An Educational Option

Graduate Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy

http://rmhc.cbcs.usf.edu/graduateCertificates/marriageFamily.cfm

Overview

The Department of Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling is pleased to offer a Graduate Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy. This multidisciplinary certificate began in the Spring of 2000.
US News & World Report ranked Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) as one of the 50 best careers of 2010. MFT is also becoming one of the fastest growing fields in the national health care system. MFT has evolved from an auxiliary profession into a field of its own. It blends the resources and contributions of both medical and non-medical fields into a uniquely integrated discipline. Relationship and family problems are the leading cause of referrals to mental health delivery systems. Currently, more than 1.8 million people are receiving treatment from a marriage and family therapist.
Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) are mental health professionals who are trained to diagnose and treat mental, emotional, and relationship disorders. MFTs specialize in treating mental disorders in the systemic context of marital and family relationships. They work with individuals, couples, and families in these systems to change behavioral patterns so that problems can be addressed and resolved.
The MFT Graduate Certificate enables professionals in mental health, rehabilitation counseling, counselor education, social work, psychology, and other human service fields to enhance their knowledge and skills in marriage and family therapy. Upon completion of the MFT Graduate Certificate Program, students will have a theoretical understanding of individual, marital, and family systems. Additionally, they will learn ways to strengthen relationships, prevent problems from arising within the family, and increase the quality of marriage, family life, and other relationships.
The certificate is a two Track 15 credit hour program with course content that focuses on systemic approaches to both the theory and practice of MFT and includes a supervised practicum course. Upon graduation from the Master's in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling and completion of the MFT Certificate, students would be eligible to become registered as both a Mental Health Counselor Intern and as a Marriage and Family Therapy Intern, and therefore, eligible for dual licensure.

Course List

The Graduate Certificate in MFT offers two 15 credit Tracks for graduation. Track I along with a Master's degree in a related field is designed to prepare students to meet the curriculum requirements and practicum experience for MFT Licensure by the Florida Department of Health Board. Track II is designed to prepare students to understand family dynamics and to learn how to work with couples and families in a clinical setting but does not meet the curriculum requirements and practicum experience for MFT Licensure.
CEU/licensure credit: Please visit www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/491/ soc_applicant.html for information on qualifications for licens­ing in Florida as a Marriage and Family Therapist

Required Courses: Track I (15 credits)

• RCS 6930 Dynamics of Marriage and Family Therapy (3)
• RCS 6930 Human sexuality (3)
• RCS 6930 Family Therapy Theories and Techniques (3)
• RCS 6930 Marriage Therapy, Theory and Techniques (3)
• RCS 6803 MFT Practicum II (Minimum of 80 hours of face to face time with clients with an additional 100 hours of face to face time if planning on obtaining an MFT license) (3)

Required Courses: Track II (15 credits)

• RCS 6930 Dynamics of Marriage and Family Therapy (3)
• RCS 6803 MFT Practicum II (Minimum of 80 hours of face to face time with clients with an additional 100 hours of face to face time if planning on obtaining an MFT license) (3)

Electives (complete 3 of the following courses)

• RCS 6930 Family Therapy Theories and Techniques (3)
• RCS 6930 Marriage Therapy, Theory and Techniques (3)
• RCS 6930 Medical Family Therapy (3)
• RCS 6930 Human sexuality (3)

Course Sequencing & Schedule

The Certificate has a specific sequence of courses to prepare students with the basic knowledge needed to excel in the more clinically advanced courses. Each course is offered on a rotating basis with at least two courses being offered every semester. The MFT practicum II course is offered every Fall and Spring semester. Students can complete the certificate within a year.

Course Sequencing for Track I & II

No pre-requisites required

• RCS 6930 Dynamics of Marriage and Family Therapy
• RCS 6930 Human Sexuality

One pre-requisite required
(Dynamics of Marriage and Family Therapy)

• RCS 6930 Family Therapy Theories and Techniques
• RCS 6930 Marriage Therapy, Theory and Techniques
• RCS 6930 Medical Family Therapy

Two pre-requisites required
(Dynamics of Marriage and Family Therapy; Family Therapy Theories and Techniques or Marriage Therapy, Theory and Techniques)

• RCS 6803 MFT Practicum II
  **In order to enroll in MFT Practicum II students must have completed all Practicum II course pre-requisites including a Practicum I.**

Click here for the Course Schedule

The Faculty

The faculty consists of University of South Florida professors with many years of both clinical and teaching experience. The MFT Graduate Certificate also uses experts from academic and research departments within the University and surrounding professional community.

Core Faculty

• Ryan G. Henry, Ph.D., LMFT
  Dr. Henry is a full-time faculty member in the Department of Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling and is the Director of the Marriage and Family Therapy Certificate Program. He has worked in both agency settings and private practice serving individuals, couples, and families. He is a Clinical Member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. His clinical specialties include working with couples dealing with pornography addiction and extra marital affairs.

Adjunct Faculty

• Richard Weinberg, Ph.D.
  Dr. Weinberg is an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling and a Clinical Associate Professor in the Florida Mental Health Institute. He is a licensed psychologist (Florida) and completed a supervised family therapy internship at Massachusetts General Hospital as well as training with the Gainesville Family Therapy Institute. He maintains a private practice specializing in work with individuals, couples and families.

Admission Requirements

To qualify for admission into the MFT Graduate Certificate Program students must have completed or be in the process of completing a master’s degree in the field of counseling or a related discipline leading to the coursework necessary to prepare them for a Marriage and Family Therapy Practicum. Students must apply before completing their first course in the certificate program.
To apply, a student must:

1. Complete the MFT Graduate Certificate Application (non-USF students must include a $30 application fee).
2. Complete a 250 word personal statement.
3. Resume
4. Two letters of recommendation
5. Transcripts from master's program
6. Complete a personal interview.

Contact

For more information on the Therapy Marriage and Family Certificate, please contact:
Ryan G. Henry, Ph.D., LMFT
MFT Certificate Director
Department of Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling
University of South Florida
13301 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, MHC 1632
Tampa, FL 33612
Phone: (813) 974-0969
Fax: (813) 974-8080
Email
Applications are available on the Graduate Certificate Web Page: Graduate Certificate in Marriage Family Therapy (XMF)

http://rmhc.cbcs.usf.edu/graduateCertificates/marriageFamily.cfm