Why Get a Doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy?
For those motivated to work at the pinnacle of their profession, earning a doctorate paves the pathway to fulfilling their ambitions. For marriage and family therapists, earning a Doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy (DMFT) positions them to become innovative leaders in administration, education, supervision, and research in the marriage and family therapy field.
A DMFT degree attracts professionals focused on helping families and couples navigate challenges and foster healthy relationships. Earning a DMFT can open the door to a transformative and rewarding career helping individuals and families thrive in a complex world.
Reasons to Earn a Doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy
Marriage and family therapy focuses on how a family’s behavior patterns influence individuals. As the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy notes, “In marriage and family therapy, the unit of treatment isn’t just the person – even if only a single person is interviewed – it is the set of relationships in which the person is embedded.”
A doctorate provides expertise in this specialized area of therapy. Many reasons and career options exist for earning a degree, but some common goals inform an individual’s motivation for earning a DMFT.
One primary reason to pursue a doctorate is the opportunity to engage in innovative research that can influence the field and improve therapeutic practices. Doctoral students can explore topics that resonate with them and contribute to the growing body of knowledge in marriage and family therapy.
A doctorate can also to lead to teaching positions in universities, helping to educate and inspire future therapists.
Earning a DMFT also allows graduates to profoundly impact the lives of individuals, couples, and families. It equips graduates with advanced skills to help clients navigate challenges, resolve conflicts, and build healthier relationships. The positive changes benefit clients and ripple through to families and communities.
Obtaining a doctorate also bestows a high level of professional recognition and credibility. It demonstrates a commitment to excellence and advancing the family therapy field. This expertise can lead to opportunities for collaboration with other professionals, referrals from colleagues, and invitations to speak at conferences or contribute to publications.
The Touro University Worldwide Doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy
Touro University Worldwide offers an online Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) and a Doctorate of Marriage and Family Therapy. Both programs help graduates work at the highest levels in the profession.
The TUW graduate MFT program meets the requirements for state licensure in 42 states, including California. Students can concentrate on one of three tracks: clinical, non-clinical, and licensed professional clinical counseling. The TUW program has earned COAMFTE accreditation, meaning TUW’s program meets or exceeds established marriage and family therapy program standards and criteria. It also indicates that TUW faculty actively contribute to the body of knowledge in the profession.
The DMFT program is designed for licensed mental health clinicians with an MFT or related degree. The DMFT program empowers clinical professionals to innovate in education, administration, supervision, leadership, and research in marriage and family therapy. Graduates from the 60-credit hour DMFT program develop expertise in trauma and crisis intervention, advanced family therapy, grant writing, program development for families and communities, supervision, evaluation, and quantitative and qualitative research.
