Online Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy 

Systems Approach to family therapy is designed to provide an overview of the fundamentals of family and marital therapy. The course will be taught within a therapeutic perspective so that the material will be tied to the actual practice of therapy. Wherever possible, examples, case studies and vignettes will be employed in order to amplify the family systems approach to therapy.

In addition, the course explores theories and skills required in contemporary community mental health settings, including recovery-oriented treatment for severe mental illness, disaster and trauma response, services for victims of abuse and the homeless, foster care, case management, client advocacy, in-home and in-school services, bilingual client services, collaborating with other professionals, medical family therapy, and local community service resources. The course also provides a practical overview of public and private systems of care and opportunities to meet with the severely mentally ill and their families.

Credits: 3

This course reviews the broad spectrum of psychological disorders and the proper method of diagnosing the disorders using the DSM-5 criteria. The focus of this review will include the etiology, prevalence & incidence, signs & symptoms, and criteria for differential diagnosis affecting children, adolescents, and adults. Suicide Assessment, Treatment and Management are also covered.

Credits: 3

This course will examine the theory, practice and utilization of effective therapeutic interventions with couple relationships. The course will involve videos, case studies, online discussions, and written assignments to further our learning on couples counseling.

Credits: 3

This course will prepare students to work with the special counseling needs of children and adolescents. Behavioral characteristics of children and adolescents including their emotional, social, and cognitive behaviors will be covered and applied with practical cases. Counseling techniques and treatment options will be learned.

Credits: 3

This course will highlight developmental psychology throughout the lifespan, from birth through death. Current psychological and medical knowledge of child, adolescent, and adult development will be explored along with the impact of the developmental process on the individual and the family.

Credits: 3

The goal of this course is to provide a brief comprehensive overview of clinical psychopharmacology for non-medical providers. This course will acquaint students with the fundamentals of psychotropic drugs. Basics of pharmacology, indications, drug interactions and adverse side effects of commonly used psychotropic medications.

Credits: 3

This course is designed to provide an introduction to some of the cultural, socioeconomic, and ethnic variables that influence the counseling relationship and process within California and nationally. Factors such as race/ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, religious & spiritual values, mental and physical characteristics, education, family values, and socioeconomic status, are examined. We will focus on therapy issues related to various populations, and learn effective treatment approaches to use that will be most appropriate. The process of becoming an effective multicultural therapist in terms of becoming more aware of the values and customs of persons from other racial/ethnic groups will be included. Therapist cultural self-awareness and the role of counseling in eliminating biases, prejudice, oppression, and discrimination are emphasized.

Credits: 3

The course serves as an introduction to graduate level research in the social sciences with a specific emphasis on psychology. Research methods and statistics will be integrated to provide a general overview of the ways that social scientists collect information. The research process will be examined including concepts of design, conduct and evaluation. Principles and characteristics of approaches and methodologies relevant to research in the field will be fully explored. Examples of data sources and methods of statistical description and analysis will be covered with special emphasis on developing ethical, trustworthy and useful information. The course also will provide a foundation for locating and evaluating scientific, technical, business and government qualitative and quantitative information.

Credits: 3

This course is designed to provide an overview of Large Therapy Systems. Emphasis will be on obtaining the conceptual knowledge and skills relative to conducting effective group treatment for a variety of client populations.

Credits: 3

This course focuses on the understanding and use of testing results for the marriage and family therapist.

Credits: 3

This course provides an overview of the biological, sociological and psychological basis of human sexual functioning. Sexuality is a core element of human functioning and a key element in understanding intimate relationships. An evidenced-based approach will be used to explore topics including sexual development and function throughout the lifespan, normative and atypical sexual functioning, as well as other sexual factors relevant to the practice of marriage and family therapy. Some specific topics will include sexual arousal and response, masturbation, sexually transmitted diseases, contraception, and sexual anatomy. Theories of sexual attraction from both sociological and evolutionary points of view will also be presented. A clinical model of intimacy will be presented, as well practical information for use in couple’s therapy.

