Marriage and family therapy is a wonderful occupation that enables you to help couples and families in need navigate life’s difficulties. It can be highly rewarding, too. On the one hand, it’s a job with very high potential for job satisfaction. On the other hand, it’s a career that’s growing–the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates a 16 percent increase in the need for therapists in this field through the early 2030s.
You can capitalize on these and other benefits of being a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) by completing your training at one of Kentucky’s popular colleges or universities. There are many choices throughout the state, but for the purposes of helping you narrow your search, here are some of the popular options to consider for completing a graduate degree in this field.
Marriage and Family Therapy Programs in Kentucky
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering marriage and family therapy programs in Kentucky:
- Western Kentucky University
- University of Kentucky
- University of Louisville
- Campbellsville University
- Northwestern University
- National University
- Walden University
Western Kentucky University
Master of Arts in Education – Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling
The Master of Arts in Education at Western Kentucky University offers an emphasis in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling that prepares you for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPCA) in Kentucky. The LPCA is the initial licensure level out of college. You can then work toward becoming a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) and/or a National Certified Counselor (NCC).
You can enroll in this program in a two, three, or four-year format. Whatever format you choose, you must complete 60 credits of coursework and clinical training. The coursework begins with broad-based classes in Social and Cultural Diversity, Professional Studies, and Family Systems Counseling. You’ll also take a Techniques of Counseling course early on, which familiarizes you with popular counseling approaches you can use when working with individuals, couples, and families.
For example, you might learn the rational-emotive therapy approach, which seeks to identify and alter irrational beliefs. By changing these irrational thoughts, one can reduce negative emotions. What’s more, the point of this type of therapy is to replace negative thoughts with rational ones, which can have a significant, positive impact on a person’s mental well-being. In the context of couples therapy, for example, you might use this type of technique to help one partner challenge and change their beliefs about their relationship.
Other important baseline coursework you’ll complete in this program includes the following:
- Group Counseling
- Theories of Counseling
- Diagnosis and Treatment
- Couples Counseling or Practice and Process
- Developmental Career Counseling
This program further requires you to complete Crisis Counseling coursework. Understanding how to work with individuals, couples, and families in crisis is critical to your work in this field. Whether the crisis is the sudden death of a loved one, a natural disaster, a manmade disaster, or something in between, your skills in attending to crisis and trauma will prove beneficial for your future clients.
Likewise, there is a scientific component to this program. For example, you are required to take Testing and Assessment, which explores psychological tests and procedures that will help you in the diagnosis and treatment phases of the therapeutic process. You’ll learn how to make behavioral observations, collect data, analyze data, and make appropriate decisions based on said data.
Naturally, you’ll also have opportunities to put your learning into practice. The first such instance of this is the practicum experience. Depending on which program format you choose, you might complete the practicum during the first, second, or third summer. During the practicum, you’ll work closely with an off-site supervisor to learn the ins and outs of being a marriage and family therapist. You’ll observe their work with clients as well as shadow them during non-clinical periods of the day, such as completing necessary paperwork or participating in staff meetings.
Then, during the final year of the program, you’ll complete an intensive two-semester internship during which you take on a much larger role as a marriage and family therapist. You’ll work directly with clients in clinical settings, be responsible for treatment planning, and conduct intake assessments, too. While you’ll still be closely supervised, you’ll have much more freedom to work on your own and develop your professional identity.
This program also offers opportunities to specialize by completing a sequence of elective courses. You can choose from three options:
- Addictions Education Certificate
- College and Career Readiness Certificate
- Play/Expressive Arts Therapy
To apply, complete the following requirements:
- Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
- Have an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
- Submit a statement of interest.
- Submit a resume that includes three professional references.
- Complete a background check.
University of Kentucky
Master of Science in Family Sciences
The University of Kentucky’s Master of Science in Family Sciences offers a Couple and Family Therapy Emphasis option that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE). As such, the program requires at least 58 credits of coursework and field-based training. Most students complete these requirements in two academic years.
The curriculum is divided into several categories:
- Family Sciences courses
- Couple and Family Therapy courses
- Practicum
- Thesis Work
The required Family Sciences coursework provides a solid foundation for the study of couples and families. For example, you’ll take Theories and Frameworks in Family Science, which examines historical and current theories of family development and functioning. Likewise, you’ll take Adolescent Development, which offers insights into how children learn, grow, and change during the adolescent years.
