The Couple and Family Therapy Master’s degree program is a unique collaboration between Council for Relationships and Thomas Jefferson University’s College of Health Professions, bringing together the talents and resources of two respected organizations. The clinical counseling program has two specialty tracks: family therapy and sex therapy.
This is a full-time, two-year, 66-credit program, which is modeled on the core curriculum developed by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), focusing on key areas of contemporary practice, including:
- Couple and marital counseling
- Family therapy with children
- Families in transition (divorce or remarriage)
- Family violence
- Medical family therapy
- Sex therapy
The curriculum reflects a bio-psychosocial approach to understanding human behavior, viewing the behavior of individuals, couples, families and larger systems as the result of an interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors. It also reflects a commitment to training therapists to be aware of and sensitive to issues of cultural diversity and their impact on family functioning and the therapeutic process. The curriculum varies slightly depending on the program track you choose. Students must complete 500 direct clinical hours and 100 hours of supervision, 50 hours of which must be based on raw data as defined by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE). Sex Therapy Track offers students the opportunity to learn and practice the various therapeutic skills necessary for the field of sex therapy. Family Therapy Track offers specialized study in interpersonal issues facing couples and families. These include family violence, substance abuse, chronic medical conditions and the blending of families. The Program requires 500 hours of direct clinical experience and 200 of those hours must be with couples or families. Students receive a minimum of 100 hours of supervision, at least 50 hours of which is based on direct observation, videotape or audiotape. Students complete 8–10 hours of clinical practice per week and receive both individual and group supervision. Practicum placements are available at a variety of clinical settings, including various CFR locations and community partner sites in the Philadelphia region. Students have a variety of options for their clinical placements and training. The majority of your prerequisites must be completed before an admissions decision can be made. You do not need to have your prerequisites completed before you apply. Curriculum
Specialty Tracks
Practicum
Prerequisites
Application Process/Applying
The application process is handled through Thomas Jefferson University. Please visit the application page for full details on the application process and to apply. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the cycle until the class is filled; decisions are granted on a rolling basis. We may contact academically eligible applicants via e-mail to schedule an interview (provided space is still available). Decisions include: Offer of Admission, Denied Admission, Hold for Grades, and Waitlist.
Staff & Faculty
Experienced CFR clinicians teach in the program and provide supervision for students as they complete their clinical hour requirements. Council for Relationships Staff Therapists who serve as Thomas Jefferson University faculty members include:
- Erica Wilkins PhD, LMFT, Program Director, Associate Professor
- Sara Corse, PhD, Director of Community Partnerships Initiative (CPI), Adjunct Associate Professor
- Michele Marsh, PhD, Director of Sex Therapy Track, Adjunct Assistant Professor
- Kerstin Miller, MDiv, LMFT, Director of Supervision
- Kenneth Covelman, PhD, Adjunct Associate Professor
- Shadeen Francis, LMFT, Adjunct Instructor
- Michelle Jackson, MSS, LCSW, Adjunct Instructor
- George James Jr., PsyD, LMFT, Adjunct Instructor Professor
- Kristine Seitz, M.Ed, MSW, LSW, Adjunct Instructor
- Priscilla Singleton, MSW, LMFT, LCSW, Adjunct Instructor Professor
- Florda Priftanji, LMFT, Administrative Assistant
To learn more about the COAMFTE-accredited program*, including admissions requirements, please visit Thomas Jefferson University’s Department of Counseling and Behavioral Health website.
| For questions about the program, please contact: Erica Wilkins, PhD, LMFT Director Couple and Family Therapy Program Erica.Wilkins@jefferson.edu | For questions about admissions, please contact: Devin M. Sullivan Phillips Admissions Counselor Thomas Jefferson University devin.sullivan.phillips@jefferson.edu (215) 503-9847 |
