This course introduces students to concepts regarding the professional functioning of licensed professional counselors and marriage and family therapists, including history, roles, professional organizations, standards, and credentialing. Current issues in the practice of counseling and marriage and family therapy in a variety of professional settings are explored. Students are also introduced to program policies, graduate level writing and APA style.

An understanding of the historical development of the relational/systemic perspective, contemporary conceptual foundations of therapy including early and contemporary models of Marriage and Family Therapy, evidence-based practice, and the biopsychosocial perspective are integral to becoming a Marriage and Family Therapist.

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

No details available.

No details available.

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Video Discussions (4)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, Canvas discussion videos provide the student with the opportunity to articulate and present course concepts and respond to peer contributions. Each video must be 3-5 minutes and must demonstrate a clear and coherent flow of thought. The student must also submit a 2-3-minute video reply to at least 1 classmate’s video. Each video should note the sources incorporated verbally, posted in APA format and include one additional source than provided. (CLO: B, C, D; PLO: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6).

MFT Program Scavenger Hunt Assignment

The student will use the MFT Counseling Handbook and Liberty online resources to complete a scavenger hunt in order to become familiar with the policies, procedures and services applicable to the student and Liberty University’s Department of Counselor Education and Family Studies. (PLO: 1)

Systemic Thinking Paper Assignment

The student will write a 2-3 page paper in current APA format on the basic tenets of Systemic thinking including application to diverse populations and compatibility with a Christian Worldview. The paper needs to include an introduction and conclusion and must utilize three sources. (CLO: A, C; PLO: 2, 5, 6)

State Licensure Checklist Assignment

The student will conduct a search of requirements for licensure in Marriage and Family Therapy within their state and complete the checklist connecting program courses to educational components, outlining post graduate requirements, and store applicable codes for future reference. (CLO: C; PLO: 1)

Wellness of the System Paper Assignment

The student will write a 2-3 page paper in current APA format that focuses on the definition of vicarious trauma and a personal systemic assessment and systemic wellness plan. The paper needs to include an introduction and conclusion and must utilize three sources. (CLO: A, C; PLO: 4, 5)

Quizzes: Criminal Background Check (CBC) (4)

The student will purchase a background check from CastleBranch. Each quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 1 file upload question, and will have no time limit. (PLO: 1)

Quiz: Criminal Background Check (CBC) Purchase

The student will submit proof of purchase to Canvas: CBC Purchase.

Quiz: Criminal Background Check (CBC) Submission

The student will submit proof of background check submission to Canvas: CBC Submission.

Quiz: Criminal Background Check (CBC) Finger Print Process Acknowledgement

The student will complete a true/false quiz confirming the fingerprints have been collected and submitted to the agency.

Quiz: Criminal Background Check (CBC) Finger Print

The student will submit proof of finger print requirement for background check to Canvas: CBC Fingerprint.

Quizzes (17)

Each quiz will cover the Learn material for the module: week in which it is assigned. Each quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 10 multiple-choice and fill in the blank questions, and have a 20-minute time limit except for one quiz which contains 20 multiple choice and fill in the blank questions with a 40-minute time limit. (CLO: A, B, C, D; PLO: 1, 2, 4, 7)