Learning how to work effectively with couples and families experiencing difficulties requires a lot of coursework, practical experience, and time. Fortunately, marriage and family therapy is a popular field of study, so you have a host of degree options to choose from to get the necessary training to work in this field.
The question is, which programs are best suited for your needs?
This guide attempts to answer that question by outlining some of the popular marriage and family degrees available to you as a Massachusetts resident. Two of the programs are based in Massachusetts. Two others are online options to think about if you need a more flexible option. In either case, you can learn more about these programs below!
Marriage and Family Therapy Programs in Massachusetts
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering marriage and family therapy programs in Massachusetts:
- William James College
- University of Massachusetts Global
- Eastern University
- Capella University
- Grand Canyon University
- Northwestern University
- National University
- Walden University
William James College
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
The Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from William James College offers a Couples and Family Therapy emphasis that you can pursue on a part-time or full-time basis. The part-time option requires three years to complete; the full-time option is just two years long. Either way, you’ll get a well-rounded, research-based education in providing clinical services to clients with an array of family-related issues.
The 63-credit curriculum naturally focuses on theories and techniques of couples and family therapy. However, the program is more holistic than that. You’ll also get detailed training in clinical mental health counseling, which means you can pursue licensure as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Moreover, the curriculum focuses heavily on diversity–you’ll learn how to work with clients of all backgrounds, races, ethnicities, genders, and so forth.
Your training begins with a class entitled “Orientation to the Profession and Its Practice.” This foundational course extends over a three-day period during which you learn about this profession and the central tenets of its practice. Items of discussion might include professional ethics, counseling techniques, duties of a counselor, and the like.
From there, you’ll take Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy, which offers a close look at historical and modern theories of addressing mental health issues. You’ll get training in psychotherapeutic techniques, learn how to work with clients with diverse needs and begin to clarify your personal counseling style, too.
Another key required course is Introduction to Family Therapy. This course builds on the skills you develop in the Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy class by expanding on the practice of working with families. For example, you’ll learn how to apply counseling techniques (e.g., systemic therapy, narrative therapy) in couple and family therapy situations by examining case studies and participating in role-playing situations. Furthermore, you’ll gain insights into the intricacies of working with more than one client at a time, such as methods you can use to ensure each member of a family is heard and understood during a family therapy session.
You’ll take plenty of other classes that inform your development as a counselor:
- Professional Issues and Ethics
- Diversity, Difference, and Inclusion
- Psychopathology
- Psychological Assessment for Counselors
- Substance Abuse Evaluation and Treatment
Your first year in the program also includes two practicum experiences. These placements allow you to observe experienced counselors conduct their day-to-day duties. You’ll get to see how family counseling plays out in real life, learn how to manage the necessary paperwork involved in providing counseling services and explore the non-counseling aspects of the job, too, such as maintaining appropriate records and providing needed documentation for insurance reimbursement.
The program continues with additional coursework that helps you become a more well-rounded counselor. For example, you’ll take Lifespan Development, which is critical for understanding the major milestones clients face throughout their lives. Additionally, you’ll take Group Counseling and Therapy With Couples, both of which foster your skills development as a counselor working with multiple clients simultaneously.
Of course, one of the most important aspects of this program is the internship. You’ll complete two internship phases. Combined, these experiences require at least 600 hours of counseling practice. The internship takes your training a step further than the 360-hour practicum noted earlier. Rather than mostly observing as you did during the practicum, you’ll be an active participant in providing direct services to clients during the internship. This training is critical for your development as a counselor before you graduate and begin practicing on your own.
You must satisfy the following requirements to be considered 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 three letters of recommendation.
- Provide a curriculum vitae.
- Submit an application essay.
University of Massachusetts Global
Online Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy
The Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from UMass Global prepares you for work in this field in much the same way as the on-campus program outlined above. The difference, though, is that this program is online. As such, there is greater flexibility for completing the requirements for the degree, making it a solid option if you have work or other obligations that prevent you from participating in an on-campus program.
This program follows the scholar-practitioner model of training. On the one hand, you’ll learn about counseling theories and techniques that build your base of knowledge and skills. On the other hand, you’ll learn how to apply that knowledge and skill through extensive field-based training. As a result of your studies, you’ll:
- Learn how to address a wide range of challenges your clients face using tried-and-true counseling techniques.
- Become adept at employing clinical interventions.
- Understand how to practice ethically.
- Demonstrate a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Learn how to conduct relevant research to better yourself as a practitioner.
This 60-credit program takes two years of full-time study to complete. However, you have up to seven years to complete the requirements to graduate, giving you ample flexibility to finish your studies on your terms. Whatever your timeline, your studies begin with a sequence of foundational courses meant to provide you with a basic understanding of what it means to be a counselor.
