Marriage and Family Therapy Regulations

• The DC Board of Marriage and Family Therapy dictates laws governing who may be licensed to become a marriage counselor or family therapist and regulates those therapists in the district.
  
  

Confidentiality

• The law generally protects therapist/client confidentiality, so that anything said inside a therapy session can remain private. There are exceptions to this law, though, as in cases where child abuse or violent behavior is evident or suspected. If the therapist suspects domestic violence may be occurring between the couple in a marriage counseling session, he must report his findings to appropriate authorities.
  
  

Divorce

• Information about attempts at marriage counseling may be required for divorce filings in DC to proceed.