Programs
Marriage and Family Therapy
Our program emphasizes strength-based and culturally attuned approaches to individual, couple, and family therapy, based on a biopsychosocial approach across the lifespan. A rich, multidisciplinary context prepares well-trained relational systemic (MFT) clinicians who can work in a variety of traditional mental health care settings, private practice, schools, and integrated health care settings.
Students receive training in the major approaches to individual, couple, and family therapy conceptual and clinical models. They learn theories of individual and family development across the life cycle, basic family research, evidence-informed treatments, and professional ethics as a relational systemic clinician with a focus on self-of-the-therapist and lifelong learning.
The program is housed in the Department of Psychiatry in the University of Rochester Medical Center, so our students are embedded in a clinical practice site/hospital rather than a college campus setting. This setting provides the unique opportunity to learn about mental health and families in a collaborative, interdisciplinary context to meet the needs of our Rochester community. All students complete clinical training at Strong Family Therapy Services, our on-site clinic, regulated by the New York State Office of Mental Health. Several Rochester community clinics provide complementary experiences. Practicum students receive weekly individual and group supervision at each site from AAMFT-approved supervisors or supervisors who are equivalently trained to provide relational systemic supervision.
Graduates of the Family Therapy Training Program leave with a depth of MFT knowledge and skill to competently practice as relational systemic professionals serving diverse communities with cultural attunement, self-reflection, and a commitment to lifelong learning.
Information about faculty and research can be found on the Marriage and Family Therapy website.
AdmissionsLink to section
Applying to Advanced CertificatesLink to section
Applicants must have an approved master’s or doctoral degree in an allied profession, with previous clinical experience, before entering the program. Applicants are required to submit the following materials for consideration in their online application:
- Statement of purpose
- Transcripts from all previous college and university studies
- Two letters of recommendation
The strongest applications indicate alignment with the goals of our advanced certificate program. We seek applicants with an informed understanding of marriage and family therapy; its focus on relational, systemic approaches to treatment; and our commitment to skills-focused, competency-based training. We meet with each applicant to carefully review their transcripts to identify the specific coursework and clinical experience that they would need to complete the certificate and meet requirements to be eligible for licensure as a MFT in New York State. A minimum of two Family Therapy Training Program faculty will interview selected applicants before recommending for admissions review.
Applying to Master's ProgramsLink to section
Applicants must submit the following materials for consideration in their online application:
- Statement of purpose
- Transcripts from all previous college and university studies
- Three letters of recommendation
- Demonstrated English proficiency (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS, or DuoLingo test scores) for applicants whose native language is not English, unless approved for a waiver
- CV/resume (optional)
- Writing samples (optional)
The strongest applications indicate alignment with our program emphases on preparing relational systemic (MFT) therapists to serve diverse communities within a framework of biopsychosocial whole health, cultural attunement, self-reflection, and a commitment to lifelong learning.
Three MS MFT program faculty will interview selected applicants prior to recommending for admissions review.
AcademicsLink to section
Advanced Certificates and RequirementsLink to section
The advanced certificate in marriage and family therapy provides training for professionals who already have an advanced clinical degree (MS/MA, MD, or PhD), and are interested in specialty training in family therapy theory and clinical practice. Students receive education in the major family therapy theories; systemic and relational approaches to clinical practice; and ethics and professional practice in the context of relational practice. Post-degree courses are offered in conjunction with courses in the master’s program. In addition to coursework, trainees are required to complete a minimum of 300 supervised clinical hours practicing marriage and family therapy, 200 of which must be relational hours (that is, couple or family cases). The advanced certificate requires satisfactory completion of 30 credits and the clinical practicum.
Required to begin clinical practicum:
- PSI 421: Fundamentals of Family Therapy Practice or PSI 539: Family Therapy Theory and Technique
- PSI 494: Couples Therapy, Families, and Illness or PSI 566: Couples Therapy
- PSI 543: Psychopathology and Systems
- PSI 548: Family Therapy Ethics and Professional Practice
Electives:
- PSI 425: Special Topics in Integrated Care Practices
- PSI 426: Integrated Mind-Body Practices
- PSI 433:The Practice of Medical Family Therapy
- PSI 498: Medical Family Therapy Intensive
- PSI 542: Clinical Assessment in Family Therapy
- PSI 545: Human Development Across the Life Cycle
- PSI 548: Family Therapy Ethics and Professional Practice
- PSI 560: Narrative and Integrative Approaches to Family Therapy
- PSI 562: Family Therapy Practice
- PSI 564: Family Law, Policy, and Social Systems
- PSI 570: Intersection of Race, Gender, Sexuality and Other Cultural Identities in Clinical Practice
- PSI 572; Family Therapy Research
- PSI 574: Child-Focused Family Therapy
Master's Degrees and RequirementsLink to section
The MS program is a 60-credit-hour curriculum. It has accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) and is also an approved New York State-registered program leading to licensure in marriage and family therapy. The curriculum is designed to train family therapists to work in the changing health and mental health environment.
Students must take all the core courses, including a master’s project. Successful completion of core didactic coursework is required before students begin clinical practicum. Students have direct client contact during the clinical practicum, which continues until the completion of a minimum of 500 hours of supervised clinical practice with individuals, couples, and families, with demonstrated competencies. The MS MFT program goals include: demonstrate knowledge of the MFT profession; demonstrate ability to provide culturally attuned, evidence-informed, ethical care to a broad diversity of patients and families as a self-reflective relational systemic clinician; and demonstrate lifelong learning practices.
Graduate Course TitlesLink to section
- PSI 539: Family Therapy Theory and Technique
- PSI 541: Foundations of Clinical Practice in Family Therapy
- PSI 543: Psychopathology and Systems
- PSI 545: Human Development Across the Life Cycle
- PSI 566: Couples Therapy
- PSI 542: Clinical Assessment in Family Therapy
- PSI 548: Family Therapy Ethics and Professional Practice
- PSI 570: Intersection of Race, Gender, Sexuality, and Other Cultural Identities in Clinical Practice
- PSI 572: Family Therapy Research
- PSI 574: Child-Focused Family Therapy
- PSI 492: Medical Family Therapy Intensive
- PSI 560: Narrative and Integrative Approaches to Family Therapy
- PSI 562: Family Therapy Practice
- PSI 564: Family Law, Policy, and Social Systems
- PSI 584: Master’s Project
- PSI 587 /588: Clinical Practicum
- PSI 421: Fundamentals of Family Therapy Practice
- PSI 494: Couples Therapy, Families, and Illness
- PSI 426: Integrated Mind-Body Practices
- PSI 433: The Practice of Medical Family Therapy
- PSI 425: Special Topics in Integrated Care Practices