Marriage and Family Therapy (M.A.)

  • Master's Program
  • On Campus

What You’ll learn

The Marriage and Family Therapy program at La Salle progresses from a knowledge base of core courses in systems theory to a sequence of skills courses in assessment and intervention, to actual clinical practice, completed in a 12-month clinical placement in the final year. The required courses fulfill the educational requirements for licensure in the state of Pennsylvania and most other states, as well as for clinical membership in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

Why Study Marriage and Family Therapy at La Salle?

La Salle’s MFT degree prepares students for licensure as marriage and family therapists (LMFT) in Pennsylvania and most other states and for employment in many professional settings. Upon graduation from the program, students meet the education eligibility requirement for the national exam for licensure. The MFT degree also is excellent preparation for those students planning to pursue doctoral studies in marriage and family therapy or a related field.   

Curriculum, Courses and Requirements

Highlighted Courses

PMFT 505  Systems and Systemic Thinking

This course provides the student with an overview of systemic concepts and systemic functioning. It includes structure, development, health, and dysfunction from traditional systemic theoretical constructs and approaches. Particular emphasis is placed on acquiring a systems perspective and applying that perspective to families and other systems.

PMFT 608  Therapeutic Approaches for Children and Adolescents  

This course is designed to provide an understanding of working with children, adolescents, and their families. It will focus on treating a variety of presenting issues, as well as provide several theoretical perspectives for working with families with children and/or adolescents. We will explore many clinical interventions for working with youth of varying ages, and the course will include play therapy. Students will have many experiential opportunities to learn about play therapy techniques and interventions. Careful attention will be paid to ethical issues, laws regarding mandated reporting, duty-to-warn, when treating children and adolescents, as well as cultural and diversity issues will be addressed.

PMFT 628  Understanding Relationships  

This course examines human relationships with particular reference to their various forms, functions, and patterns of development. The processes of attachment, separation, individuation, and differentiation are highlighted and are used in a contextual (systemic) framework to examine each relationship. Special emphasis is placed on the clinical applications of this knowledge to couples and families. The student is required to complete a study of one of his/her primary dyadic relationships.

Meet the Faculty

Our faculty possesses a wide range of disciplinary expertise dedicated to teaching, scholarship, and service, bringing their clinical and research experience into the classroom.

Career Opportunities

According to BLS, the mean annual wage for MFTs is $54,590 nationally and $62,140 in Pennslyvania. BLS expects employment opportunities for MFTs to rise by 22% by year 2028.

Application Process

The Marriage and Family Therapy Program has some additional requirements beyond the typical application process. Find more information through the link below.

Application Information

Accreditation

The Marriage and Family Therapy Program at La Salle University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, 112 South Alfred Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, Tel. No. 703.838. 9808. This accreditation is a measure of the program’s excellence. With it comes national recognition as one of the nation’s premium MFT training programs. AAMFT’s Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) is the nationally recognized accrediting agency that accredits master’s degree, doctoral degree, and post-graduate degree clinical training programs in marriage and family therapy throughout the United States and Canada.

I felt that the faculty and staff truly cared about each students’ development and success and that was something I really appreciated. I am very grateful for my experience at La Salle and I would choose La Salle again if I could.

Alyssa Maida, M.A. ’20
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 20241204

Former NBA Star Michael Kidd-Gilchrist advocates for all who share his speech condition.

Associate Professor Siobhan M. Conaty, PhD, FCPP, elected as a Fellow of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia on Nov. 15, 2024.

Associate Professor Siobhan Conaty, Ph.D., was honored with induction into The College of Physicians of Philadelphia on Nov. 15, 2024. She was among the 27 inductees that included prominent physicians, experts from public health and academia, and civic leaders.

I am inspired every day by the contributions our students make to the community. I am energized by how our University—as well as others—are reinventing themselves during challenging times to ensure that future generations can receive a high-quality education that prepares them for a lifetime of success and opportunities.