![Happy family](/sites/default/files/styles/375x164/public/2020-08/Family%20iStock_000017005949Medium2.jpg?h=e08ffc1b&itok=RT-eObvF)
Marriage and Family Therapy
- 60 Credits
- School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Westchester
![Young married couple receiving counseling.](/sites/default/files/styles/440x333/public/2020-08/iStock-1083813556.jpg?h=62bc044e&itok=Emg0c8bO)
Marriage and Family Therapy Overview
Marriage and Family Therapy students gain expertise in family systems theory and practice, clinical assessment and the prevention and treatment of relational problems.
Students meet licensure requirements through °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê’s affiliated agencies, mental health facilities, hospitals and private practice settings, and benefit from supervision by highly experienced mental health care professionals.
This program qualifies graduates to sit for the National Marriage and Family Therapy licensing exam, and they are able to move toward completing the 1,500 clinical hours in a professional full-time position required for licensure, 300 of which are completed during the program.
Some of the topics covered in our Marriage and Family Therapy program in New York City include:
- Substance abuse
- Relationship communication skills
- Issues in the LGBTGEQIAP+ (SAIGE) community
- Grief
- Parental concerns
- Child and adolescent behavioral issues
- Marital or couple conflicts
- Domestic violence
- Intimate partner violence
- Sexual-related concerns, disorders and issues
- Feelings of depression or anxiety
Join us for our Upcoming Graduate Events
Join us for an upcoming graduate admissions event to learn more about our Marriage and Family Therapy program and explore how Mercy can help you meet your goals.
![Counselor helps a mother & daughter work out their differences.](/sites/default/files/styles/440x333/public/2020-08/iStock-695877204_0.jpg?h=9c57a47a&itok=Xn-q_jFH)
Career Opportunities
Marriage and family therapists work in settings including:
- Agencies
- Private practice
- Hospitals
- Court systems
![Holding hands during counseling.](/sites/default/files/styles/440x333/public/2020-08/iStock-1180549316.jpg?h=62bc044e&itok=PNux_-EH)
The Mercy Advantage
The need for marriage and family therapists is rising, with a from now until 2032. This projected growth means there will be close to 6,000 open positions on average for these therapists each year.
As a marriage and family therapist, you'll help patients navigate their marriage or relationships with their families. Some of the challenges you may address with your patients include stress, depression, anxiety and behavioral difficulties within the context of current or past relationships.
During marriage counseling schooling, you'll have plenty of chances for hands-on experience through clinical placements so you can easily move from the classroom to a practice or clinic. Many of our faculty members have their own practices or work in clinics, and they're happy to share their experiences or assist with helping students find clinical placements.
At Mercy, our marriage and family therapy program gives students the skills needed to provide treatment for a variety of patient cases. You'll enjoy small class sizes to foster deeper connections with your professors and classmates as you work toward your degree.
Other advantages of choosing Mercy for your family therapist degree are:
- Internationally renowned faculty who are experts in their field
- Flexibility with full- or part-time enrollment
- Mercy graduates have post-graduate opportunities for scholarships available from the Ackerman and Family Institute of Westchester
- Internship and other real-world experiences integrated into curriculum learning