Of course, these topics aren’t explored in a vacuum. For example, the Adolescent Development class takes place in the context of systems studies. So, not only will you gain a better understanding of the adolescent experience, but you’ll also learn how the process of adolescence might impact family dynamics and relationships.
Additionally, you’ll take a Family Processes class that sheds light on how family systems behave. You might examine how a couple’s communication patterns affect how their children communicate with loved ones. You might also explore how religious beliefs and cultural identity in a family unit impact how the family views gender roles.
The Couple and Family Therapy portion of the curriculum includes 15 credits of coursework. These classes include the following:
- Theory and Methods in Couple and Family Therapy
- Treatment Modalities
- Using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual in Couple and Family Therapy Assessment
- Play Therapy or Couple and Sex Therapy
- Professional Issues in Couple and Family Therapy
Furthermore, you’re required to complete a practicum during which you amass 300-500 hours of client contact time. You’ll complete these hours at an approved site where you’ll work with an experienced marriage and family therapist who serves as your supervisor. You’ll also participate in supervisory activities with your professors and have weekly supervision in individual and small group settings.
This program also requires a research component. Many students choose to fulfill this requirement with a thesis. However, you may choose to complete a scholarly project in lieu of a thesis if you wish. In either case, you are required to conduct thorough research and complete a detailed report that you must defend to a committee of faculty members.
To apply, simply complete the application for admission and submit it along with the required documentation by January 15th for entrance to the program in the fall of the same year. The admission requirements are as follows:
- Have a bachelor’s degree in a social science field, such as psychology, human development, sociology, family science, etc.). You may apply with an undergraduate degree in an unrelated field, but if accepted, you may have to complete prerequisite coursework.
- Have a satisfactory undergraduate GPA. Applicants in recent years have had at least a 3.4 cumulative GPA for their bachelor’s-level work.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
- Submit a personal statement in which you describe your personal and professional goals.
- Submit three letters of recommendation from references who can discuss your academic potential.
- Submit GRE scores.
Once these and other required application materials are received, the department will invite select applicants to participate in an interview in February or March of the admittance year. These selections are based on a number of factors, including the undergraduate GPA, quality of references, personal statement, and GRE scores. The admissions committee also considers your previous experience in research, professional activities, or volunteer activities related to couple and family therapy.
University of Louisville
Master of Science in Couple and Family Therapy
The Master of Science in Couple and Family Therapy at the University of Louisville is another popular option for completing your training as a future therapist. The program is completed through the Kent School of Social Work and Family Science and focuses on training you to be culturally responsive and highly ethical. Furthermore, you’ll get training both on and off-campus working with families in the university’s Relationship Therapy Clinic and community-based settings.
Your study of the techniques and theories of marriage and family therapy is enhanced by the program’s faculty, which includes scholars in this field and experienced clinicians, too. You’ll benefit from their knowledge and experience while also acquiring an understanding of the latest research and best practices via your coursework.
This program is COAMFTE-accredited and meets the requirements for licensure in Kentucky as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Moreover, as a result of your training, you’ll be eligible for clinical membership in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), the premier professional organization for therapists in this field.
An interesting feature of this program is that it is one of just two COAMFTE-accredited programs that offer training in social work alongside couple and family therapy. In fact, Louisville’s program was the first such instance of this unique blend of approaches.
You can complete this degree in as little as two years. Doing so requires you to complete courses that familiarize you with the practices and procedures of providing clinical treatment to couples and families. For example, you’ll take Foundations of Theory and Practice to learn about essential couples and family therapy theories. Furthermore, this class is a nice introduction to working with couples and families in distress.
As another example, you’ll take a course in Assessment and Treatment. As you can imagine, this class helps you become adept at conducting various psychological assessments as a means of understanding your client’s experience. You’ll learn how to use assessment procedures as part of your treatment plan, including diagnostic steps and developing a strategy for addressing the client’s presenting problems.
Other foundational coursework you’ll complete early on in the program includes the following:
- Human Sexuality
- Human and Family Development Across the Lifespan
- Research Methodology and Design
- Psychopathology
- Social Justice Practice
The first portion of the program also includes practicum and supervisory experiences. During the practicum, you’ll get your feet wet working with individuals, couples, and families in a clinical setting. This might include co-counseling with your supervisor so you can experience what it’s like to work directly with clients, but without the burden of being wholly responsible for counseling activities.