For example, you’ll take a History and Foundations of Therapeutic Practices class that provides context to how marriage and family therapy has evolved over the years. You’ll discover seminal counseling theories, learn about common counseling practices, and examine where this field is headed in the future as well.
You are also required to take Ethical and Professional Issues. This course isn’t just about learning what you can and cannot do as a counselor. Instead, you’ll discuss a myriad of issues related to this profession, from topics like your duty to report clients who are a danger to themselves and others, the basic requirements for continuing education, and the system by which you become licensed to practice.
Other topics examined in the foundational course stage include the following:
- Psychopathology and Diagnosis
- Family Therapy Theories and Techniques: A Modern Emphasis
- Couples Therapy
- Assessment and Treatment of Substance Abuse
- Child and Adolescent Psychopathology
The final foundational course is Advanced Individual Therapy I. Though this is a marriage and family therapy program, understanding how to conduct one-on-one therapy sessions is essential. Often, you’ll work with couples and families as a unit, then have individual sessions with each member, thus the importance of this course.
The next portion of your training focuses on marriage and family therapy. Again, you’ll find some broad-based courses such as History and Foundations of Therapeutic Practices. But you’ll also complete much more specific coursework, such as Couples Therapy, Clinical Assessment, and Psychopharmacology.
Many of the courses in this phase of the program focus on theory and practice. For example, you’ll take Family Therapy Theories and Techniques, Advanced Individual Therapy, and Theory and Practice of Group Therapy. Furthermore, some classes focus on using specific approaches, like the course on Postmodern Family Therapy.
As with any licensure-track program, this one requires you to complete extensive field training. You must have at least 400 clinical hours of training over the 12-month practicum experience. Of those, 300 hours must be spent in direct contact with clients, and 100 hours must be spent in clinical supervision. Of the 300 hours of direct contact with clients, 100 hours must be with couples, families, or other relational dynamics.
You can apply to UMass Global at any time. The admissions requirements are as follows:
- Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
- Have a 2.75 cumulative undergraduate GPA or higher.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
- Submit an autobiographical essay.
- Submit a signed ethical and responsibility statement form and acknowledge that you’ve received a program handbook and the licensure limitation policy.
Eastern University
Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy
Eastern University’s online Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy is available to you as a student in Massachusetts. This program offers online coursework that you can complete anywhere you have an internet connection and field-based learning that can be completed at an approved site near where you live.
As is common for programs like this, you can choose between a three-year (or more) part-time option or a two-year full-time program. You must complete 60 credits to graduate, though in some cases, you might need to take additional credits, particularly if you intend to practice outside of Pennsylvania.
Your studies begin with a three-course sequence of Marriage and Family Theory classes. These courses highlight historical and modern approaches to working with couples and families. You’ll learn about postmodern approaches, Bowenian family therapy, and systems theory, to name just a few.
Building on the foundational theory knowledge you acquire in those courses, you’ll learn how to provide therapeutic treatments, assess individuals and families for mental illnesses, and explore human development issues, especially those relating to family dynamics across the lifespan. Furthermore, classes like Assessment and Diagnosis in Marriage and Family Therapy equip you with the necessary tools to evaluate your clients’ current mental health, diagnose them as needed, and construct a treatment plan to help them improve their functioning.
Many of the classes you’re required to take focus on highly specific issues you are likely to encounter in your work. For example, you’ll take a Human Sexuality class, which explores common sex-based issues that can lead to difficulty in a marriage or family relationship. For example, you’ll learn how infidelity can negatively impact a couple’s relationship as well as the system’s relationship with children and extended family members.
As another example, you’ll take Systemic Approaches in the Treatment of Children and Adolescents. This course discusses common issues that arise in young people in the context of the family relationship. For example, you might work with a family to help improve the communication, openness, and honesty between teens and their parents.
Other key courses you must complete include the following:
- Diversity, Equity, and Belonging in Marriage and Family Therapy
- Professional Ethics in Marriage and Family Therapy
- Trauma-Informed Care in Marriage and Family Therapy
- Treatment and Assessment of Couples in Therapy
- Research Methods in Marriage and Family Therapy
This program also requires you to complete two elective courses. You can choose from four options:
- Spirituality in Marriage and Family Therapy
- Systemic Assessment and Treatment of Addictions in Marriage and Family Therapy
- Building a Private Practice in Marriage and Family Therapy
- Systemic Treatment of Adoptive and Foster Families
The program’s final component is the field-based practicum. In this case, you’ll complete one pre-practicum experience to get familiar with the inner workings of counseling. Then, you’ll complete three 14-week practicums during which you provide direct services to clients under the supervision of an experienced marriage and family therapist. In addition to counseling individuals, couples, and families, you’ll also participate in weekly supervision activities with clinical faculty members.
You must meet these criteria to apply:
- Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Your degree can be in any field, but you must have at least six credits in psychology, human development, social work, or related courses.
