Welcome
The mission of the Marriage and Family Therapy Program is to develop student’s professional identity as a couple and family therapist and scholar. To develop all facets of professional identity, the program is guided by the scientist-practitioner model and biopsychosocial model. Students are provided opportunities to: 1) build clinical skills in family therapy practice, 2) gain research skills that focus on individuals, couples, and families, and 3) develop quality teaching skills. Examples of learning opportunities include clinical practice and supervision, cultivating critical analytical skills through class assignments and projects, acquiring knowledge and skills in research methods and statistics courses, conducting research independently and with faculty members, teaching classes, presenting at national and state conferences, and publishing scholarly articles. This is done in an environment that is committed to supporting multiculturalism and diversity.
Upon graduating from the University of Georgia Marriage and Family Therapy Program students will:
- be able to conduct rigorous research focusing on relationships, present research findings at national conferences, and publish articles in scholarly journals.
- enhance skills necessary to teach university classes, lead psychoeducational groups, and conduct workshops.
- gain clinical and supervisory skills to ethically treat a variety of clinical issues and presenting problems.
The goals of the MFT Program are consistent with the mission of the Department of Child and Family Development’s graduate program, the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, and the University of Georgia.
Strengths of the University of Georgia Marriage and Family Therapy Program include:
- Faculty members have diverse clinical and research interests.
- Faculty members are recognized at the national level for their scholarly work.
- Financial support is provided through graduate assistantships.
- Financial support for travel to national and state conferences is often provided.
- The academic environment supports the development of quantitative and qualitative research skills.
- A large archival data set from a clinical population is accessible for student theses and dissertations.
- Opportunities to learn outcome and process research methods.
- Resources are available to assist students on presentations and publications at the national level.
- Opportunities to teach undergraduate level courses.
- Ability to work closely with faculty members in MFT and CFD.
- State-of-art technology in the MFT clinic including the ability to gather physiological date.
- The MFT program is housed in a strong and supportive department.
- An environment valuing ethnic identity and resiliency.
- Opportunity to earn graduate certificates in Qualitative Research, Women's Studies, Gerontology, and African American Studies.
- Opportunities to provide clinical services for a diverse clinical population including Spanish speaking clients.
The MFT Program is only available at the doctoral level; we do not offer a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. We do admit well qualified students into our doctoral program post-baccalaureate. Students interested in Marriage and Family Therapy should apply for admission to the Ph.D. program in Child and Family Development. Qualified students will be invited to an on-campus interview prior to admission to the MFT program.
If you have any questions about the MFT Program or the application process at the University of Georgia, please email Dr. Lee Johnson, the MFT Program Director.
