Pushing the Boundaries of Knowledge. Mentoring Future Leaders and Innovators.
For detailed information about the marriage and family therapy (MFT) program area, within the Department of Human Development and Family Science, see our MFT Program Handbook.
Training
Our mission is to develop scholar-clinicians who demonstrate respect for diversity and inclusion and will advance the field of marriage and family therapy through research, clinical supervision, teaching, clinical practice, and community and professional engagement. To accomplish our mission, we take a hands-on, collaborative approach to training.
Research Training
The research training offered within the program is designed to produce scholars who have skills necessary to conduct methodologically sophisticated research that advances scientific knowledge and has clinical implications for marriage and family therapy.
Faculty Mentorship is the hallmark feature of the program’s approach to research training. Students work closely and collaboratively with their advisors and other faculty on research projects. These faculty-student collaborations frequently lead to professional presentations and publications.
Examples of recent student-faculty collaborations include:
- Dolbin-MacNab, M. L., & O’Connell, L. M. (2021). Grandfamilies and the opioid epidemic: A systemic perspective and future priorities. Clinical Child and Family Psychology, 24(2), 207-223. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-021-00343-7
- Morgan, A. A., Landers, A. L., Simpson, J. E., Russon, J. M., Case Pease, J., Dolbin-MacNab, M. L., Bland, K. N., & Jackson, J. B. (2021). The transition to teletherapy in marriage and family therapy training settings during COVID-19: What do the data tell us? Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 47(2), 320-341. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12502
- Nedela, M., Hartwell, E. & Grafsky, E. L. (2022). What female bisexual couples want therapists to know: An exploratory investigation using thematic analysis. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 21(1), 27-51. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332691.2021.1920532
- Russon, J., Smithee, L., Simpson, S., Levy, S., & Diamond, G. (2022). Demonstrating attachment-based family therapy for transgender and gender diverse youth with suicidal thoughts and behavior: A case study. Family Process, 61(1), 230-245. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12677
- Smithee, L. C., Krizova, K., Guest, J. D., & Case Pease, J. (2021). Theraplay as a family treatment for mother anxiety and child anxiety. International Journal of Play Therapy, 30(3), 206-218. https://doi.org/10.1037/pla0000153
- Thomas, M. E., & Grafsky, E. L. (2021). Appalachian church leaders: An interpretative phenomenological analysis study to understand how substance use impacts their communities. Pastoral Psychology, 70, 379-397. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-021-00956-3
Statistical & Methodological Training is a core component of the curriculum. Required coursework includes qualitative methods, clinical research methods, and advanced quantitative methods. Students can further their statistical and methodological knowledge by taking a variety of elective courses including program evaluation, mixed methods, measurement design, and HLM, among others.
Research Teams are a semester-long opportunity for students to work closely with faculty to gain hands-on research experience. Through the research teams, students may participate in study conceptualization, data collection, and/or data analysis. Students may also gain valuable experience with grant writing and professional presentations and publications. Over the course of their training, students participate in four research teams.
Clinical Training
We value advanced clinical training and are highly invested in our students’ continued growth and development as marriage and family therapists. Advanced clinical training also supports our graduates’ ability to become effective supervisors who train the next generation of marriage and family therapists.
Students see clients at our on-campus training clinic, the Family Therapy Center, from spring of their first year through fall of their third year. The MFT core faculty provide individual and group supervision during practicum, and all are AAMFT Approved Supervisors or AAMFT Approved Supervisor Candidates. Opportunities for live and video supervision are enhanced by a state-of-the-art digital video recording system. Most students gain over 200 hours of clinical contact through their clinical work at the Family Therapy Center. A total of 1000 (400 relational) direct client contact hours and 200 hours of supervision are required for graduation. For more information about the program’s clinical requirements, see the MFT Program Handbook.
During their third year, students take a course in supervision of marriage and family therapy. The course meets the pedagogical requirement for the AAMFT Approved Supervision designation. Students in the supervision course provide supervision to other Family Therapy Center therapists and receive individual and group supervision mentoring from AAMFT Approved Supervisors.
Teaching Training
As part of their training, students can gain independent collegiate teaching experience. Students teach online or classroom-based undergraduate courses in the Department of Human Development and Family Science. Given the Department’s focus on excellence in instruction, students holding teaching appointments participate in a seminar that provides intensive training in course design, assessment/grading, classroom management, and effective instruction.
Advanced Practical Experience
During their fourth year in the program, students complete a full-time, 9-month advanced practical experience, which is similar to an internship. Through the Advanced Practical Experience, students can pursue opportunities for advanced training and experience in research, teaching, supervision, clinical practice, grant writing, and policy development, among others topics. Students work closely with their advisors to develop a plan for the advanced practical experience that is tailored to their career goals. For more information about the Advanced Practical Experience, please see the MFT Program Handbook.
