Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy

This course provides an overview of systems-based theories and models that could be utilized by MFTs while working with children and their families. Course material will also address specific topics necessary to consider while providing therapeutic services, such as ethical dilemmas related to minors, opportunities of collaboration with extra-therapeutic systems, and possibilities of developing parenting strategies sensitive to the diverse population served by MFTs. Facilitating child involvement in the therapeutic process for families will be addressed as well.

This course will examine contemporary crisis-related issues in marriage and family therapy to include the intersections of gender, violence, trauma, substance abuse, suicide, chronic illness, infidelity and infertility. The focus will be on the effects of trauma and stress on family life and relationships and the assessment and treatment of individuals, couples, and families from a relational/systemic perspective with respect to these issues. Collaborative care, referral process, and community networking will be addressed considering the unique needs of the trauma population. Vicarious trauma and resilience will also be examined, with an emphasis on self-care for MFTs working with families in crisis. Ethical issues pertaining to the trauma work will be addressed.

This course provides an overview of systemic and trauma-informed models for treating family violence. Theories and research on the causes and consequences of family violence will also be explored. Additionally, students will consider how to approach family violence with cultural sensitivity and reflect on ethical dilemmas that commonly present when treating family violence.

In this course students examine theory and research on physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development from infancy through adolescence. Students also explore the contextual factors that influence developmental outcomes to inform a systemic approach to clinical assessment and intervention. Diagnostic criteria of psychological disorders that present in childhood and adolescence are also reviewed and critiqued for their cultural sensitivity and manifestation in context.

This course reviews individual and family systems-based interventions for psychological disorders that present in childhood and adolescence. Adaption of interventions to individual developmental stage and cultural context will be emphasized. Course materials will further inform treatment decisions about what level of the ecological system needs intervention based on presenting issue.

This Master’s level course provides students with an opportunity to develop their personal model of therapy for working with couples with a variety of issues, such as differing values and sexual dysfunction. Through the study of several models of couples therapy and sex therapy, students will focus on assessment of couples’ dynamics, goal setting, and potential interventions. Special consideration will be given to diversity and ethical issues throughout the course.

This course provides an overview of systems-based theories and models that can be utilized by MFTs in the assessment and treatment of sexual disorders and dysfunction. The course materials will address physiological and psychological aspects of human sexuality, along with relevant issues such as ethical dilemmas in sex therapy and implications of diversity for sex therapy.

This Master’s level course will familiarize students with the theory, concepts, and application of emotionally focused couple therapy (EFT). Theoretical and conceptual emphasis will be placed on the role that attachment and attachment injuries play in couple interaction and how interactional cycles of the relationship are impacted by individual fears, unmet needs, and trauma. The application will focus on the steps of emotionally focused therapy and the interventions that a therapist uses in the process. Students will also review how EFT prompts clinicians to address the questions related to the diversity and ethical dilemmas potentially encountered in clinical practice.

This course will examine the individual, family, and societal issues pertaining to infidelity and sex addiction. Assessment and treatment in the context of marriage and family therapy will be explored. In addition, attention will be given to the effects of the Internet on infidelity and sex addiction, as well as ethical and diversity considerations in the framework of the systemic treatment of addictions.

This course involves a look at the development of couples and their relationship cycle. The course will incorporate an overview of different issues that present in couples relationships and examine the couple’s dynamics through a lens of diversity. Students will learn about different models of couple’s therapy and assessments pertaining to couple therapy. In addition, the students will learn about the importance of creating a therapeutic alliance with the couples.

This course involves an in-depth study of specific issues pertaining to the couple therapy and couple sexuality. Topics will focus on the issue of sexual addiction, sexual violence, domestic violence, and infidelity considered through various cultures lenses, such as religiosity and spirituality, ethnicity, and socio-economic status. Specific attention will be also paid to the examination of diverse couples contexts, including LGBTQ and military couples. After finishing the course, students will be able to appraise diverse system-based therapy approaches and theoretical frameworks that could be used while addressing the presented topics.

