Program Mission
The mission of the Marital and Family Therapy (MFT) Program is to help lead the transformation of family therapy by creating, educating and actively supporting a community of future professionals who embody the philosophy and practice of a biopsychosocial, system approach to family-oriented mental health care.
Program Goals
The educational goals of the MFT program, graduates:
- are able to integrate research into their clinical work effectively.
- are able to successfully apply clinical knowledge to the practice of therapy.
- uphold the legal, ethical and professional standards of the MFT profession.
- are effective in working with diverse populations.
Learning Outcomes
Students will graduate from the program with the ability to do the following:
Indicators assessed in the program assure that students:
- know the key concepts used by major models of family therapy for understanding individual and relational well-being.
- can use theory to guide assessment.
- know the key DSM IV-TR disorders encountered by MFTs.
- can effectively assess and diagnose DSM IV-TR disorders.
- can recognize the role that biology/physical illness may have on individual and relational well-being.
- are familiar with commonly used instruments in the MFT field.
- can conduct an assessment from a biopsychosocial perspective.
- value using a biopsychosocial perspective for assessment, with particular emphasis put on assessing and conceptualizing from a systemic perspective.
Indicators assessed in the program assure that students:
- know the key concepts and interventions used by major models of family therapy.
- can develop an effective treatment plan or treatment focus.
- can use theory to guide treatment and development/use of interventions.
- know the current treatments used to treat DSM IV-TR disorders, including psychosocial and pharmacological treatments.
Indicators assessed in the program assure that students:
- know the key life cycle issues that families face.
- are able to recognize the role of life cycle issues in the conceptualization and treatment of cases.
- know the key stages of individual development from childhood through adulthood.
- are able to effectively use knowledge of development in the assessment and treatment of cases.
Indicators assessed in the program assure that students:
- know the key ethical principles and laws relating to the practice of MFT.
- are able to recognize when a legal or ethical issue exists.
- are able to effectively respond to when an ethical or legal issue exists.
- are committed to following the legal and ethical standards of the MFT profession.
Indicators assessed in the program assure that students:
- are dependable in carrying out their overall clinical responsibilities.
- are reliable in completing clinical documentation.
- effectively collaborate with other professionals.
- do not demonstrate behavioral or emotional issues that interfere with therapy.
Indicators assessed in the program assure that students:
- know the key concepts and ideas that are necessary when working with clients from diverse backgrounds (e.g., race/ethnicity, gender, religion, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation).
- observed competence in working with clients from diverse backgrounds.
- value looking at contextual factors to understand individuals and relational systems.
In addition to the central student learning outcomes, the Marital and Family Therapy program expects graduates who:
- are able to develop an effective client-therapist relationship.
- are able to effectively structure therapy, including setting appropriate boundaries.
- recognize when and how to make appropriate referrals for assessment and/or treatment.
- are able to identify when self of the therapist issues arises in therapy.
- are committed to examining and addressing the self of the therapist's issues as they arise.
- demonstrate an ability to learn and enhance their skills through reading, workshops, supervision, etc.
Our Alumni
Graduates of the MA in Marital Family Therapy often have a background in psychology or other social sciences and enter the profession as Licensed Marital and Family Therapists (LMFTs) in a wide variety of settings. Here is a sample of positions our alumni hold or have held.
| Job Title |
|---|
| Chief Operating Officer, Vital Decisions |
| Therapist, The Art of Family |
| Mental Health Specialist, Douglas County Rental Health |
| Alvarado Parkway Institute |
| Founder, Legacy Counseling Network |
| Marriage Family Therapist MFT, Psycare |
| Marriage & Family Therapist, Peg Leblanc |
| Principal, Creative Transformations |
| Therapist, Eating Disorders, University of California San Diego |
| Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Depression and Anxiety Specialty Clinic of Chicago |
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