1. Marriage & Family Therapy
Dr. Lauren A. Barnes, LMFT
MFT Clinical Director
(801)

2. 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

3. 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%

4. 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

5. 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)

6. 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

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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

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

12. What does MFT Look Like?