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The Marriage and Family Therapy program is a graduate program leading to the MA in Social Sciences. 45 semester hours are required in the program. For further information, see the Graduate Studies section of this catalog.
The Marriage and Family Therapy program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).
Faculty: Storm, Chair; York Clinic Director; and practica supervisors: Callison, Fitzpatrick, Lewis, Tschimperle, Vincent.
MFTH 500: Human Development
Individual personality development, normal and abnormal manifestations, over the life span. (4)
MFTH 503: Systems Approach to Marriage and Family Therapy
An introduction to the systems paradigm and post-modern ideas for treatment strategy and intervention. (4)
MFTH 504: Family Development
Exploration of how family life cycle stages are affected by divorce,
remarriage, ethnicity, feminist issues, and other unplanned events. (4)
MFTH 505: Research Methods in Marriage and Family Therapy
Basic research concepts including formulating research questions,
research design, analysis of data, and theory construction. Emphasis on
understanding and evaluating rather than conducting research. (4)
MFTH 507: Comparative Marriage and Family Therapy
Intensive comparative study of the theoretical rationale of the
prominent schools of thought within the field of marriage and family
therapy. Prerequisite: MFTH 503. (4)
MFTH 510: Human Sexuality and Sex Therapy
An overview of the nature of sexual health and the treatment of common
sexual dysfunctions. Prerequisite or co-requisite: MFTH 503. (2)
MFTH 511: Psychosocial Pathology: Relationship to Marriage and the Family
Exploration of the treatment techniques and assumptions of leading
family therapists regarding such psychosocial dysfunctions as divorce,
family violence, delinquency, psychosomatic symptoms, drug addiction,
and disturbed adolescents. Prerequisite: MFTH 503. (4)
MFTH 512: Professional Studies in Marriage and Family Therapy
Study of professional ethics and Washington State laws which affect
clinical practice, including family law, legal responsibilities, and
interprofessional cooperation. (3)
MFTH 519 Practicum I (2)
Prerequisite: MFTH 507 and 512; may be taken concurrently when schedule allows.
MFTH 521: Practicum II (2)
MFTH 523: Practicum III (2)
MFTH 525:Practicum IV (2)
The four semesters of practica are part of a continuous process toward developing specific therapeutic competencies in work with individuals, couples, and families. The practica present a competency-based program in which each student is evaluated regarding: 1) case management skills; 2) relationship skills; 3) perceptual skills; 4) conceptual skills; 5) structuring skills; and 6) professional development skills. Practica requirements include 100 hours of supervision of 500 client contact hours. Faculty are AAMFT-Approved supervisors and use live supervision and video tapes of student sessions as the primary methods of clinical supervision.
MFTH 527: Extended Practicum V
For students who wish to complete their required practica in five
rather than four semesters. This course is an extension of the
previously described practica courses. (2)
MFTH 520: Theory I (2)
MFTH 522: Theory II (2)
MFTH 524: Theory III (2)
The three semesters of theory taken in conjunction with MFTH 519, 521, and 523 constitute an in-depth study of one approach toward marriage and family therapy with an emphasis on applying theory in practice.
MFTH 526: Development of a Personal Integrated Theory
The fourth semester of theory taken in conjunction with MFTH 525 is an
in-depth study of the student's preferred ideas, style, methods, and
values. Students develop an integrated personal approach to marriage
and family therapy that synthesizes their learning in the program. (2)
MFTH 590: Graduate Seminar
Selected topics as announced. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. (1–4)
MFTH 591: Directed Studies (1–4)
MFTH 595: Graduate Readings
Independent study card required. (1–4)
MFTH 598: Research Project (1-4)
MFTH 599: Thesis (4)