Marriage and Family Counseling/Therapy

Provides an orientation to the counseling profession. Characteristics of effective counselors, nature of the therapeutic relationship, and the process of counseling will be addressed. Students will learn and demonstrate the essential skills involved in building an effective helping relationship. Students will be introduced to practicum/internship guidelines and expectations, interview and resume writing skills, client record keeping, and other aspects of the practicum/internship experience.

Looks at the survey of research throughout the entire lifespan including findings in the areas of physical, emotional, cognitive, and interpersonal growth and development.

Examines group techniques and application to counseling settings. Various ethnic and socioeconomic groups will be emphasized.

This course is designed to provide an understanding of patterns of abnormal behavior including anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and personality disorders. This course covers the domains of psychopathology as it is represented in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

An overview of counseling strategies useful with varied populations. Counseling skills helpful with clients of different racial, economic, religious, and sexual orientations will also be examined.

Emphasizes the development, understanding, and application of ethical standards in the theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy. The Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the American Counseling Association (ACA) and the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) will be studied along with other professional standards of practice and credentialing. There will also be a focus on state rules and regulations and licensure requirements for LPC-MHSPs and LMFTs.

Designed to give an introduction to research strategies with an emphasis on counseling and psychological problems. Emphasis will be on the development of a proposal for a major research project or thesis.

An overview of test construction, selection, and application will be the focus of this course. Legal and ethical administration of tests for ability, intelligence, attitudes, values and personality will also be examined. Experience in taking and administering sample instruments will be provided.

An examination of the current trends in career development and life choices. The students will develop a knowledge base concerning career theories, techniques, and assessments for exploring the interests, aptitudes, and values of clients in order to assist them in making reasoned career and lifestyle decisions. The course will also focus on the student's personal career choice in the mental health field, career options, professional opportunities and identity development including a culminating paper on the student's preferred model of therapy. Characteristics that lead to success in the field, the developmental journey of a counselor, and self care are topics covered in this course.

Students will be presented with a variety of systems therapy models specifically applied to the marital relationship. Students will demonstrate the ability to conceptualize issues, develop treatment plans, and intervene in couple relationships based on both an understanding of diverse theoretical orientations and equally diverse couple problem presentations. This conceptualization will flow from an understanding of theories including but not limited to structural, trans-generational, attachment, and affect regulation models. Cohesive therapy experiences will be shared, evaluated, demonstrated, and practiced both in the classroom and in a practicum setting. Students will be expected to initiate a practicum experience that will continue into the next course, MFC 5710 Marital Therapy II. All totaled the practicum for the two-course marital therapy sequence will be 100 hours with 45 of the 100 hours being in direct client contact (group therapy, co-therapy, client intakes, marital couple therapy, etc.).

A continuation of MFC 5700 Marital Therapy I. Students will be presented with additional systems therapy models specifically applied to the marital relationship. The ability to conceptualize issues, develop treatment plans, and intervene in couple relationships based on both an understanding of diverse theoretical orientations and equally diverse couple problem presentations will continue to be the focus. This conceptualization will flow from an understanding of theories including but not limited to structural, trans-generational, attachment, and affect regulation models. Skill demonstration, in both classroom and practicum activities, will continue culminating with each student demonstrating competency in a chosen therapy model consistent with the goals and purposes of this program. By the end of this course the students will have completed a 100 hour practicum (in association with the previous course, MFC 5700 Marital Therapy I) of which 45 of the 100 hours will have been in direct client contact (group therapy, co-therapy, client intakes, marital couple therapy, etc.).

With the marital life-cycle as a structure, this course will examine the marital relationship as an interactive and changing system. Particular attention will be given to the predictable challenges presented to couples in the form of demands for adaptation, the identified characteristics of marital health, and various changes experienced in both the institution of marriage and spousal roles during the past few decades.

Introduces the theory and basic underlying assumptions of a systems framework to marriage and family therapy. The emphasis is on identifying the characteristics of healthy family functioning and conceptualizing human problems as they are related to the functioning of systems.

A study of the contemporary family through the avenue of the divorce experience. The primary concern will be an understanding of the cultural influences that fostered a rise in the divorce rate, the changes that this phenomenon has precipitated in American society, the impact of divorce upon the entire family unit, and the adjustments required for healthy family functioning.

Designed to give attention to the special problems presented by (1) crisis situations and (2) sexuality. Regarding crisis presentations, common marital presentations will be studied (abusive relationships, marital separation, infidelity, etc.) with attention given to both recognition and appropriate intervention strategies. Regarding sexuality, healthy and problematic areas of sexual functioning will be studied with special attention given to assessment and diagnostic skills for identifying sexual dysfunction and correspondingly appropriate treatment regimens.

Designed to review theories and research in child development by identifying normal and anticipated behavior from birth through adolescence within the family context. The ability to recognize what constitutes deviations from the anticipated behavior will also be identified with practical suggestions for intervention.

Introduces the understanding and practicing of family therapy. Focus will be on developing both diagnostic and intervention skills in regards to treating problems within the context of the family. Special attention will be given to differentiating between various approaches within the purview of family systems theory.

Provides supervised experience in the practice of marriage and family therapy in an appropriate clinical setting (usually a mental health center or community agency). Activities will include face-to-face contact with individuals, couples, and families for the purpose of assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. Students will spend a minimum of 200 hours on site under appropriate supervision of which 85 of the 200 hours must be in direct client contact (internship fee). Under certain circumstances internship may be extended.*

To be taken in consecutive sequence with MFC 5457 "Internship in Marriage and Family Therapy I" and preferably at the same site, the course provides a continued supervised experience in the practice of marriage and family therapy in an appropriate clinical setting (usually a mental health center or community agency). Activities will include face-to-face contact with individuals, couples, and families for the purpose of assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. Student will spend a minimum of 200 hours on site under appropriate supervision of which 85 of the 200 hours must be in direct client contact (internship fee). Under certain circumstances internship may be extended.*

Provides a supervised experience in the practice of marriage and family therapy in an appropriate clinical setting (usually a mental health center or community agency). Activities will include face-to-face contact with individuals, couples, and families for the purpose of assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. Students will spend a minimum of 200 hours on site under appropriate supervision of which 85 of the 200 hours must be in direct client contact (internship fee). Under certain circumstances internship may be extended.*