Credits: 3

This course focuses on the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of substance use disorders, co-occurring disorders, and other forms of addiction. In this course, students will learn about the different causes of addiction, understanding addiction as both a disease and a behavioral phenomenon. Topics include the definitions of addiction, ethnocultural influences in addiction, effects of drug use, evidence-based treatment models and referral processes, legal aspects of substance abuse, community resources, and family/group support. Other important aspects of substance use and addiction will also be discussed, including, case management, public and private systems of care for substance use, advocacy, and collaborative treatment approaches. The emerging literature on non-substance addictive behaviors (pathological gambling, sexual addictions) will also be discussed.

Credits: 3

The processes of communication as these apply to both interpersonal and intrapersonal experience. Emphasis on the purposes of communication as well as the forms that are believed to enhance the conduct of counseling and psychotherapy.

Credits: 3

The course will discuss family-focused treatment targeting high-risk youth. Issues such as drug use, youth criminal activity and drop-out prevention will be the main topics.

Credits: 3

The course will primarily focus on issues that are salient to the aging population, including long-term care. Students will learn skills to help families in all stages of life deal with chronic or ongoing health concerns as well. There will be a strategic training to develop necessary understanding of the challenges of the later stages of life. Students will be required to conduct an in depth interview of one family situation where such issues discussed in the course material are present.

Credits: 3

This course has been designed to foster a grounded and well-informed understanding of ethical and legal issues as they relate to the mental health professionals in general and MFT professionals in California and nationally. In the course, students will become aware of familial relationships, and defining of legal consequences to those relationships and their dissolution, and the transition of individuals into new family formations. Marriage and its legal effects, divorce, the law of the parent-child relationship, including post-separation parenting and child support, and the recognition of non-marital relationships. Other legal matters such as family law include domestic violence, adoption, and child protection, child abuse reporting is included. Commonly experienced ethical and legal matters within the practice of MFT will be examined through discussion, assigned readings, written work and practical exercises.

Credits: 3

Studies in the treatment of trauma as it impact the family. Beginning and advanced techniques in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of child and elder abuse, domestic violence, rape, disaster, crime and other trauma will be explored.

Credits: 3

This set of courses provides therapists in training with the opportunity to practice systemically informed family therapy in a supervised environment, to observe other therapists in training, and to give/receive feedback about their practice. Students will learn advocacy and how to connect consumers with resources and supportive services including various mental health agencies. This practicum is designed to help students gain experience regarding clients in shared learning with colleagues, on ancillary (site) supervisors, and TUW Program Clinical Supervisors. As part of practicum experience, students will gain clinical hours and receive supervision at a clinical placement site, while simultaneously obtaining MFT relational/systemic supervision hours from TUW faculty Program Clinical Supervisors in a live classroom. Students will complete the six (6) courses in a 1-year period to achieve the required 300 client contact and 100 MFT relational/systemic supervision hours to complete the program. (Please note that some state minimum requirements for licensure application may be more than 300 direct client contact hours. Therefore, students are required to check the licensure requirements for their respective state).

Credits: 3

This set of courses provides therapists in training with the opportunity to practice systemically informed family therapy in a supervised environment, to observe other therapists in training, and to give/receive feedback about their practice. Students will learn advocacy and how to connect consumers with resources and supportive services including various mental health agencies. This practicum is designed to help students gain experience regarding clients in shared learning with colleagues, on ancillary (site) supervisors, and TUW Program Clinical Supervisors. As part of practicum experience, students will gain clinical hours and receive supervision at a clinical placement site, while simultaneously obtaining MFT relational/systemic supervision hours from TUW faculty Program Clinical Supervisors in a live classroom. Students will complete the six (6) courses in a 1-year period to achieve the required 300 client contact and 100 MFT relational/systemic supervision hours to complete the program. (Please note that some state minimum requirements for licensure application may be more than 300 direct client contact hours. Therefore, students are required to check the licensure requirements for their respective state).

