marriage and family therapy training program

Marriage and Family Counseling

The Marriage and Family Therapy Training Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. This training program meets the educational requirements necessary for licensing by the State of Connecticut. The Master of Family Therapy program offers a comprehensive training experience directed toward meeting theoretical and clinical standards expected of prospective licensed marriage and family therapists.

Therapy dog.Students in the program come from a variety of undergraduate academic backgrounds. Applicants should have at least nine credits in general psychological studies upon entering the program. While missing credits may be earned through graduate courses, this will increase the minimum 60 credit requirement of the basic program. Preference is given to applicants with a rich background in life and work experiences.

Within the program, the student will progress in three major areas:

1. General professional requirements include theoretical courses consistent with COAMFTE requirements, and the licensing regulations for the State of Connecticut. These specific core courses center on a deep understanding of the theory and practice of structural family therapy, along with other major theories of marriage and family therapy practice. In addition, the program has a strong focus the personal and professional attributes of the therapist.

2. Five hundred hours of clinical experience are required in outside clinical internship settings and in the department's marriage and family therapy clinic. Students are expected to have group and individual supervision in the ratio of one hour of supervision for every five hours of therapy. A minimum of 50 hours of the required 100 hours of supervision must be on raw data, either videotapes, audiotapes, or live supervision. The State of Connecticut mandates that all clinical hours be completed within 24 months and that interns be in their placement for a minimum of 12 consecutive months. The department's marriage and family therapy clinic opened in 1979 and treats individuals, couples, and families referred by a variety of state and private agencies.

3. A required one-year concentration in Gestalt therapy gives the student experiential, theoretical, and practical knowledge in working with individuals and groups from a present-centered active model.

 
Entrance requirements include applications, references, group and individual interviews, and transcripts of all previous academic work. The program begins with course work in June, September, and January of each year and requires all prospective candidates to complete the application process. The required departmental applications and reference forms may be downloaded from the the application and admissions section of the department's website.
 

Graduates are eligible for associate membership in AAMFT and secure employment in various settings including community mental health facilities, youth service agencies, and hospital outpatient clinics, as well as domestic violence programs, private practice, substance abuse programs, and youth service programs. The students in this program come from all over the country,  though a majority are Connecticut residents. In addition, each year there is a small number of international students.

Location:

Davis Hall 020
Phone: (203) 392-6414  
Fax: (203) 392-6441

Southern Connecticut State University is an Equal Opportunity University.