Marriage and Family Therapy
Postgraduate Diploma in Marriage and Family Therapy (PDMFT)
The diploma program in Marriage and Family Therapy, offered by the Faculty of Behavioural Sciences, is designed to provide the student with a broad overview of theories and practice in couples and family counselling and psychotherapy. Courses will address critical issues related to professional identity and ethics, particularly as applied to MFT work; processes of family development across time, including how the family life cycle may be influenced by societal and cultural forces; the development of skills to critically evaluate the research literature on couples and families, and appropriately use this information to guide assessment and treatment decisions; and a survey of models for intervention with families and couples, including techniques for working with intimate partner violence, addiction, divorce, adoption, and other issues facing contemporary couples and families. Throughout the program, the influence of cultural context will be considered as it impacts couple and family relationships, as well as the process of couples and family therapy.
Program Structure
The Postgraduate Diploma in Marriage and Family Therapy is a two semester (8 month) program consisting of four, three unit courses intended to be taken sequentially. Two courses of seven weeks duration are offered in each of the two semesters. Grading is on a pass/fail basis. The program is offered beginning each January (Winter), May (Spring) and September (Fall) trimester.
All courses are offered online. There is no residency or practicum requirement. Postgraduate diploma courses may not be used towards the award of the Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University.