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As home to more than 38 million residents within its borders creating a larger demand for mental health and family services than other states, there are numerous top marriage and family therapy degree programs in California that are offered by some of the highest ranked universities in the United States. While enjoying being near the Golden State’s beautiful Pacific coastline, pristine sandy beaches, famous surfing atmosphere, and breathtaking natural beauty of Yosemite National Park in a warm sunny climate, you can receive the training needed to become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). Read on to learn more about the accredited master’s and doctoral degree programs that offer a specialize in marriage and family therapy within California.
Fresno Pacific University
Biblical Seminary
Situated on a 42-acre campus in southeastern Fresno at the halfway point between San Francisco and Los Angeles with over 14,000 students, Fresno Pacific University is ranked as the 42nd best college in the West by the U.S. News and World Report. Within the Biblical Seminary, students are trained as denominationally diverse and ethical leaders for participating in transformational ministry on a global context.
Master of Arts in Marriage & Family Therapy (MFT)
Offered in a convenient schedule for working adults at the Visalia Center, the Master of Arts in Marriage & Family Therapy (MFT) program integrates Christian beliefs into counseling theory and professional practice to prepare therapists for California licensure to aid in the healing process of those who have experienced life’s hardships.
Accreditations
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Contact
1717 South Chestnut Avenue
Fresno, CA 93702
(559) 453-2314
seminary.mft@fresno.edu
http://seminary.fresno.edu/academics/marriage-and-family-therapy
Fuller Theological Seminary
School of Psychology
Considered one of the most influential seminaries in America with over 4,300 students, Fuller Theological Seminary in a private non-denominational institution based in vibrant Pasadena with regional campuses across the West. According to the U.S. News and World Report, the School of Psychology is nationally acclaimed for offering the 214th best graduate psychology programs in the country.
Master of Science in Marital and Family Therapy (MSMFT)
With the goal of training competent clinicians who will integrate their therapeutic practice into a faith-filled theological vision of wholeness in human relationships, the Master of Science in Marital and Family Therapy (MSMFT) program consists of 106 quarter units that are completed in a cohort structure full-time in just two years.
Accreditations
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Contact
135 North Oakland Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91101
(626) 584-5200
admissions@fuller.edu
http://www.fuller.edu/msmft/
Golden Gate University
Department of Psychology
Positioned in the financial district of San Francisco with four satellite teaching locations and numerous online degree options in the nationally recognized CyberCampus, Golden Gate University is a small private institution focused on meeting the needs of working adults. The Department of Psychology is specifically dedicated to helping students transition to a wide range of career paths to make a difference.
Master of Arts in Psychology with Concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy
As a focused graduate degree designed to prepare psychology students for traineeships and post-graduate internships as well as for the California licensing exam, the Master of Arts in Psychology with a concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy program requires the completion of 60 units, including supervised practicum providing services in the community.
Accreditations
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Contact
536 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 442-6618
twooldridge@ggu.edu
http://www.ggu.edu/programs/psychology/master-of-arts-in-psychology
Holy Names University
Division of Social Sciences
Currently ranked as the 75th best college in the West by the U.S. News and World Report, Holy Names University is a four-year comprehensive private institution of over 1,300 students based on a 60-acre wooded campus in the hills of Oakland. In the Division of Social Sciences, students can enroll in psychology and counseling degree programs while obtaining practical experience in supervised field placement settings.
Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology: Marriage and Family Therapy Track
With courses offered in late afternoons and evenings to better accommodate various lifestyle needs, the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology: Marriage and Family Therapy track is strongly rooted in social justice and human diversity to build clinicians capable of resolving the questions of our lives.
Accreditations
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Contact
3500 Mountain Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94619
(510) 436-1532
lampert@hnu.edu
http://www.hnu.edu/academics/graduatePrograms/counselingPsychology.html
Hope International University
College of Psychology & Counseling
As an accredited private Christian institution of around 1,700 students on an 18-acre suburban campus in Fullerton, Hope International University is ranked as the 22nd best college in the West by the U.S. News and World Report. The College of Psychology & Counseling program offers a uniquely personalized education to empower students to impact the world for Christ.
