Marriage & Family Therapy Dr. Lauren A. Barnes, LMFT MFT Clinical Director (801) 422-5680 Lauren_Barnes@byu.edu

What is Marriage and Family Therapy? One of six mental health professions: Marriage and Family Therapy (MS/PhD) Social Work (MS) Mental Health/Professional Counselors (MS) Psychiatric Nursing (RN) Psychology (PhD) Psychiatry (MD/DO) Marriage and Family Therapists: Master’s or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy Two years of supervised clinical experience Clinical Social Workers Master’s or doctoral degree in social work Professional Counselors Master’s degree or higher with a major study in counseling Two years of post-master’s supervised counseling experience Psychiatric Nurse Specialists Registered nurses Master’s degree in nursing with a specialization in psychiatric/mental health care services Clinical Psychologists Doctorate in psychology Two years of supervised clinical or counseling experience Psychiatrists Doctor of medicine (MD) or doctor of osteopathic (DO) Certified as a psychiatrist or child psychiatrist by the American Medical Specialties Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, or by the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry

What makes MFT unique? A family-oriented or systemic perspective A family's patterns of behavior influences the individual and therefore may need to be a part of the treatment plan. The unit of treatment isn't just the person - even if only a single person is interviewed - it is the set of relationships in which the person is imbedded. Can involve individuals, couples, and/or families Usually short-term (12 sessions on average) Family therapy typically requires less sessions than individual Very cost-effective Family therapy has been shown to reduce health care use by 21.5%

Why Pick MFT? Want to work in helping professions Love learning about family dynamics Pull towards systemic thinking Interest in micro-level changes Want a focus on clinical training Want to learn about self/own family Want to work as a clinician (Master’s) Typically fully licensed within 2 years post MS Want to pursue a PhD Enjoy consuming and creating research

What does it take to become a licensed MFT? Graduation from an MFT graduate program An COAMFTE accredited program makes the process easier to apply for licensure Post degree experience (approx. 2 years) 1,000 face to face hours (3,000 “other” hours) in Utah* *Requirements vary between states. But easily transfer between states once licensed. Supervision of therapy Includes live supervision by experienced MFTs (AAMFT Approved Supervisors), which is unique among the mental health disciplines Pass the National MFT Licensure Exam Turn in application Renew licensure regularly (CEUs)

What do licensed MFT’s do? Private Practice Community mental health centers Residential Treatment Centers Wilderness Therapy Programs Hospitals University/school settings Courts & Prisons Rural Clinics Employee Assistance

Are MFTs able to survive and feed Their family? Rates depend on location and demand Most MFTs in Utah Valley charge between $70- 150 (MS) and $90-250 (PhD) for private practice sessions

What factors are weighed heavily in admissions decisions? Letters of Recommendation 3 from people who can recommend your ability to do research, be a good student, be good with people GPA (especially last 60 credits of upper-division coursework. Competitive around a 3.7GPA) GRE scores (Competitive around 300+ combined and 4.5+ on writing) Experience – (1) Research and (2) Human services/clinical settin This is not necessary Statement of Intent Video Interview Face to face interview

Why MFT at BYU? Well-established Well-respected The first COAMTE accredited program (1967) Stable, generous financial assistance Currently ranked #1 Well-respected Easily get a job and/or an offer to a reputable Ph.D. program Clear path to licensure All graduates have passed national license exam National Research recognition 4 of the 8 most prolific researchers across COAMFTE programs are faculty at BYU Seven full-time experienced faculty (Plus adjunct and allied faculty, too) Application Deadline: December 1st Invitation to Interview: by end of January Invitation to the Program: by March

Life in the Program MS Year-round for 2 years Full course load (12-15 credits) 10-15 hours of clients per week (500 clinical hours total incl 251 relational) Begin seeing clients during the first semester Publication opportunities Conference research presentations Thesis PhD (Track options 1) research/academic or 2) clinical/administrative specialization) 2 years of coursework + 1 year of internship/dissertation/teaching 500 clinical hours incl 251 relational

Contact Information mft.byu.edu 234 TLRB Program Secretaries: mftptsec@byu.edu Grad Secretary: Shannon Adams Shannon_Adams@byu.edu Clinical Director: Dr. Lauren Barnes Lauren_Barnes@byu.edu

What does MFT Look Like?