This study examined couple and family counseling coursework in the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)–accredited clinical mental health counseling (CMHC) programs and scope of practice related to couple and family counseling based on each state’s licensure regulations for mental health counselors (MHCs). Required and offered courses in couple/family-related content areas for 331 CACREP-accredited CMHC programs were analyzed. In addition, state licensure regulations for all 50 states and Washington, DC, were examined to determine whether MHCs can conduct couple and family counseling based upon licensure regulations. The results of this study indicated a mean of 1.1 couple/family-related courses required and a mean of 2.3 of these courses offered within CMHC programs. All but one of the 51 licensure regulations analyzed either permits or does not specify whether couple/family counseling falls within the scope of practice of MHCs; these 50 state/territory regulations also lack concrete guidelines related to required training or supervised experience in couple and family counseling to provide this service competently as an MHC. Limitations and areas for future research and training opportunities are discussed in light of these results.

中文翻译：

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专业心理健康顾问的家庭辅导课程和实践范围的考试

本研究检查了咨询和相关教育计划认证委员会 (CACREP) 认可的临床心理健康咨询 (CMHC) 计划中的夫妻和家庭咨询课程，以及基于每个州的许可规定的与夫妻和家庭咨询相关的实践范围心理健康顾问 (MHC)。分析了 331 个 CACREP 认可的 CMHC 计划的夫妻/家庭相关内容领域的必修和提供课程。此外，还审查了所有 50 个州和华盛顿特区的州执照规定，以确定 MHC 是否可以根据执照规定进行夫妻和家庭咨询。这项研究的结果表明，在 CMHC 计划中，平均需要 1.1 门与夫妻/家庭相关的课程，平均 2.3 门课程。所分析的 51 项执照法规中，除一项外，全部都允许或没有具体说明夫妻/家庭咨询是否属于 MHC 的实践范围；这 50 个州/领地法规也缺乏与夫妻和家庭咨询所需的培训或监督经验相关的具体指导方针，以作为 MHC 胜任提供这项服务。根据这些结果讨论了未来研究和培训机会的局限性和领域。