2007 - 2008 MFT

Bethel Seminary San Diego

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Marital and Family Therapy

Master of Arts in MFT (M.A.)

And Master of Divinity with the MFT Concentration (M.Div.)

M.A. students must take all courses listed. M.Div. (MFT) students need 28 credit hours of MFT courses. They are MF557 Families in Context: Gender, Class and Culture, MF506 Individual Development and the Family Life Cycle, MF565 Dynamics of Family Process, MF608 Sexuality and Intimacy in Couples and Families, MF504 Theories of MFT I, MF505 Theories of MFT II, MF718 Child Abuse Assessment and Intervention, MF719 Substance Abuse Assessment and Intervention, MF720 Domestic Violence Assessment and Intervention, MF726 Aging and Long Term Care and 2 credits from the MFT Electives.

PREREQUISITE

Only for those without an undergraduate/graduate degree in counseling or related disciplines.

PC500: Principles of Counseling

This course is designed to provide a foundation of basic skills for persons who would like to enhance their therapy and pastoral care abilities. It combines theoretical understanding and hands-on practice of essential counseling microskills and can serve as the prerequisite counseling course of persons enrolling in or transferring to the M.A. in Marital and Family Therapy. Four hours.

MF504: Theories of Marital Family Therapy – I

Students review and critique, from theological, spiritual and theoretical perspectives, the major foundational approaches to family therapy. Application of techniques from these approaches are practiced in class. Students also examine the place of marriage and family therapy in pastoral care and begin to articulate their own approach to working with families. Four hours.

MF504L Theories of MFT Lab I.

This lab affords students the opportunity to develop some comfort and competence using the clinical skills and interventions that are associated with the MFT theories being studied in MF146 Theories of Marital and Family Therapy I. Watching videos of therapy sessions, participating in, observing and critiquing role plays will stimulate the primary learning experiences. Students should enroll in MF504L concurrently with MF504. San Diego only. One hour.

MF505: Theories of Marital Family Therapy – II

Students review and critique, from theological, spiritual and theoretical perspectives, the major newer approaches to family therapy that incorporate a postmodern worldview. Application of techniques from these approaches are practiced in class. Students continue to examine the place of marriage and family therapy in pastoral care and do additional work toward articulating their own approaches to working with families. Prerequisite: MF504. Four hours.

MF505L Theories of MFT Lab II.

This lab affords students the opportunity to develop some comfort and competence using the clinical skills and interventions that are associated with the MFT theories being studied in MF505 Theories of Marital and Family Therapy II. Watching videos of therapy sessions, participating in, observing and critiquing role plays will stimulate the primary learning experiences. Students should enroll in MF505L concurrently with MF505. San Diego only. One hour.

MF506: Individual Development and the Family Life Cycle

This course explores the development of the individual across the life span within the context of the family life cycle. Physical, spiritual, cognitive and social development are examined with a multicultural understanding of family life cycle transitions. Prerequisite: MF504. Four hours.

MF557: Families in Context: Gender, Class and Culture

This course explores differences in family structure and interaction relating to race, ethnicity, culture, and socioeconomic status. The influences of gender role perceptions are examined. Families are understood to be complex systems of interacting with larger systems (religious, educational, medical, legal, political, etc.). Students identify challenges of providing therapy and pastoral care to families who differ from themselves in terms of gender, class and culture. Prerequisite: MF504. Four hours.

MF559: Psychological Assessment in MFT

This course will familiarize students with the psychometric characteristics and limitations of both projective and standardized psychological, marital and family assessment tools. Students will learn how to administer and score various instruments, interpret assessment data, and write clinical reports that will assist in diagnosis and treatment of individuals, couples, and families in therapy. The legal and ethical issues involved in the use of assessment measures especially in diverse populations will be discussed. Students are encouraged to use their own profiles to identify opportunities for continuing spiritual, personal, and relational growth.

Prerequisite: MF504. Four hours.