M.A. Marriage and Family Therapy
With a reputation for being among the highest quality MFT programs in the region for academic and clinical training, the 60-unit M.A. Marriage and Family Therapy degree is designed to prepare students with the Christian principles to treat relational mental health issues and repair broken relationships.
Accreditations
Commission of Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE)
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Contact
2500 East Nutwood Avenue
Fullerton, CA 92831
(714) 879-3901
palexander@hiu.edu
http://www.hiu.edu/academics/grad/mft/
Humboldt State University
Department of Psychology
Positioned in the town of Arcata near ancient redwood forests, mountain peaks, and sandy beaches within one of the region’s best college towns as a comprehensive public institution of more than 8,200 students, Humboldt State University is ranked as the 53rd best college and 15th top public school in the West by the U.S. News and World Report. The Department of Psychology is also given a stellar reputation for its quality instruction, small class sizes, excellent students, and scenic beauty on the Pacific Ocean.
Master of Arts in Counseling
With approval by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences to meet the academic requirements for both the Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) license, the Master of Arts in Counseling program provides graduate students with a solid foundation in clinical theory along with extensive hands-on training at the on-campus Community Counseling Clinic.
Accreditations
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Contact
1 Harpst Street
Arcata, CA 95521
(707) 826-3755
kees@humboldt.edu
http://www.humboldt.edu/psychology/degree-programs/counseling-masters-program
John F. Kennedy University
College of Graduate and Professional Studies
Featuring flexible class schedules to fit in with today’s busy lifestyles, John F. Kennedy University is a fully accredited non-profit private institution based in Pleasant Hill with satellite locations across the San Francisco Bay area. The College of Graduate and Professional Studies offers student-focused and forward-thinking programs that prepare individuals to meet their professional career goals.
Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy
As an innovative applied 90-unit professional degree composed of three lock-step phases on the Pleasant Hill or San Jose campuses, the Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy program is focused on training students with the psychotherapy techniques needed to facilitate improved interpersonal relationships.
Accreditations
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Contact
100 Ellinwood Way
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
(925) 969-3353
proginfo@jfku.edu
http://www.jfku.edu/Programs-and-Courses/College-of-Graduate-Professional-Studies/Counseling-Psychology/Programs/MA-Marriage-Family-Therapy.html
Loma Linda University
School of Behavioral Health
Established as a private Seventh-day Adventist institution focused on the health sciences, Loma Linda University is home to just over 4,000 students on its suburban campus in southern California. The School of Behavioral Health is dedicated to providing graduate-level education that prepares compassionate professionals who possess the knowledge and skills needed for whole person care in the healing ministry of Jesus Christ.
MS and Doctorate in Marital and Family Therapy (DMFT)
As a 160-unit program that combines a master’s degree with an applied doctoral degree, the MS and Doctorate in Marital and Family Therapy (DMFT) program prepares licensed therapists with concentrations in Family Studies, School Consultation, Group Counseling, Medical Family Therapy, Drug and Alcohol Counseling, Child Life Specialist, or Clinical Mediation.
Accreditations
Council on Accreditation of Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE)
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Contact
11063 Campus Street
Loma Linda, CA 92350
(909) 558-4547
dhuenergardt@llu.edu
http://www.llu.edu/behavioral-health/cfs/imastersdmftmfam.page
Loyola Marymount University
College of Communication and Fine Arts
Named the 3rd best college in the West by the U.S. News and World Report, Loyola Marymount University is a premier private Catholic Jesuit institution of over 8,200 students on a 142-acre bluff-top suburban campus in West Los Angeles. The College of Communication and Fine Arts is a dynamic division committed to the education of the whole person and the promotion of justice in service of faith.
Master of Arts in Marital and Family Therapy
Available with unique specializing training in Clinical Art Therapy and a summer immersion program in Central Mexico, the Master of Arts in Marital and Family Therapy degree provides a full-time two-year training and two clinical trainseeships to students wishing to integrate their visual art backgrounds with psychotherapeutic skills to work with families.