- Have a 2.8 cumulative undergraduate GPA or higher.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
- Submit a resume or curriculum vitae.
- Provide two references.
- Complete an essay in which you explain your professional goals and discuss issues related to social justice and diversity in the field of counseling.
You may also be required to participate in a faculty interview, review an intended plan of study, and submit a writing sample in a timed essay response.
Capella University
Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy
Another online option worth your consideration is the Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from Capella University. Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), this program helps prepare you for an initial license as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT).
Though this is a clinically-focused program, there is also a research element. You’ll learn how to become a good consumer of academic research while also acquiring the skills necessary to carry out and report on original research. Furthermore, you’ll learn how to integrate current research into your practice, such that you provide cutting-edge services to your clients, whatever their unique needs might be.
The curriculum includes 16 courses, two residencies, a practicum, and an internship. All told you’ll complete 72 quarter credits. Each course is ten weeks long, and there are three-week breaks between each quarter.
Your studies begin with core courses that foster the development of key knowledge and skills in counseling. For example, you’ll take a Couple and Marital Therapy class that explores various systemic therapy methods and techniques. You’ll also discuss assessments, interventions, and treatment planning for individuals, couples, and families.
The course on Assessment, Tests, and Measures furthers your ability to work with clients with unique needs. In addition to getting detailed training in the assessment process, you’ll also learn how to use data from psychological tests to drive decisions about the interventions and approaches you use in therapy.
Other important coursework you’ll complete in this program includes the following:
- Psychopathology: Diagnosis and Treatment of Behavior Disorders
- Impact of Addiction and Addictive Behavior on Family Systems
- Working With Families Across the Lifespan
- Diversity and Social Justice in System Family Therapy
- Systemic Interventions for Grief, Loss, and Trauma
The two residencies include online classwork and an in-person clinical experience. The work you do online readies you to apply clinical skills with actual clients. For example, you’ll learn the ins and outs of building a therapeutic relationship, case conceptualization, and crisis intervention. You’ll also learn how to facilitate group processes, maintain a therapeutic systemic relationship, and integrate systems therapy into clinical practice.
The practicum and internship elements build on the residency experience. You’ll still have an online course in which you continue learning knowledge and skills useful for counselors. But you’ll have a more hands-on experience in the practicum and internship phase as you apply increasingly complex techniques in your interactions with clients.
In fact, during the internship, you’re required to complete all aspects of therapeutic care, from intake and assessment to treatment planning to conducting clinical counseling sessions with families, couples, and individuals. In addition to this supervised practice, you’ll also meet weekly with your onsite supervision and online with clinical faculty members and peers for group supervision.
Capella’s application for graduate admission is available online. The requirements for admission are as follows:
- Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
- Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.7 or higher.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
- Provide two letters of recommendation from professional references.
- Provide a current resume or curriculum vitae.
- Submit a 3-6 page essay.
- Submit a copy of a valid government photo I.D.
Grand Canyon University
Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Marriage and Family Therapy
The Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Marriage and Family Therapy from Grand Canyon University is structured uniquely in that it does not qualify you for licensure as a marriage and family therapist. However, because it is a clinical mental health counseling program, it aligns with the requirements for becoming a Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC) and a National Certified Counselor (NCC).
This program centers on addressing the challenges that bring couples and families to therapy, such as infidelity, juvenile delinquency, and trust or communication concerns. You’ll be prepared to assist couples and families with a broad range of both day-to-day and mental health issues using a family-centered approach.
In this program, you’ll learn to assess, diagnose, and treat couples and families through the systems approach, a method typical in marriage and family therapy programs. Your training begins with coursework in various areas including:
- Introduction to Graduate Studies in Counseling
- Counseling Skills
- Principles of Psychopharmacology
- Diversity in Family Systems
- Couples and Family Dynamics
This program also includes foundational courses to help you grasp key aspects of professional therapy, such as human development, professional ethics, and issues related to aging. A course in Clinical Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment will equip you to work with couples and families facing various challenges.
Many required courses in this program are available online, with additional evening classes offered on campus, allowing flexibility in completing your degree requirements.
As part of your training, you’ll complete fieldwork consisting of two practical experiences: a practicum and a two-semester internship. The practicum focuses on building advanced clinical skills needed for working with couples, families, and individuals and requires a minimum of 100 hours of counseling activities, with at least 40 of these as direct client contact hours.
The internship is a two-semester commitment requiring 300 hours of counseling activities, with 120 of these as direct client contact time. This phase further develops your clinical skills in preparation for your career, offering more opportunities to apply your skills compared to the practicum.
To apply, you must meet the following criteria:
- Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.8 or higher
- Submit official transcripts from each college or university attended
You may also need to provide letters of recommendation, a personal statement or essay, and/or a resume or curriculum vitae.
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