This Master’s level course provides students with a strong foundation in classic and intergenerational models in the field of Marriage and Family Therapy. To deepen this understanding of these models, the course also focuses on their application through theory-based treatment planning. The course is designed to allow students to gain a deeper awareness of the important relationship between theory and practice through the study and application of theory to client situations. The two primary areas of focus in this course are: 1) understanding the Classic Models of the field and; 2) the development of theoretically consistent treatment plans that include attention to the diversity of influences on family life using therapeutic models that purposefully address such influences.

This Master’s level course focuses on post-modern models and treatment trends in marriage and family therapy including the philosophy of social constructionism and the narrative, solution focused, and collaborative models, and the recovery model. Course content will enable you to conceptualize and distinguish recent epistemological issues and address contemporary conceptual directions in the field of marriage and family therapy. You will complete short essays, case studies, and assorted assignments to address a wide variety of presenting clinical problems and issues such as gender and racial diversity and discrimination, feminism, substance abuse, and recovery from mental illness.

This course provides an overview of systems-based theories and models that could be utilized by MFTs while working with children and their families. Course material will also address specific topics necessary to consider while providing therapeutic services, such as ethical dilemmas related to minors, opportunities of collaboration with extra-therapeutic systems, and possibilities of developing parenting strategies sensitive to the diverse population served by MFTs. Facilitating child involvement in the therapeutic process for families will be addressed as well.

This Master’s level course provides students with an opportunity to develop their personal model of therapy for working with couples with a variety of issues, such as differing values and sexual dysfunction. Through the study of several models of couples therapy and sex therapy, students will focus on assessment of couples’ dynamics, goal setting, and potential interventions. Special consideration will be given to diversity and ethical issues throughout the course.

This course provides an overview of systems-based theories and models that can be utilized by MFTs in the assessment and treatment of sexual disorders and dysfunction. The course materials will address physiological and psychological aspects of human sexuality, along with relevant issues such as ethical dilemmas in sex therapy and implications of diversity for sex therapy. 

Students in this course will examine how social, psychological, biological, and cultural influences shape sexual practices, expressions, identities, and representations. Additional topics covered include theoretical perspectives on sexuality, issues in sex research, attraction, intimacy, love, sexuality education, and legal issues related to sexuality. Students will apply this information to the practice of Marriage and Family Therapy.

This course is designed to increase clinical awareness and understanding of LGBTQ couples and families. Historical background on LGBTQ families in the United States, information on LGBTQ couples and families’ unique experiences, and a connection to systemic understanding will be addressed in the course.

This course is designed to be an in-depth exploration of providing marriage and family therapy models, techniques, case conceptualizations, and practice to the LGBTQ populations. Clinical applications and practice resources for MFT will be addressed.

This course is designed to provide a basic clinical understanding for working with transgender individuals and/or individuals who do not identify as cisgender from a systemic lens. Lessons will examine non-cisgender individuals’ experiences within their family, cultural, and community contexts. Further, this course will integrate MFT clinical applications when working with transgender and/or non-cisgender individuals and their families. Ethical challenges, social policies, and family dynamics will also be explored.

This Master’s level course is designed to teach the basics of clinical psychopharmacology for marriage and family therapists. Students will consider how psychotropic medications affect specific populations such as children and older clients. Students will draw from DSM-5 diagnostic criteria as it applies to treatment decision-making and medications. Neuroscience research on psychopharmacology treatment will be reviewed and ethical implications will be discussed.

This course provides a foundation for the practice of marriage and family therapy with older adults and their family members. Students will review the biological, psychological, and social aspects of aging. In order to apply systemic assessment and interventions with this population. Attention is given to the unique concerns for aging clients including long-term care, caregiver relations, end-of-life decisions, and socioeconomic stress. Ethical practices related to these contexts will be discussed, such as how to address ageism and ensure the safety of older clients.

This course is an introductory survey of professional literature and resources related to the MFT sub-specialty of medical family therapy (MedFT) as well as the practice of integrated/collaborative behavioral healthcare. The course includes an emphasis on the theoretical basis for MedFT, the clinical skills necessary to practice in integrated/collaborative healthcare settings, as well as contextual factors unique to medical family therapy.

