Online MFT Program in California

This course addresses various dimensions of human development from infancy to old age. Emphasis is placed on biological, cognitive, and psychosocial development within the context of gender, family systems, social roles, and culture. Some topics included will be childbirth, child rearing, parenting and step-parenting, aging, long term care, end-of-Life and grief. Students evaluate clinical situations and assess potential therapeutic interventions in context.

This course explores models of personality theory, psychotherapy, and counseling practice, including psychodynamic, affective, cognitive behavioral, humanistic, interpersonal, multicultural, and systems theory. It incorporates evidence-based practices and cultural diversity issues allowing students to establish a strong theoretical foundation as the basis of clinical practice. Assessment and intervention for emergency/crisis is addressed.

This course covers legal and ethical responsibilities of the marriage and family counselor, including California state laws governing mental health professionals. Emphasis is placed on the current legal patterns and trends related to client rights, confidentiality, parent consent, multiple relationships, spousal/partner abuse assessment and intervention, child abuse assessment and reporting, elder/dependent adult abuse and assessment, and suicide risk assessment and intervention. Students learn how to apply ethical decision-making models with a recovery-oriented care approach to diverse populations.

This course covers multicultural counseling within the context of a mental health recovery-oriented care model. It addresses multicultural development and cross-cultural interaction involving the psychological, psychotherapeutic, community and health implications with specific attention on California cultures. Emphasis will be on integrating awareness, knowledge, and skills related to counseling differences and similarities based on age, race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliations, gender identification, sexual orientation, physical/mental limitations, social class, socioeconomic position, etc.

This course provides an overview of the fundamentals of research and evaluation in the counseling profession. Topics include critical analysis of research literature, statistical analysis, qualitative and quantitative research methods, needs assessment, and program evaluation. Emphasis is placed on understanding connections between research design, theories, and the utilization of results in the professional practice of counseling.

This course covers psychological testing with an emphasis on learning how to integrate testing as an additional tool in counseling. Tests most commonly encountered in the counseling field are identified and reviewed, and the following components are discussed: psychometric properties of tests, test selection criteria, administration, interpretation, and reporting of test results.

This course introduces students to models and tools of assessment and diagnosis for the purpose of developing competency in evaluation and treatment planning for professional counseling practice. Students learn about and practice intake assessment techniques, mental status examinations, suicide risk assessment and Intervention, using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), outcome‐based treatment planning, and behavioral analysis. Emphasis is placed on writing clear, accurate, and useful assessments and treatment plans. Multicultural and ethical issues in assessment are also explored.

Students build on the skills gained in previous courses, focusing on the more complex or problematic disorders. Students enhance their skills by using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders® for report‐writing and treatment plan development. Emphasis is on accepted treatment approaches and outcome‐based assessments; the development of critical‐thinking skills; and on multicultural, legal, and ethical issues.

This course focuses on intensive skill building in individual counseling. The relationship between assessment, theory, application of strategy and intervention, setting goals with clients, closure, and referral are emphasized as essential to the counseling environment. Emphasis is also placed on treatment plans, ethics, and cultural diversity using mental health recovery-oriented care and methods of service delivery.

Portfolio II is a competency evaluation of professional dispositions and readiness to progress in the Master of Counseling/Marriage, Family, and Child Therapy program. Portfolio II provides an integrative experience requiring the student to bring together all of what has been learned in previous courses in the program and to demonstrate how that learning has been applied. Topics include professional and personal development; application of theory to practice; and sensitivity to diversity issues. Students will demonstrate intake, assessment, and treatment planning abilities. The Portfolio II course is 2 weeks in length, with significant synchronous interactions with faculty and peers.

This course provides an overview of the development of family systems theory as a discipline and the therapeutic approaches that have emerged. Historic and fundamental concepts of family systems theory are addressed with an integrative approach to the treatment of the broad range of presenting problems that arise within couple and family relationships. Using mental health recovery-oriented care and methods of service delivery students will explore the major systems theories' approaches to diagnosis, treatment, and change and explore culture-specific interventions used for the treatment of diverse families.