Previous students have held Advanced Practical Experience placements at prestigious medical centers, universities, and mental health agencies including Houston Galveston Institute, Chicago Center for Family Health, St. Mary’s Medical Center, University of Nevada-Las Vegas, Indiana University School of Medicine, Mercer University, University of Nebraska Medical Center, New River Valley Community Services, Palo Alto Mental Research Institute, University of Oregon, and a number of other community mental health agencies.
Curriculum
Our curriculum emphasizes quantitative and qualitative research methods, advanced training in MFT theories and models, contemporary clinical issues, MFT supervision, and human development and family science theories and research. All of the MFT courses emphasize relational/systemic philosophies, are multiculturally informed, and underscore the importance of ethical behavior and practice. A total of 90 credits are required for graduation, which includes 30 research and dissertation credits and up to 12 transfer credits. Click here to view the curriculum.
In addition to the required coursework, students can also choose to pursue a variety of graduate certificates. Past students have completed graduate certificates in the Future Professoriate, Gerontology, Human Sexuality Studies, and Women’s and Gender Studies, among others.
Timeline
The timeline for completing one’s doctoral degree varies greatly, depending on preparation, dissertation topics, Advanced Practical Experience choices, and personal or family issues. On average, it takes students 5 years to complete the program. The program is designed to be completed within 4 years. The maximum amount of time allowed for program completion is 8 years. Students work closely with their doctoral advisory committees to plan their coursework, program milestones, and time in the program.
Program Plan
Year 1:
- MFT/HDFS/Research Coursework
- Begin clinical work at the Family Therapy Center (Spring Semester, Year 1)
Year 2:
- MFT/HDFS/Research Coursework
- Continue clinical work at the Family Therapy Center
- Preliminary Examination
Year 3:
- MFT Supervision Course (Spring Semester, Year 3)
- Finish clinical work at the Family Therapy Center (Fall Semester, Year 3)
- Dissertation Proposal/Research
Year 4:
- Advanced Practical Experience
- Dissertation Research/Completion
For more information about these program milestones, please see the MFT Program Handbook.
Financial
Assistantships
The Department of Human Development and Family Science provides students within the MFT program area with full-time, 9-month assistantship support for 3 years, pending satisfactory performance. Students holding full-time assistantships work 20 hours a week in research, clinical, teaching, and/or administrative appointments. Full-time assistantships provide a living stipend and full tuition remission for the Fall and Spring semesters. Many of our students have also been successful in securing competitive scholarships. Click here for more information about assistantships.
Tuition
Students are responsible for all tuition and comprehensive fee costs for practicum during the summers before their second and third years in the program. Students holding assistantships the previous academic year are eligible for in-state tuition for the summer. Tuition rates are available through the Bursar’s Office. Please note that, in most cases, students will receive financial assistance from the Department of Human Development and Family Science, to cover the cost of summer tuition and comprehensive fees.
In previous years, students in the MFT program area have received an exemption to the minimum enrollment requirement for summer sessions, which allows them to enroll for one credit (instead of the required three credits). It should be noted that this exception is requested by the department on an annual basis and is NOT guaranteed. Students will be informed in a timely manner as to what arrangements have been made for a given summer.
Financial Obligations
Students within the MFT program area are responsible for several costs that are not covered by assistantships.
All students must pay student fees for each semester in which they enroll. Fees can vary slightly from semester to semester. These fees cover access to health care, student activities, recreational sports, discounted sporting events, free local bus services, and similar non-academic services. More information about these fees is available at the Bursar’s Office. Non-residents pay higher comprehensive fees than students who obtain Virginia residency.
Students are responsible for all tuition and comprehensive fee costs for practicum during the summers before their second and third years in the program. Students holding assistantships the previous academic year are eligible for in-state tuition for the summer. Tuition rates are available through the Bursar’s Office. Please note that, in most cases, students will receive financial assistance from the Department of Human Development and Family Science, to cover the cost of summer tuition and comprehensive fees.
In previous years, students in the MFT program area have received an exemption to the minimum enrollment requirement for summer sessions, which allows them to enroll for one credit (instead of the required three credits). It should be noted that this exception is requested by the department on an annual basis and is NOT guaranteed. Students will be informed in a timely manner as to what arrangements have been made for a given summer.
Students must register for one credit hour of HD 5754 during the last academic (i.e., fall or spring) of their Advanced Practical Experience, and are responsible for covering these costs, unless they are covered by an assistantship.
Students who are no longer covered by an assistantship, but still need to complete their dissertations, are responsible for all costs associated with enrollment in HD 7994 (Research & Dissertation).