Marriage and Family Therapy

Course Structure

1. The Marriage and Family Therapy curriculum is 60 semester hours in length with a required 12-month clinical practicum. This program addresses the interpersonal and social context of mental health and emotional problems. To qualify, students to practice MFTH, the curriculum focuses on the knowledge and skills necessary to access and intervene in the interactions among people. It prepares students to use an active, positive approach to therapy that will help individuals and their families build on their strengths, improve communication, and develop solutions to their problems.
2. The MFT program at Valdosta State University prepares students for licensure as Marriage and Family Therapists in Georgia and for associate membership in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). The program expects its graduate students to demonstrate the following: assuming the professional role and identity of a marriage and family therapist; applying a systems/relational understanding to the assessment and treatment of mental health and emotional problems; considering the relevance of ethnicity, race, gender, socioeconomic status, and culture when developing treatment plans; applying various theoretical models of marriage and family therapy to practice; display clinical competency in the practice of MFTH; and practice according to the AAMFT ethical code. The Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice Department\x92s admission policies, degree offerings, degree options, and course offerings are designed to help all students achieve these goals.
3. Since learning at FamilyWorks, our student-run clinic, plays a large role in student training. Students are required to accrue a total of 600 hours working with clients. The faculty and students invite prospective students to take a tour of the clinic, talk to 1st and 2nd year MFT stduents, and sit in on a class or practicum.