This course prepares students to understand and treat issues involving individual human sexuality and to use the current developmental and systemic methods to treat couples in distress. Topics include the physiology, psychology, and social cultural variables associated with sexual behavior, gender identity, and assessment and treatment of psychosexual dysfunction. Students will develop familiarity with the language and terms of sexology and demonstrate an ability to apply this knowledge to clinical situations. Students will gain intensive skill building in systemic couples treatment for premarital relations, marriage, committed partnerships, multi-partner relationships, parenting, blended families, and separation/divorce/widowhood. Students will demonstrate competency in working with culturally-diverse populations using a mental health recovery oriented care model.

This course provides students with intensive knowledge, awareness, and skill‐building in group counseling. Content emphasizes such areas as different types of groups, dynamics, norms and boundaries, leadership styles, leading and co‐leading, and treatment plans. Confidentiality, selection procedures, ethics, and diversity are included as key components of effective group counseling practice.

The course examines the history, biochemistry, main effects and side effects of prescription psychotropic medication and biological bases of human behavior in relation to cognition, emotions and mental health. Topics include an overview of neuroanatomy and biochemistry, biological concepts of mental distress, and principles of drug action and metabolism. Ethics, methods of working with medical personnel, and the effects of psychotropic medications on the family system are included.

This course addresses addiction concepts and counseling practices in treatment of co-occurring disorders and addictions. Topics include an overview of dependency theories, major substances of abuse, assessment, diagnosis, treatment modalities, special topics, and working with diverse populations using mental health recovery-oriented care and methods of service delivery.

This course provides the student with a comprehensive overview of vocational theory and career counseling. It includes the historical foundations of vocational theory and the relationship of these to skills and techniques utilized in career counseling and vocational development practices. Vocational and career counseling is examined as an integral component of the overall assessment and treatment of clients representing diverse populations found within the scope of community, mental health, and marriage and family counseling. Emphasis is placed on the examination of adults in transition and the nature of work in a changing world. Students develop competencies necessary to provide career and vocational counseling to clients across the lifespan.

This course exposes students to a variety of models in the treatment of children and adolescents, including the developmental variables that may have an effect on behavior and family intervention. Systemic approaches to treatment of chronic illness, incest, delinquent behavior, adolescent chemical dependency, child suicide, psychosomatic disorders, families in crisis, fire setting, school phobia, and other behaviors and learning problems are explored.

In this course, students will be required to apply marriage and family counseling theory, along with therapy skills acquired throughout the program. Students will gain a deeper understanding of working with diverse families, families in transition, families with mental health issues, families facing crisis and trauma, along with current trends in marriage and family counseling.

Portfolio III is 2-weeks in length, with significant synchronous interactions with faculty and peers. The final Portfolio focuses on the practical application of Marital and Family Counseling/Systems Approach using advanced counseling skills and competencies. This Portfolio is used to assess professional dispositions and readiness for work with diverse populations during clinical placement in practicum and internship courses. Specific topics include professional orientation, professional identity, personal growth, and self‐care.

This course focuses on the assessment and continuing development of student counseling and clinical documentation skills. Students have a variety of opportunities to receive feedback and to evaluate their ability to integrate theory into practice. Students determine their styles and strengths as professional counseling practitioners, as well as identify areas needing further development. Individualized practice sessions, case management skills, and feedback are designed into the course.

The Marriage/Family/Child Counseling Internship is a clinical experience required of all MFCC students. The internship is divided into two sections, each lasting 15 weeks. The internship experience comprises Portfolio III of the counseling portfolio series. Students are placed in community agencies where they provide clinical marriage/family/child counseling services to clients under the direction of an approved licensed site supervisor.

The Marriage/Family/Child Counseling Internship is a clinical experience required of all MFCC students. The internship is divided into two sections, each lasting 15 weeks. The internship experience comprises Portfolio III of the counseling portfolio series. Students are placed in community agencies where they provide clinical marriage/family/child counseling services to clients under the direction of an approved licensed site supervisor.