meet the central florida association for marriage and family therapy
Central Florida Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
The Central Florida Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (CFAMFT) is a professional organization representing marriage and family therapists and their colleagues in the Central Florida area. CFAMFT provides education, supervision, and advocacy for the profession of marriage and family therapy. CFAMFT operates as an autonomous not-for-profit entity. The Association leads the way to increasing understanding, research, and education in the field of marriage and family therapy, and ensures that public needs are met by well-trained practitioners. Clinical members of CFAMFT have completed specific post-graduate training in Marriage and Family Therapy as well as extensive supervised clinical practice with couples and families.
About CFAMFT
CFAMFT members are employed in a variety of settings including social service agencies, private clinics, hospitals, universities, and independent practices. Members of CFAMFT are also licensed by the Florida Department of Health (under Chapter 491) as Marriage and Family Therapists, Mental Health Counselors, Social Workers, or Psychologists. Members of all related professions are required to participate in ongoing continuing education to maintain their licensure in order to practice therapy in the State of Florida.
Meet the President of CFAMFT Linda Messing Cook, LMHC, NCC
The current President of CFAMFT is Linda Mesing Cook, LMHC, NCC who is serving from 2023-2024. She describes the mission of the organization as being to serve as a leader in the provision of marital and family psychotherapy training in the Central Florida community through their traditional values of integrity, inclusion/diversity, and the development of innovative skills in marital and family psychotherapy. As a professional organization, their purpose is to advance quality educational, training, and advocacy opportunities, as well as provide a professional networking community.
Meeting with other therapists who espouse a strong systemic perspective served as a significant influence for the current President who as a practicing (LMHC) psychotherapist, works frequently with couples and families. She experienced the members of CFAMFT to be very friendly, inviting, and inquisitive about the work she did, expressing a true interest in getting to know her and her practice specialties. She was impressed with the large body of students and interns from our local universities and colleges who were regularly attending the monthly educational presentations and expressing interest in joining the CFAMFT Board. One of her goals was to implement mentoring opportunities for students by pairing them with more seasoned, licensed therapists and this Mentorship Program was launched in September of 2024. Under the leadership of Ms. Cook, the 10 year old By-Laws were also recently revised in early 2024, serving as an updated guide in defining the organization’s purpose, procedures, and Board member responsibilities.