MF560: Professional and Ethical Issues in Marital and Family Therapy

This course addresses legal and ethical situations arising in the practice of marital and family therapy and examines unique challenges of maintaining appropriate boundaries within ministry settings. Issues of professional development are discussed, and students are encouraged to develop strategies for continuing professional, personal, and spiritual growth.

Prerequisite: MF504. Four hours.

MF564: Individual and Family Psychopathology

This course helps students understand and identify individual and relational problems and gain awareness of abnormal and/or unhealthy development of individuals and relationships. The course includes introduction to and critique of DSM-IV diagnostic categories.

Prerequisite: MF504, and MF506. Four hours.

MF565: Dynamics of Family Process

The dynamic processes of family and couple relationships such as socialization, communication, shame, power, stress and coping will be examined. Special attention will be given to spirituality and how families transition through divorce, remarriage and grief. Students will be given opportunities to explore these dynamics in their own families of origin. Prerequisite: MF504. Two hours.

MF606: Psychopharmacology and MFT

Students will gain a historical perspective of the use of medication in treating mental disorders within the context of social, cultural, gender and religious issues. The central focus will be on the major classifications of psychotropic drugs, specifying their psychiatric uses, benefits, side effects, toxicities, combinations and biochemical actions. This course will also explore how MFTs can best work with medical practitioners in providing more comprehensive client care.

Prerequisites: MF504, MF506, and MF564. Three hours.

MF608: Sexuality and Intimacy in Couples and Families

This course analyzes the dynamic processes of love, intimacy and sexuality in couple and family relationships from spiritual and systems perspectives. Special focus is given to human sexuality including strategies for enhancing the sexual experience, as well as diagnosing and treating sexual dysfunctions within the context of marital and family therapy. This course satisfies the California BBS requirement of a minimum of 10 contact hours of coursework in human sexuality. Prerequisite: MF504. Two hours.

MF655: Research Design and Evaluation in MFT

Students explore the interpretation and design of qualitative and quantitative research on family issues and in processes and outcomes of marriage and family therapy. Principles of understanding and critiquing public research are examined with the goal of enabling students to use current literature to ground their therapeutic and pastoral responses to family concerns.

Prerequisite: MF504. Four hours.

MF705, 706, 707, 708: Supervised Clinical Experience I-IV

These four units constitute a twelve-month practicum including 500 hours of clinical contact and a minimum of 100 hours of supervision by a qualified California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, AAMFT-approved supervisor and/or other approved supervisor. The practicum fulfills the requirements of the BBS for face-to-face experience counseling individuals, couples, families or groups. A continuation fee of $250.00 will be assessed for any quarter of participation in group supervision beyond the fourth S.C.E. unit for MFT students, or for any extension required in L.P.S. programs. Prerequisite: permission of the MFT program administrator. Nine hours (MF705, three hours and MF706-708 two hours each).

MF718: Child Abuse Assessment and Intervention

In addition to learning California laws regarding assessing and reporting child abuse, students will be exposed to research, theories and spiritual perspectives about perpetrators, victims, assessment and interventions in child abuse cases. This course satisfies the California BBS requirements for 7 hours of instruction in child abuse prevention, assessment and reporting.

Prerequisite: MF504. One hour.

MF719: Substance Abuse Assessment and Intervention

Students will be exposed to research and theories of ideology, progression, assessment and treatment of alcoholism and other chemical substance abuse and dependency. Spiritual, psychosocial and biological perspectives will be integrated. This course meets California BBS requirements for a minimum of 15 hours of specific instruction in alcoholism and other chemical substance dependency. Prerequisite: MF504. Two hours.

MF720: Domestic Violence Assessment and Intervention

The focus of this course includes California laws, research, theories and spiritual perspectives regarding detection, assessment and intervention in cases of spousal or partner abuse. California BBS requirements for specific instruction in this area are met in this course.

Prerequisite: MF504. Two hours.

MF726: Aging and Long Term Care: MFT Perspectives

Aging is accompanied by many developmental, psychosocial and contextual changes that affect every domain of the individual’s life. Focus will be given to normal aging and differential diagnosis between depression, complicated bereavement and dementia, along with their treatments. Emphasis will be given to psychotherapeutic, pastoral and psychopharmacologic treatments for geriatric clients. This course meets California BBS requirements of 10 hours of instruction in aging and long term care. Prerequisite: MF504. One hour.

