The North Carolina MFT Licensure Board is authorized to receive and investigate complaints against individuals who are licensed by this Board or individuals who are practicing MFT in this state without a license and are not in an exempt setting as defined by NC Statutes.
The Board may initiate its own complaint and conduct an investigation of a suspected violation if reasonable cause exists to believe a violation has occurred.
The Board has adopted and endorses the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT) Code of Ethics. Whether or not a licensed MFT is a member of the AAMFT, in this state, they are still bound to follow this code.
If you believe that an ethical violation has occurred, you may submit a complaint to the board. Please download a paper copy, scan and attach to an email to [email protected] or fax to 919-336-5156.
You must give your name and contact information, along with the name and contact information for the therapist involved. If there is a witness to this event, there is a space for you to supply their name and contact information as well.
There is space to describe the complaint that occurred. Please provide as much detailed information as you can when submitting the complaint. You may attach additional supporting documents if you desire. You may denote which ethical code was violated, though that is not required to submit a complaint.
What to Expect When You File a Complaint
Once received at the Board’s office, your complaint will be entered into a database and it will be assigned a number so no names will be known to anyone but the Board attorney, Board executive director, and the ethics chair. Once the complaint has been received, a notification is sent to the therapist against whom the complaint has been filed, allowing him or her to respond to the allegations in writing.
A letter is also sent to the person filing the complaint acknowledging the receipt of the complaint and informing the person of the complaint number. After receiving the complaint number, any additional information forwarded to the Board’s office should include the complaint number so it can be easily identified as additional information to the complaint.
Copies of complaints are forwarded to the Board’s Ethics Committee for review. The therapist’s response to the complaint is also shared with the Ethics Committee.
If necessary, the Board will investigate the complaint and issue a ruling after gathering all the necessary information. Investigations will not be made unless complaints are in writing and signed by the complainant. Complaints made over the phone or in conversations cannot be investigated.
The Ethics Committee reviews with the Board, at its next scheduled meeting, details of the complaint received and the response from the therapist. The Board makes a decision as to what the next step should be. The Board meets approximately every three months.
All complaints must follow due process and are not immediately resolved.
