M.A. in Marriage, Couples, and Family Therapy
Master's
- Los Angeles, CA
- Full-Time, Part-Time
- 2-3 Years
The M.A. in Marriage, Couples, and Family Therapy program provides students seeking to become licensed marriage & family therapists in the state of California strong preparation in their development of diagnostic, therapeutic, and consultative skills from a systemic and relational context.
Students prepare to work with a variety of clinical populations, including:
- Individuals
- Couples
- Families
- Children
- Groups spanning the developmental spectrum
- Those with emotional, intellectual, and psychological conditions and disorders
From 2019 to 2029, the marriage and family therapist occupation is projected to grow 22 percent, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Effective treatment in this field requires mental health practitioners who have both a broad knowledge of the scientific and theoretical principles in the clinical practice of marriage and family therapy, and the ability to apply that knowledge to specific clinical situations.
Unlike many other forms of psychotherapy, marriage and family therapy has a primary focus on the inter-relationships between the self and others in the world, rather than only internal processes. Our M.A. in Marriage, Couples, and Family Therapy program exposes students to this systemic view and can even help them rethink their approach to classical theories from this more integrative perspective.
Marriage and family therapists can pursue employment within a variety of professional settings, including:
- Mental health centers
- Substance abuse and treatment centers
- Hospitals
- Schools and colleges
- Private practices
- Employment Assistance Programs (EAPs)
- Community mental health agencies
- Higher education
Accreditation
The Marriage and Family Therapy Program at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), [email protected].
Master’s Degree in Marriage, Couples, and Family Therapy: Los Angeles Student Experience
Immersed in the heart of the most diverse city in the most diverse state in the U.S., students attending the Los Angeles Campus will benefit from significant networking opportunities as they experience real-world training in the city’s rapidly evolving downtown business district. Together they learn from and work side-by-side with experienced, qualified, and passionate faculty practitioners.
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Couples Therapy, Theory, and Techniques
This course provides an overview of current trends in couple’s therapeutic treatment and the major models of couple’s therapy. The concepts of divorce, remarrying, blended families, domestic partnerships, pre-marital counseling, relationship enhancement, and non-traditional families will be explored, with research-based treatment interventions presented. Issues of intimate partner violence will also be discussed.
Diversity in Family Therapy
This course will examine how issues of diversity influence cognitive, social, and interpersonal behavior. The topics of gender, ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, culture, religious beliefs, disability, along with tolerance and inclusivity, will be explored in the context of current therapeutic approaches in multicultural marriage and family therapy treatment. Various cultural perspectives will be utilized, allowing students opportunities to develop skill sets for working with those from historically underserved populations.
Recovery, Trauma, and Crisis Counseling within the Community
This course introduces the basic theory and practice of the Recovery and Resilience model of mental health and its application in community mental health settings. Students will learn about ecological concepts, prevention, and intervention strategies aimed at serving the broad mental health needs of communities. Students will learn to identify complex trauma and implement effective, evidence-based practices. This will include treatment protocols and associated methods for conceptualizing, assessing, and treating individuals, families, and communities where serious crisis or trauma has occurred. This course will also provide students with the opportunity to learn about the intersection between multicultural issues and a community approach to mental health.
For information on where The Chicago School of Professional Psychology meets, does not meet, or has not determined if the program meets licensure eligibility requirements for the state in which you wish to be licensed, please visit: https://staging.thechicagoschool.edu/admissions/licensure-disclosures/.
The practicum experience is designed to meet licensure requirements as well as to enhance the learning experience of the student through practical application of didactic classroom instruction. The practicum requires a total of eight credit hours over four semesters during which time the student participates in a clinical training field placement where the student accumulates a minimum of 500 face-to-face contact hours of supervised clinical experience in a mental health setting, at least 200 of which shall be with couples and families. In addition, the student is required to attend a regularly scheduled practicum seminar during which students will participate in clinical case consultation, case presentations, and complete a clinical case report.
At the end of the fourth practicum seminar, students will complete a Clinical Competency Evaluation (CCE), which consists of a full clinical case report, tape, and transcripts, as well as a presentation of this case to the class and instructor. The CCE provides an important assessment of a student’s competency in meeting key programmatic outcomes.
Application to The Chicago School of Professional Psychology’s M.A. Marriage, Couples, and Family Therapy program is open to any person who has earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and who meets other entrance requirements. Students applying to the M.A. in Marriage, Couples, and Family Therapy program must submit the following:
- Application
- Application Fee: $50
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae
- Essay
- Official College/University Transcripts
- Students must submit official transcripts from all schools where degrees have been earned. The Chicago School requires that all schools be regionally accredited higher education institutions. Official transcripts may be sent directly from the institution or with your application for admission as long as they are official, sealed, and signed across the envelope flap when they arrive.
- Three Letters of Recommendation
- Appropriate recommendations are from professors and/or supervisors from significant work or volunteer experiences, who can appraise your academic or professional performance. If you are mailing in your letters, they should arrive in a sealed envelope, signed across the seal. You can also submit the letters online via the applicant portal.
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required, however students who have taken the exam may submit their scores to enhance their application. Scores should be sent directly to the school (GRE School Code: 1119) for consideration. Please see the application for detailed instructions and information regarding application requirements, application deadlines, and letters of recommendation.
The Chicago School is dedicated to keeping our professional degree programs accessible to anyone regardless of financial status. In addition to the scholarships that may be available, our Financial Aid department will help provide you with information to determine what financial arrangements are right for you.