Filing a Complaint

The Board is required by law to make inquiries into all complaints. You must file a written complaint with the Board to initiate a complaint inquiry.

• Section 1: Complete this section with your full name, current mailing address and home and/or work telephone number.

• Section 2: Provide the name of the LMFT, LAMFT, or applicant of the Board of Marriage and Family Therapy against whom you are filing a complaint. Also provide that person's address and telephone number if you have this information. Please note that the Minnesota Board of Marriage and Family Therapy has jurisdiction only over individuals who are of the status listed above.

• Section 3: Please provide as much information as possible about what happened. Describe in detail all your facts which relate to the complaint/allegations you are submitting to the Board. Include any potential names, dates, times, places, and any document or records that would support your complaint. Please do not send original documents. If you do submit original documents, please indicate that they are originals, so they may be copied and returned to you. Please write clearly, preferably print or type in order to make the complaint easier to read.

• Board staff will review the report and documents you provide and determine the next step in the process.

• The therapist could be contacted and could be asked to provide any and all records surrounding the client in question, in addition to responding in writing to the allegations.

• Once the documents and allegations are established, the Board's Complaint Review Panel will review the file. The Panel will determine the next step in the process.

• The Panel can dismiss the complaint if the facts do not support a violation of the law. The Panel can also decide to meet with the licensee, formally or informally, to learn more or attempt to resolve the complaint. If the Panel decides that the licensee violated the law, the Panel can propose corrective or disciplinary action.

• If the licensee does not agree to a voluntary settlement, the Panel can attempt to resolve the complaint by using alternative dispute resolution or by holding a contested case hearing before a State of Minnesota Administrative Law Judge.

• You will be notified in writing of the disposition once the case is completed.  Please note that complaint review and investigation is often a lengthy process that may take several weeks or months before a matter is resolved or concluded.

• The Board cannot take any action other than action against an individual's marriage and family therapy license; it cannot impose or award any other type of relief or remedy.