Accreditations
American Art Therapy Association (AATA)
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Contact
One LMU Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90045
(310) 338-4562
lgloyd@lmu.edu
http://cfa.lmu.edu/programs/mft/ourprogram/
Mount St. Mary’s College
Graduate Division
Standing proudly as the only private Catholic liberal arts college primarily for women in the western United States on a historic 49-acre campus in Los Angeles, Mount St. Mary’s College is ranked as the 20th best college and 14th top value school in the West by the U.S. News and World Report. The Graduate Division is particularly devoted to offering professional degrees that prepare women for the challenges of leadership and service to society.
Master of Science in Counseling Psychology: Marriage and Family Therapy
Held at the Doheny campus near downtown Los Angeles, the Master of Science in Counseling Psychology program with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy features a culturally focused curriculum, excellent clinical preparation with local partners, and flexible evening classes on the route to California licensure in MFT.
Accreditations
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Contact
12001 Chalon Road
Los Angeles, CA 90049
(213) 477-2800
gtravis@msmc.la.edu
http://www.msmc.la.edu/graduate-programs/counseling-psychology.asp
National University
College of Letters and Sciences
Since being founded in 1971, National University has grown to become the second largest private non-profit institution in California with 28 campuses statewide based in La Jolla with over 1,200 courses online from anywhere. Ranking in the top 10 nationally in granting master’s degrees to women, the College of Letters and Sciences offers liberal arts programs for achieving personal intellectual growth.
M.A. Counseling Psychology with Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy
Meeting the academic requirements needed to sit for the MFT licensing exam mandated by the Board of Behavioral Sciences in California, the M.A. Counseling Psychology with a Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy program is designed for individuals who are committed to the practice of psychotherapy for couples, families, and children.
Accreditations
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Contact
11255 North Torrey Pines Road
La Jolla, CA 92037
(858) 541-7700
rfleck@nu.edu
http://www.nu.edu/OurPrograms/CollegeOfLettersAndSciences/Psychology/Specializations/SpecializationinMarriageandFamilyTherapy(MFT).html
Notre Dame De Namur University
Clinical Psychology Department
Currently ranked as the 60th best college in the West by the U.S. News and World Report, Notre Dame De Namur University is California’s fifth oldest private Catholic college with more than 2,000 students on its 47-acre suburban campus on the San Francisco Peninsula within Silicon Valley. In the scholar-practitioner model, the Clinical Psychology Department is grounded in an integrative approach to studying the psychological, developmental, relational, spiritual, neurobiological, cultural, social, cognitive, and behavioral aspects of human behavior.
M.S. Clinical Psychology/Marriage and Family Therapy
Featuring 60 units of training that emphasizes professional development through mentoring relationships, community-based service, personalized learning, academic direction, and rigorous clinical experiences, the M.S. Clinical Psychology/Marriage and Family Therapy program is focused on studying psychology from a myriad of dimensions to human health for the development of the whole person.
Accreditations
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Contact
1500 Ralston Avenue
Belmont, CA 94002
(650) 508-3557
hmarlo@ndnu.edu
http://www.ndnu.edu/arts-and-sciences/graduate/clinical-psychology/
Pacifica Graduate Institute
Division of Counseling Psychology
Nestled in the coastal foothills just south of Santa Barbara in Carpinteria along the sparkling waters of the Pacific Ocean, Pacifica Graduate Institute is a private graduate school that fosters creative learning in the fields of psychology, mythological studies, and the humanities. Since human experience is diverse and multi-faceted, the Division of Counseling Psychology offers interdisciplinary degree programs that enhance the study of the science of psychology.
M.A. in Counseling Psychology with an Emphasis in Depth Psychology
Boasting preparation for licensure in both Marriage and Family Therapy and Professional Clinical Counseling with an average pass rate of 93% on the LMFT licensing exam, the M.A. in Counseling Psychology program offers a unique emphasis in Depth Psychology to gain a better understanding of what lies below the surface of conscious awareness.
Accreditations
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Contact
249 Lambert Road
Carpinteria, CA 93013
(805) 969-3626
admissions@pacifica.edu
http://www.pacifica.edu/counseling.aspx
Pacific Oaks College
School of Cultural and Family Psychology
As a non-profit private accredited institution founded nearly 70 years ago by a small group of Quaker families with fundamental principles of inclusion and social justice, Pacific Oaks College is based on a four-acre urban campus in Pasadena with a number of convenient sites throughout California and online. The School of Cultural and Family Psychology is at the forefront of leading the charge for culture-centered social justice programs.
