Dedicated to expanding the study and practice of couple and family psychology through education, research and clinical practice.
Dedicated to expanding the study and practice of couple and family psychology through education, research and clinical practice.

Welcome to the American Academy of Couple and Family Psychology

In partnership with the American Board of Couple and Family Psychology (ABCFP), we work to promote the specialty of Couple and Family Psychology through board certification. We strongly believe that the best way to ensure that couples and families are receiving the best treatment possible is to ensure that the providers have received the highest level of training and certification possible. We believe that Board Certification in Couple and Family Psychology is the premiere way to demonstrate a psychologist’s expertise. 

The need for board certified couple and family psychologists is palpable. As one example, the largest international study of psychotherapists (Orlinsky & Ronnestad 2005) found an astounding 70% of psychotherapists treat couples. Unfortunately, most mental health providers, including psychologists, receive very limited training in couple therapy. In fact, the lack of couple therapy training may account for why, although couple therapy is highly effective when studied (Shadish & Baldwin, 2003, 2005; Snyder, Castellani, & Whisman, 2006), couple therapy is among the lowest rated for consumer satisfaction in the Consumer Reports study of psychotherapies (Seligman, 1995), which did not control for therapist training. Thus, the AACFP in partnership with ABCFP work tirelessly to address this societal and public health issue. 

In essence, the AACFP is an organization that aims to advance Couple and Family Psychology as a psychological science, and also promotes and enhances couple and family wellbeing. While the ABCFP primary focus is on conducting the exams of prospective applicants, the AACFP takes on other tasks. Specifically, the AACFP engages in activities such as providing continuing education programs, disseminating information to the public about the specialty of Couple and Family Psychology, and providing a voice of Couple and Family Psychology within the profession of psychology. 

Finally, we are comprised of smart, thoughtful and kind professionals who feel a purpose in strengthening and healing couples and families from all walks of life.