhD classwork for me, a subsequent year of PhD internship where I also got my licensure hours, and full-time practice since then.
There is a difference between integrative theories or techniques, and being so eclectic that you are a veritable alphabet of treatment types. Why try to be everything to everyone? Pick something you do very well and focus on becoming excellent at it. Being a good MFT involves understanding family systems theory, developmental models, a variety of theories of couple and family relationships, ethics, multicultural issues, presenting problems of all types... it is a vast and complex field in and of itself.
In addition, the ethical concerns of "upselling" counseling clients other types of treatments is extremely problematic, as is, others have noted, touching clients (and not just "borderline" clients, any client.) Referring clients out for other supportive practices is perfectly fine, but trying to be the "one stop shop" creates a whole host of issues.