Credits: 3

This set of courses provides therapists in training with the opportunity to practice systemically informed family therapy in a supervised environment, to observe other therapists in training, and to give/receive feedback about their practice. Students will learn advocacy and how to connect consumers with resources and supportive services including various mental health agencies. This practicum is designed to help students gain experience regarding clients in shared learning with colleagues, on ancillary (site) supervisors, and TUW Program Clinical Supervisors. As part of practicum experience, students will gain clinical hours and receive supervision at a clinical placement site, while simultaneously obtaining MFT relational/systemic supervision hours from TUW faculty Program Clinical Supervisors in a live classroom. Students will complete the six (6) courses in a 1-year period to achieve the required 300 client contact and 100 MFT relational/systemic supervision hours to complete the program. (Please note that some state minimum requirements for licensure application may be more than 300 direct client contact hours. Therefore, students are required to check the licensure requirements for their respective state).

Credits: 3

This set of courses provides therapists in training with the opportunity to practice systemically informed family therapy in a supervised environment, to observe other therapists in training, and to give/receive feedback about their practice. Students will learn advocacy and how to connect consumers with resources and supportive services including various mental health agencies. This practicum is designed to help students gain experience regarding clients in shared learning with colleagues, on ancillary (site) supervisors, and TUW Program Clinical Supervisors. As part of practicum experience, students will gain clinical hours and receive supervision at a clinical placement site, while simultaneously obtaining MFT relational/systemic supervision hours from TUW faculty Program Clinical Supervisors in a live classroom. Students will complete the six (6) courses in a 1-year period to achieve the required 300 client contact and 100 MFT relational/systemic supervision hours to complete the program. (Please note that some state minimum requirements for licensure application may be more than 300 direct client contact hours. Therefore, students are required to check the licensure requirements for their respective state).

Credits: 3

This set of courses provides therapists in training with the opportunity to practice systemically informed family therapy in a supervised environment, to observe other therapists in training, and to give/receive feedback about their practice. Students will learn advocacy and how to connect consumers with resources and supportive services including various mental health agencies. This practicum is designed to help students gain experience regarding clients in shared learning with colleagues, on ancillary (site) supervisors, and TUW Program Clinical Supervisors. As part of practicum experience, students will gain clinical hours and receive supervision at a clinical placement site, while simultaneously obtaining MFT relational/systemic supervision hours from TUW faculty Program Clinical Supervisors in a live classroom. Students will complete the six (6) courses in a 1-year period to achieve the required 300 client contact and 100 MFT relational/systemic supervision hours to complete the program. (Please note that some state minimum requirements for licensure application may be more than 300 direct client contact hours. Therefore, students are required to check the licensure requirements for their respective state).

Credits: 3

This set of courses provides therapists in training with the opportunity to practice systemically informed family therapy in a supervised environment, to observe other therapists in training, and to give/receive feedback about their practice. Students will learn advocacy and how to connect consumers with resources and supportive services including various mental health agencies. This practicum is designed to help students gain experience regarding clients in shared learning with colleagues, on ancillary (site) supervisors, and TUW Program Clinical Supervisors. As part of practicum experience, students will gain clinical hours and receive supervision at a clinical placement site, while simultaneously obtaining MFT relational/systemic supervision hours from TUW faculty Program Clinical Supervisors in a live classroom. Students will complete the six (6) courses in a 1-year period to achieve the required 300 client contact and 100 MFT relational/systemic supervision hours to complete the program. (Please note that some state minimum requirements for licensure application may be more than 300 direct client contact hours. Therefore, students are required to check the licensure requirements for their respective state).

Credits: 3

The Capstone course is the culmination of the MFT degree program for both MFT and LPCC tracks and is taken last within the program. In this course, the student will participate in threaded discussions; complete a case assignment and signature assignment, while focused on MFT proficiency in licensure preparation and clinical work. Students have an opportunity to practice taking licensure exams based on their particular state of practice, and discuss their theoretical orientation when approaching work with individuals, couples, and families. The Capstone will be reviewed by the primary faculty at the conclusion of coursework and may serve as a tool for further research and/or practice. The Capstone course is also used to assess the student achievement of all MFT Program Learning Outcomes.

Credits: 3