& Student Handbook - Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Graduate Certificate Programs 241
MFT660Q
Assessing and Treating Substance Abuse/Dependency from a
Systemic Perspective (1 cr.)
Families often identify one member and one member only who requires
assessment, treatment and therapy for substance abuse/dependency.
This course will address the recovery process as a family system
collaborative.
MFT660R
Couple and Family Therapy with Gay and Lesbian Families (1 cr.)
This course provides an opportunity to develop expertise in conducting
couple and family therapy with Gay, Bi-sexual, Lesbian, and Transgender
couples and families. It examines how couple and family therapy can
address issues of sexual orientation and gender preference and the
special needs of these populations.
MFT660S
Family Therapy with African American Families (1 cr.)
This course focuses on the current issues, values, and family dynamics
in African American families. Redefining the genesis of the African
American family as well as providing a context in which African
Americans thrive today is addressed.
MFT660T
Working with Returning Military Personnel and Their Families from
a Systemic Perspective (1 cr.)
This course examines the therapeutic issues and skills that are needed
to work with returning military personnel from the Middle East. The
unique aspects of the reentry process for military personnel and their
families are addressed. Emphasis is placed on the relationship issues
that soldiers and their families face when re-integrating into their
communities. Best educational and therapeutic practice models and
current literature and research are reviewed and discussed.
MFT660U
Marriage and Family Therapy in a Rural Setting (1 cr.)
This course examines the practice of marriage and family therapy in a
rural setting, including organizational, consumer, ethical, and training
issues. Considerable time is devoted to the characteristics of effective
rural providers of marriage and family therapy.
MFT660V
Working Systemically with the Eating Disorder Population (1 cr.)
This course exposes students to diagnostic and unique treatment issues
involved when working with clients with an eating disorder. Collaborative
approaches to treating eating disorders with a family systems
perspective are examined.
MFT660W
Separating and Divorcing Couples (1 cr.)
This course explores the issues faced by marriage and family therapists
working with couples of separation and divorce. The course examines
the personal, professional, ethical, and spiritual dilemmas that a
therapist faces when working with these couples, and offers resources
and practical strategies.
MFT660X
Working with Later Life Families: Aging from a Family Perspective
(1 cr.)
This course studies the intersection of family and gerontology.
Intragenerational and intergenerational family relationship lenses are used
to create a realistic and practical view of elders and their family systems.
Professional Issues
MFT642
Marriage and Family Therapy Professional Issues and
Orientation (1 cr.)
Prerequisites: Completion of all core courses or admission to the
graduate certificate program with MFT611 or its equivalent.
This course covers professional issues in the Marriage and Family Therapy
field, including information about the licensure process, state and national
professional associations, regulatory boards, post-degree supervision
requirements and opportunities, and possible employment contexts.
MFT690
Ethical and Professional Issues in Marital and Family Therapy (3 cr.)
Prerequisite: MFT610 or MFT613 and three additional Marriage and
Family Therapy credits completed
This course examines professional, legal, and ethical issues in the
practice of couples and family therapy. The code of ethics of the
Minnesota Board of Marriage and Family Therapy and AAMFT, selected
Minnesota laws pertaining to children and families, and ethical and
professional problems of confidentiality, dual relationship, and other
potentially problematic areas are studied.
Treatment Planning
MFT683
Assessment, Diagnosis and Treatment Planning with Children and
Adolescents in Family Therapy (3 cr.)
Prerequisite: MFG610 or MFT613
This course examines the assessment and diagnostic process for
working with children and adolescents in a behavioral health setting
utilizing a developmental-systems approach and the criteria from the
DSM IV. This course focuses on assessment and diagnostic methods
and tools (DSA and others) and the development of appropriate
treatment plans for clients based on diagnostic and problem formulation.
Practicum
The Practicum in Marriage and Family Therapy provides students
enrolled in the Graduate Program in Marriage and Family Therapy the
opportunity to complete the licensing board requirement for a practicum
experience. The Board of Marriage and Family Therapy requires
students to complete 300 clinical hours of direct client contact. Each 2-
credit practicum course requires the completion of 150 direct contact
hours and each student must complete 4 credits of practicum in meeting
that requirement. A practicum supervision seminar is taken concurrently
as a part of the practicum requirements. The supervision seminar
provides an environment for presentation of case material, as well as a
venue for discussing problems and concerns that arise in the practicum
setting. Personal and professional issues relevant to the practicum
experience are examined.