Specializations in Marriage, Couple and Family Therapy

The MCFT program at Lewis & Clark College is unique in offering students a number of choices in planning their academic and clinical experience. First, all MCFT students can choose between focusing on children or adults in treatment planning (CPSY 523 or 524) and group processes (CPSY 514 or 515). Each student works with her/his advisor to consider past training and experience, as well as future career goals to determine which of these courses best fit educational needs. The MCFT program requirements meet the standards set by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE).

Second, MCFT students can include a special concentration on addictions treatment in the context of families by adding several courses to their plans of study (CPSY 545, 546 & 547). As the Department of Counseling Psychology has an existing specialization in addictions treatment, this concentration allows for collaboration across programs so that addictions treatment can inform family therapy and family therapy can inform addictions treatment, thus strengthening both programs. Additionally, since addictions treatment is in great demand across the country, an opportunity to be trained in this area strengthens the practice focus of our students and increases their marketability in the highly competitive field of mental health practitioners.

Third, MCFT students can choose to add coursework necessary for Licensure as a Professional Counselor (LPC) in the State of Oregon. Students who plan on applying for dual licensure (LMFT & LPC) take several additional courses (CPSY 520; both CPSY 523 & 524; and CPSY 512 or 513). These courses in addition to required MCFT courses meet the academic requirements for both the Commission for Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) and the Commission for Accreditation for Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

The MCFT Program also offers a number of additional learning opportunities including specialized courses relative to the practice of family therapy and working globally (e.g., feminist family therapy, Pragmatic Experiential Therapy for Couples, global families).