In this course students will be oriented to the broad spectrum of influences and implications of health, illness, and healthcare relevant to the practice of medical family therapy (MedFT). An understanding of biopsychosocial assessment and intervention, patient and families’ experiences of illness, understanding of pertinent medical issues, comparing of medical ethics and AAMFT Code of Ethics, attuning to sociocultural issues, and collaborating with medical professionals will be explored. In addition, the emphasis is placed on the exploration of the illness stories of the patients, families, and therapists working in the realm of the medical family therapy practice.

This course provides an overview of systemic and trauma-informed models for treating family violence. Theories and research on the causes and consequences of family violence will also be explored. Additionally, students will consider how to approach family violence with cultural sensitivity and reflect on ethical dilemmas that commonly present when treating family violence.

This course will examine the individual, family, and societal issues pertaining to infidelity and sex addiction. Assessment and treatment in the context of marriage and family therapy will be explored. In addition, attention will be given to the effects of the Internet on infidelity and sex addiction, as well as ethical and diversity considerations in the framework of the systemic treatment of addictions.

In this Master’s level course, the learner will understand the importance of mental health professionals providing psychotherapy to active duty service members, veterans, and their families. Participants will gain knowledge of military culture and organization. The students will focus on characteristics of the military family that distinguish it as a separate cultural entity. Students will explore military culture from multiple perspectives including service members, military families, and health care providers. Students will receive an overview of issues experienced by this population and familiarize themselves with theories and evidence-based models developed to address challenges experienced by military families. In addition, students will learn about the larger system of service provision including TRICARE and Veterans Administration.

This Master’s level course involves in depth study of specific issues faced by military service members, veterans, and their families and specific systems-based treatments used by MFTs to address these challenges. Course topics include: influence of combat deployment on service members and veterans, including issues such as post-combat traumas (e.g., PTSD, TBI, sexual assault), risky behaviors (suicidality and substance abuse), and consideration of mental health issues that develop prior to or after deployment. Challenges involving the whole military family, such as demands of deployment, and domestic violence will also be explored. While studying these topics, students will pay particular attention to the issues of confidentiality and consider ethical dilemmas pertaining to military family therapy practice. In addition to being engaged in learning about various challenges present in military families, students will also explore the resilience framework and systems-based understanding of the military families environment.

Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy – Dual Licensure

NU’s Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy Dual Licensure prepares you with skills beyond the bachelor’s degree level to help you stand out in the field and complete the additional course work needed to add the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license to your Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). This certificate requires only 12 credits to complete.

Throughout this certificate program, you’ll explore topics such as group therapy, psychological tests and measurements, and theories of psychotherapy and counseling.

Certificate in Systemic Sex Therapy

This specialization is designed for students that are interested in working with individuals and couples that are facing sexual difficulties. Courses in this specialization cover the historical and theoretical foundations of systemic sex therapy, including how religion, culture and society have informed sexual behaviors. Students will learn about sexual disorders, models of therapy and assessment, creating a non-judgmental therapeutic alliance with clients and ethical issues specific to this field of practice. Additionally, students will learn how to apply this knowledge within the practice of marriage and family therapy.

Certificate in Systemic Treatment of Addictions

This specialization is designed for students that are interested in working with individuals and families facing addiction issues and co-occurring disorders. Courses in this specialization examine the historical and theoretical foundations of addictive disorders, the philosophies of co-occurring disorders and various systematic theories and evidence-based models for treatment. Students will also learn methods for assessing substance-related and addictive disorders in the context of family therapy and ethical issues related to working in the field of addictions as a Marriage and Family Therapist.

Certificate in Trauma-Informed Systemic Therapy

NU’s Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Trauma-Informed Systemic Therapy s focused on developing the skills and personal and professional growth that are required for effective practice in the field of marriage and family therapy. Throughout the coursework, you will work with individuals and families who might have been exposed to traumatic events and are dealing with effects related to traumatic experiences.