State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners

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Know Your Board

The State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners shall consist of 12 members who are residents of this State and citizens of the United States. Six of these individuals shall be licensed, practicing marriage and family therapists, one shall be a licensed professional counselor currently serving on the Professional Counselor Examiners Committee, one shall be a licensed alcohol and drug counselor currently serving on the Alcohol and Drug Counselors Committee, three shall be public members, and one shall be a State executive department member.

Members of the Committee

Marriage and Family Therapy Members

Ben K. Beitin, Ph. D.
Gina M. Kassel, Ed.S.
Dawn M. Lacy, M.S.
Judith Owens, M.A.
James Verser, Ed.S.
Ronald Walthall, D. MIN

Licensed Professional Counselor Member

J. Barry Mascari, Ed. D.

Alcohol and Drug Counselor Member

Edward Reading, Ph. D.

Public Member

Amy E. Meckeler

New Jersey Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners Professional Staff

Elaine L. DeMars, Executive Director
(973) 504-6582
(973) 504-6415

Celeste Sweeper, Clerk Supervisor
(973) 504-6582

The State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners was established on January 10, 1969 (pursuant to N.J.S.A. 45:8B-34 et seq.) to oversee New Jersey's licensed marriage and family therapists. Board members, who are appointed by the Governor, must be New Jersey residents. The Board consists of six licensed practicing marriage and family therapists; one licensed professional counselor serving on the Professional Counselor Examiners Committee; one licensed alcohol and drug counselor serving on the Alcohol and Drug Counselors Committee; three members of the general public, and one state executive department member. Except for the state executive department member, all members are appointed for three-year terms. The Professional Counselor Examiners Committee and the Alcohol and Drug Counselor Committee are committees of the State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners.

Regular meetings of the Board are held on the second Thursday of every month at 124 Halsey Street, Newark, New Jersey, beginning at 9:30 a.m.

The purpose of the Board is:

• to protect the health, safety and welfare of the people of New Jersey;
• to regulate the practice of marriage and family therapy;
• to take action against the unprofessional, improper, unauthorized or unqualified practice of marriage and family therapy and guard against unprofessional conduct by the licensed individuals who practice marriage and family therapy.

How does the Board accomplish its purpose?

The Board protects the public by:

• making sure all marriage and family therapists meet the requirements set by statute;
• investigating and prosecuting marriage and family therapists who break the State's consumer protection laws; and
• requiring all marriage and family therapists to be licensed and to renew their licenses biennially.

How do marriage and family therapists become licensed by the State?

Any applicant seeking a license to practice marriage or family therapy must pass an examination and prove to the Board that he or she is at least 21 years old, of good moral character, and has not engaged in any practice or conduct in violation of the Board's rules and regulations. Applicants must have a minimum of a master's degree in marriage and family therapy or a related field (measured by a curriculum specified in the Board's regulations) from a regionally accredited institution. The basic experiential requirement is five years of full-time therapy, two of which must be in supervised marriage and family therapy. Detailed information on the requirements for licensure can be found in the statute (N.J.S.A. 45:8B-1 et seq.)

What are my rights as a consumer if I have a complaint about a marriage or family therapist?

Every consumer has a right to file a complaint against a marriage and family therapist either by writing to the mailing address below, or by filling out and submiting the online complaint form for the State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners which can be found by logging onto the Internet and going to: www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/medical/familytherapy.htm

State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners
P.O. Box 45044
Newark, NJ 07101

How are complaints resolved?

If the complaint is within the Board's jurisdiction:

• the complaint may be referred to an investigator who may contact you for additional information;
• the marriage and family therapist will be asked to respond to your concerns; and
• the Board will evaluate the complaint and the marriage and family therapist's response to determine if the complaint involves a violation of the law.

What happens next?

• If a violation has occurred, the Board may issue a reprimand, or revoke or suspend the license of the marriage and family therapist. The Board may impose monetary penalties or take other appropriate action.
• During disciplinary proceedings, licensees may be represented by an attorney and are given the right to demonstrate their compliance with the law. Once the Board has taken action against a licensee, he or she has the right to appeal the action.

Consumer Tips

• Before visiting a marriage and family therapist, call the Board at 973-504-6415 to make sure the individual iscurrently licensed and in good standing. Consumers also can search online to find out about a marriage and family therapist's license status. They can go directly to the online licensee directories by logging onto the Internet and going to www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/director.htm
• The Board can also provide you with a marriage and family therapist's date of licensure and license number, and it can also provide the business address of any licensee. The online licensee directory will provide you with the therapist's license number, business address and the status of the marriage and family therapist's license.
• Ask if there are any public disciplinary actions the Board has taken against the marriage and family therapist. Public actions on file with the Board include: filed complaints from the Division of Law, consent orders or final orders imposing the revocation of licenses, and other public disciplinary or remedial actions taken against a marriage and family therapist such as a suspension, reprimand, probation or fine.
• If possible, select a marriage and family therapist the way you would a physician, lawyer or dentist: Ask those you know and trust to make a recommendation.

If you have any questions, you may contact the State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners at 973-504- 6415, or via e-mail at: AskConsumerAffairs@lps.state.nj.us