MF755/TS755: Theology and MFT Theory: An Integrative Seminary

This course is an investigation of human nature and Christology from both theological and psychological perspectives. Different theories of human nature are considered in relation to a theological understanding of imago dei. The consequences of the fall on the human person and race are appraised theologically and clinically. The effect of redemption from sin through Christ is compared and contrasted to psychopathology and therapeutic effectiveness. Students will contemplate the person and example of Christ and explore ways in which they can be incarnational in practice to bring about change and healing to a hurting humanity. This course will assist MFT students to write the Senior MFT Paper. The class will be team taught by a theology professor and a marital and family therapy professor. Prerequisite: TS501. Four hours.

MFT Electives

MF740: Personal Formation of the Christian Therapist

Students will examine the development of their selves as therapists, giving special attention to the influences from their families of origin, spirituality, sense of self, personal maturity, gender, cultural and ethic background. Particular focus will be given to what it means to be a Christian therapist. Prerequisites: MF504 and MF405. Two hours.

MF741: Spiritual Formation in Couples and Families

Spiritual formation will be studied with a scope that expands to the relationship dynamics in couples and families. Developmental, theological and systems perspectives will be integrated and implications for clinical work will be given focus. Prerequisites: MF504 and MF505. Two hours.

MF742: Therapy with Children

Developmental considerations for conducting therapy with pre-adolescent children will be explored within the systems context. Students will learn a variety of treatment approaches including play, art, sand tray and group therapies. Legal and ethical issues associated with therapy for minors as well as special characteristics and competencies required for doing therapy with pre-adolescent clients will be explored. Prerequisites: MF504, MF505 and MF506. Two hours.

MF743: Therapy with Adolescents

Developmental considerations for conducting therapy with adolescents will be explored within the systems context. Students will learn a variety of individual, family and group treatment approaches. Legal and ethical issues associated with therapy for minors as well as special characteristics and competencies required for doing therapy with adolescent clients will be explored. Prerequisites: MF504, MF505 and MF506. Two hours.

MF744: Therapy with Couples

Spiritual, development and psychosocial dynamics in couple relationships along with research and theoretical perspectives on therapy with couples will be examined from a systems perspective. Various forms of coupling like marriage, cohabitation, gay and lesbian partnering will be examined in light of their particular needs and challenges to the Christian therapist.

Prerequisites: MF504, MF505 and MF506. Two hours.

MF745: Therapy with Groups

The major approaches to group therapy will be presented with an emphasis on process groups. The strategies and techniques, as well as the role and characteristics of effective leaders will be explored. Therapy groups will be differentiated from self-help, twelve-step, care groups and other group experiences. The place of group therapy in MFT practice and pastoral care will be examined. Prerequisites: MF504 and MF505. Two hours.

MF746: Assessment and Treatment of Addictive Processes

Students will explore the spiritual, psychological and interpersonal processes involved in a wide variety of addictive and compulsive behaviors including sex, gambling, work, substance abuse, religious activity, eating and relationship compulsivity. This course covers a broader spectrum of compulsive behaviors than MF719 (substance abuse) which deals only with substance abuse and dependence. Prerequisites: MF504, MF505 and MF719. Two hours.

MF747: Crisis Intervention and Trauma Response

This course focuses on acute emergency mental health intervention that covers the Critical Incident Stress Management fundamentals and protocols needed to respond to emotional trauma associated with natural as well as human-caused disasters and crises such as earthquake, fire, death, suicide, injury, threat and terror. Steps to lessen the potential negative impact of such crises and the prevention of possible post-trauma syndromes for both the primary and secondary victims of trauma will be described. Appropriate follow-up services using government and faith-based resources and referrals will be discussed. Students will identify compassion fatigue risk factors and learn self-care strategies. Prerequisites: MF504, MF405 and MF564. Two hours.