M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy
Available in a 60-credit program in Pasadena with unique specializations in Latino/Latina Family Studies, African-American Family Studies, or Trauma Studies, the M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy program prepares graduates to sit for the LMFT examination in California to work with individuals, couples, and families who are coping with a broad variety of mental health problems to lead more harmonious lives.
Accreditations
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Contact
55 Eureka Street
Pasadena, CA 91103
(626) 529-8061
admissions@pacificoaks.edu
http://www.pacificoaks.edu/Schools_Programs/Masters_Programs/MA_Marriage_and_Family_Therapy
Palo Alto University
Pacific Graduate School of Psychology
Based on a main campus in Palo Alto with satellite centers in Monterey Bay, San Mateo, and Los Altos, Palo Alto University is an accredited private non-profit institution founded with an emphasis in the behavioral and social sciences to promote future clinical innovators. In particular, the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology is highly regarded for having the 79th best graduate psychology degree programs in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report.
M.A. in Counseling Psychology
Designed to prepare students to serve their communities as Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LFMTs) among the underserved multicultural populations of California, the M.A. in Counseling Psychology program provides extensive clinical training with a 12-month supervised practicum, flexible evening scheduling, and a cohort model in nine quarters of coursework.
Accreditations
American Psychological Association (APA)
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Contact
1791 Arastradero Road
Palo Alto, CA 94304
(650) 433-3888
dberger@paloaltou.edu
http://www.paloaltou.edu/degree-program/ma-counseling-psychology-mft-and-pcc
Pepperdine University
Graduate School of Education and Psychology
As an independent Christian institution of around 7,700 students located on an 830-acre urban campus overlooking the Pacific Ocean at the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains, Pepperdine University is ranked as the 57th best college and 22nd top value school in the entire nation by the U.S. News and World Report. Even more importantly, the Graduate School of Education and Psychology is the home for the country’s 125th best clinical psychology programs.
Masters of Clinical Psychology with Emphasis in Marriage & Family Therapy
Offered in a full-time daytime schedule in Malibu with a practice-based course of study emphasizing applied methods of psychotherapy, the Masters of Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis in Marriage & Family Therapy program is dedicated to training students with the therapeutic modalities that are practiced regularly in today’s mental health marketplace with individuals, couples, and families.
Accreditations
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Contact
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90263
(310) 506-4608
andrea.lipnicki@pepperdine.edu
http://gsep.pepperdine.edu/masters-clinical-psychology-mft-day/
Phillips Graduate Institute
School of Psychology
First founded as the California Family Study Center (CFSC) in 1971 as the first freestanding graduate program nationwide dedicated to studying human relationships, the Phillips Graduate Institute is a small private institution of just 350 students in Chatsworth. As part of California’s MFT Consortium, the School of Psychology is committed to offering master’s and doctoral degree programs that train well-rounded mental health practitioners with small class sizes, professional faculty members, rigorous curriculum, and an experientially-based academic approach.
M.A. in Psychology: Marriage & Family Therapy
Since being founded more than four decades ago, the M.A. in Psychology: Marriage & Family Therapy program has excelled in delivering a 60-unit curriculum of over five semesters to train graduate students for utilizing family systems theories as the basis for assisting individuals, families, couples, and larger systems with growing into their own identities as licensed psychotherapists within California.
Accreditations
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Contact
19900 Plummer Street
Chatsworth, CA 91311
(818) 861-6627
kguilfoil@pgi.edu
http://pgi.edu/page.php?id=79
With their expertise gained at the master’s or doctoral degree level, marriage and family therapists are responsible for working with individuals, couples, and families in an effort to help them lead healthier lives. As one of the most rewarding helping professions, LMFTs are a sounding board to clients who need to express their fear, grief, sadness, frustration, and anger in a safe environment. If you have received the calling to help build stronger families and interpersonal relationships, then be sure to check out these top marriage and family counseling degree programs in California!
Another great resource:
10 Best Online Marriage and Family Counseling Degree Programs