The supervisory experiences go hand-in-hand with the practicum. Supervision is a time to reflect on your abilities, consider your strengths and weaknesses, and get feedback from your supervisor. Additionally, you can make plans with your supervisor for skills to work on in future practicum experiences.
The advanced portion of the program includes another slate of courses that enhance your abilities even further. For example, you’ll take Couples Therapy, which focuses on the processes of working with couples experiencing difficulties in their relationship. You might learn strategies to help couples work through communication issues, sexual issues, or financial issues. Likewise, you’ll acquire skills that are helpful for addressing stressors in the relationship due to mental or behavioral health issues.
Other advanced coursework you’ll take includes the following:
- Contemporary Issues in Family Therapy
- Integrating Family Therapy
- Advanced Couple and Family Therapy Practicum
- Family Therapy Supervision
- Professional Issues and Ethics
In all, you’ll complete five semesters of practicum experience. You’re required to complete 18 hours of practicum work each week during the first year. The following summer, you’re required to work 10-16 hours per week. These hours increase to 18 per week in the fall and spring of the advanced year. You must accumulate at least 500 hours of direct client contact hours during these five semesters of practicum.
You can apply to this program online. The deadline to do so is January 31st of the calendar year in which you wish to start the program. Here are the requirements for admission:
- Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
- Provide two letters of recommendation.
- Submit a Couple and Family Therapy Personal Statement in which you discuss your professional preparation and career goals and discuss how this program fits in with those goals.
- Submit a Family of Origin paper in which you expound upon important family experiences and how they’ve affected your development.
Campbellsville University
Online Master of Marriage and Family Therapy
Campbellsville’s Master of Marriage and Family Therapy is a flexible online option if an on-campus program doesn’t fit into your busy schedule. As a COAMFTE-accredited program, this degree prepares you for clinical work as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. At 60 credits, you’ll need about three years of part-time studies to finish the program requirements.
Each class in this program’s curriculum is eight weeks long–far shorter than a traditional 14 to 16-week class. While the pace of learning is accelerated, you take fewer classes at a time. This allows you to concentrate on your studies more thoroughly without being overwhelmed by taking multiple classes simultaneously.
As with the other programs discussed above, this one begins with some foundational coursework that introduces you to advanced studies in couples and family therapy. For example, you’ll take Introduction to Marriage and Family Studies, which gives you a broad overview of this field, including theories of marriage and family studies, techniques for working with couples and families in distress, and basic research approaches for this field, too.
Additionally, you’ll take a Human Development class, which examines the social, emotional, and physical changes that people experience at various stages in their lifespan. There is a particular focus on the early years–childhood and adolescence–given their formative nature and influence on how someone interacts with the world as an adult.
You’ll also complete a course in Marriage and Family Therapy Skills, which is a valuable aspect of your clinical training. This class gives you insights into various tools and techniques you can employ when working with families of all types and who are experiencing a variety of issues. This might include the following:
- Domestic violence
- Trauma or crises
- Drug or alcohol abuse
- Financial distress
- Strained relationships between kids and parents
Of course, you’ll take some specific classes to address these issues, too. For example, the Crisis Intervention and Trauma Counseling class helps you build specific competencies for helping individuals, couples, and families work through traumatic events, like the death of a family member. Likewise, the Marital and Sex Counseling course informs you of the best practices needed to work with couples who are experiencing issues like sexual incompatibility or infidelity.
Other specific courses focus on children in the family. A good example of this is the class entitled The Child and Adolescent in Marriage and Family Therapy. This course examines many different topics ranging from the socioemotional growth of children to common issues of adolescence (e.g., sexual maturation) to building stronger bonds between kids and their parents.
Further coursework is required in the following areas:
- Marriage and Family Theories and Practice
- Research Methods
- Group Counseling
- Psychopathology
- Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Marriage and Family Counseling
An intensive practicum experience is also required to complete this program. During the practicum, you’ll work at an approved clinical location to acquire at least 300 hours of direct client contact time. This experience is supervised; you’ll meet on a weekly basis with your professors to discuss your progress. You’ll also meet regularly with your onsite supervisor to ensure you’re on track from a developmental standpoint.
Ensure you meet the following criteria prior to applying:
- Have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
- Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Provide three letters of recommendation.
- Submit a 500-700 word personal statement.
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