VAMFT Newsletter (v. 3, no. 4)

November 1998

• A Letter from the President
• Claiming Identity of MFT

Hello and happy autumn everyone! We are keeping this newsletter brief, since our primary goal is to send out the new directory. We hope that you find the directory useful. We will have more to report in February after the Board meets to plan the new year's events. The focus of this year's planning retreat is third-party reimbursement. PLEASE RETURN THE VAMFT MEMBERSHIP SURVEY so we can have your permission to publish your name on the VAMFT referral directories (printed and/or web directory), and obtain informtion that will help us in securing third-party reimbursement. It is essential that you fill the survey out, cut it out of the newsletter, and mail it to me so we can begin to assist you in the referral process. I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a very happy holiday season!

As one of your representatives, I attended the Divisional Leadership Development Institute as part of the AAMFT National Conference in Dallas. Networking with National and Divisional Representatives, awareness of MFT as a profession was identified as an important part of the parity process. While attended the Media Relations training segment, a suggestion was made to raise awareness of MFT as a profession: when speaking with the media, always identify yourself as a marriage and family therapist and offer a brief explanation of MFT.

I have a simple, powerful challenge for every member to raise awareness of MFT in our Commonwealth: claim your identity as a marriage and family therapist throughout personal, social, business, and community relationships. In addition, prepare several sentences in non-theoretical language to educate others about our MFT profession. I hope you keep my challenge in mind and challenge your colleagues to do the same. It is with our collaborative efforts that we will retain a strong identity as Marriage and Family Therapists.