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The Coursework
The
45-47 hours of coursework includes the systems approach to therapy,
reviews of the major models of Couple & Family Therapy,
psychosocial pathology, professional issues and ethics, human and child
development, human sexuality, and research methodology. You learn three
models of therapy in depth and then develop your own integrated
approach to therapy. A thesis is optional. |
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- 500
Human Development (4) - Individual personality development, normal and
abnormal manifestations, over the life span.
- 503
Systems Approach to Marriage and Family Therapy (4) - An introduction
to the systems paradigm and post-modern ideas for treatment strategy
and intervention.
- 504
Family Development (4) - Exploration of how family life cycle stages
are affected by divorce, remarriage, ethnicity, feminist issues, and
other unplanned events.
- 505
Research Methods in Marriage and Family Therapy (4) - Basic research
concepts including formulating research questions, research design,
analysis of data, and theory construction. Emphasis on understanding
and evaluating rather than conducting research.
- 507
Comparative Marriage and Family Therapy (4) - Intensive comparative
study of the theoretical rationale of the prominent schools of thought
within the field of marriage and family therapy. Prerequisite: 503.
- 510
Human Sexuality and Sex Therapy (2) - An overview of the nature of sexual
health and the treatment of common sexual dysfunctions. Prerequisite
or co-requisite: 503.
"The teachers do a good job of presenting
two sides to every thought, so that we are always comfortable to express
our own opinions." -Tawny Sanabria, alumna
- 511
Psychosocial Pathology: Relationship to Marriage and the Family (4)
- 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: 503.
- 512
Professional Studies in Marriage and Family Therapy (3) - Study of professional
ethics and Washington State laws which affect clinical practice, including
family law, legal responsibilities, and interprofessional cooperation.
"It
was nice to have classes only two times a week during the first year so
that we were still able to work and didn't have to make any major
adjustments."
-David Helton, alumnus - 519
Practicum I (2) Prerequisite: 507 and 512; may be taken concurrently
when schedule allows. 512 may also be taken concurrently with 521, Practicum
II, with faculty approval. 521 Practicum II (2), 523 Practicum III (2),
and 525 Practicum IV (2)
"I
feel its been really helpful in preparing us because we are working (in
practicum) in a community clinic setting versus working with just
students. We really get a good experience in the real
world."
-Hollie Bearden, alumna
- The
four semesters of practica are part of a continuous process toward developing
specific therapeutic competencies in work with marriages 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
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.
- 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.
"I
like the idea of being able to choose from a number of (Family Therapy)
theories as opposed to only one, and then also being able to know how
to apply
it." -Alyssa Hagmann, alumna
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520
Theory I (2), 522 Theory II (2), 524 Theory III (2) - The three semesters
of theory taken in conjunction with 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.
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526
Development of a Personal Integrated Theory (2) - The fourth semester
of theory taken in conjunction with 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.
- 590
Graduate Seminar (1-4) - Selected topics as announced. Prerequisite:
consent of the instructor.
- 598
Research Project (4)
- 599
Thesis (4)
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A Cooperative Cohort of Colleagues
With small class sizes of
approximately 20 students, our students get to know each other very
well right off the bat. While there is room for flexbility in
terms of practica and summer course start dates, students find that the
relationships they develop by working so closely together benefits both
their professional and personal lives.
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