Marriage and Family Therapy Master's Program

This course provides students with a foundation in research and evaluation methodologies and strategies, program evaluation and needs assessment. Students will gain an understanding of different types of research and research design, procedures for data collection and analysis, analysis of both hard and soft data, and ethical and legal considerations associated with research. Students will leave the course prepared to conduct and be discriminating consumers of research.

Successful completion required for mental health field experience I, CCP520. The basis of therapeutic relationships is seen in Carl Rogers’ theory of personality with its stress of self-actualization, development of the self, phenomenological field, validation, and conditions of worth is the basis for the techniques that are taught, practiced and modeled in this course. These techniques are empathic understanding, unconditional positive regard, and congruence. These techniques are central to any effective relationship from any theoretical perspective. The student will become practiced at these and related aspects of person-centered theory. Includes the fundamental occupational tasks of assessment, case presentation, case collaboration, team membership and client interaction. This course addresses the following Massachusetts State Standards for School Adjustment Counselor/School Social Worker: Standard a: Principles of therapeutic relationships.

This course deals with the nature of neurotic behavior, abnormal behavior and the psychoses, as well as the nature of normal and abnormal intellectual, social, and emotional development and learning in childhood and adolescence. Particular attention is given to ego-defensive, adaptive and sociocultural aspects of behavior, health and wellness, and ways in which adaptive behavior becomes symptomatic. This course organizes disorders according to the organization of the DSM-5. Historical contexts in which psychopathology has been diagnosed and viewed from early medical concepts through the currently used Diagnostic Criteria in the DSM-5 are presented. Learning disorders, including emotional issues affecting student achievement and their treatments are investigated. Attention is focused on differential diagnosis, treatment planning and best practices in applied settings. Discussions focus on psychopharmacology, knowledge of medical conditions and medication related to physical disabilities and learning disorders, prevalent psychotherapies, and theories of abnormal behavior and development. Case studies provide experience in classifying, diagnosing and categorizing various mental disorders from childhood throughout the lifespan. Discussions of treatment of mental illness include psychopharmacology, prevalent psychotherapies used in individual, family, couple and group psychotherapy and current research findings related to treatment. Discussions also focus on health and wellness, multicultural issues, plus variables related to resiliency and student learning. Additionally, the effects of abuse, violence, theories of normal and abnormal behavior and development are examined. Current research that can assist the school counselor in developing a plan of action for referral and treatment that relates to personal, social and academic functioning of students will be procured through the online library. This course utilizes films, tapes, case studies, class presentations, lectures, and group discussions. It includes the fundamental occupational tasks of assessment, case presentation, case collaboration, team membership and client interaction. This course also includes the fundamental occupational tasks of assessment, case presentation, case collaboration, team membership and client interaction. This course addresses the following Massachusetts State Standard for School Adjustment Counselor/School Social Worker: h: Knowledge of medical conditions and medication related to physical disabilities and learning disorders. c. Learning disorders, including emotional issues affecting student achievement, and their treatment This course addresses the following Massachusetts State Standards for School Guidance Counseling: c. Psychology of learning. d. Understanding of the diagnosis and treatment of learning and behavior disorders. e. Theories of normal and abnormal intellectual, social, and emotional development.

This course will cover the theories behind marital and family therapy and provide a practical integration of interests and skills. The course is designed to meet the needs of both beginning and experienced therapists. Beginning students will have the opportunity to build a sound theoretical foundation for marital and family therapy while more advanced students can refine technique and explore emerging treatment approaches. Written assignments will be similarly tailored. One basic counseling skills course is required in each counseling program. The course stresses development of counseling skills which are essential to a particular area of training and practice. One or more active teaching methods, such as role-play, live or videotaped demonstration, or other experiential exercises form a significant part of the course experience. Includes the fundamental occupational tasks of assessment, case presentation, case collaboration, team membership and client interaction.

This course explores several models of school counseling and mental health counseling and the relationship to relevant ethics, federal, state, municipal, state laws, and standards and regulations. The course emphasizes best practices and strategies for dealing with ethical and legal dilemmas, including the ability to apply and practice ethical and legal standards in school counseling. School counseling and systems models are examined along with consultation, harm prevention and reduction, and the evaluation and utilization of community resources. Focal areas include professional roles and functions, ethical standards including accountability, responsibility, client/student welfare, emotional health, laws and regulations, institutional policies including crisis/disaster preparedness and response, cross cultural, cross social class practices and their impact on mental health and school counseling. Includes the fundamental occupational tasks of assessment, case presentation, case collaboration, team membership and client interaction. This course addresses the following Massachusetts State Standard for School Adjustment Counselor/School Social Worker: h: Federal and state laws and regulations addressing the legal rights of students and families. This course addresses the following Massachusetts State Standard for School Guidance Counseling: i. Federal, state, municipal, and school laws and regulations.

This course focuses on theory, research and practice of trauma by addressing systemic and cultural aspects of diagnosis, assessment, dynamics, and trauma treatment. This includes acute stress disorder, post traumatic stress disorder and complex PTSD, as well as dual diagnoses. Immediate and long-term effects of trauma on various populations will be explored: trauma in adults, children, and families, sexual and physical abuse survivors; victims of crimes, large scale disaster, war; workplace violence and complicated grief. Other topics include trauma resilience, natural courses of coping; transgenerational aspects of traumatization and life span perspectives on trauma. This course addresses the following Massachusetts State Standard for School Adjustment Counselor/School Social Worker: d: Prevention and treatment of substance abuse, physical and sexual abuse, and violence in PreK-12 students. This course includes the fundamental occupational tasks of assessment, case presentation, case collaboration, team membership and client interaction.

It is strongly recommended that students participate in a practicum/internship while enrolled in this course. This course is for those beginning work with “multi-problem” families, and for those with some experience who wish to adopt a systemic, strengths-focused model of counseling. Techniques for communicating and working with families in school and community settings are emphasized. Instructor and student generated case studies are supported by role-playing and outside readings. Students go step-by-step through assessment, contracting, and counseling processes. They learn how to evaluate resources and needs, how to identify and collaborate with outside helpers and agencies, and how to deal with conflicts between the needs of family members. Issues relating to family violence, substance abuse and the use of home visiting are also discussed. In addition to class participation and readings, two papers analyzing families and the counseling process are required. This course emphasizes approaches which honor the socioeconomic, linguistic and cultural differences which may affect families and relationship between the family and therapist. Includes the fundamental occupational tasks of assessment, case presentation, case collaboration, team membership and client interaction. This course addresses the following Massachusetts State Standard for School Adjustment Counselor/School Social Worker: f: Techniques for communicating and working with families and school and community personnel.

This course provides an overview of psychological testing including a review of projective testing and techniques for individual and group administration for understanding personality development and pathology, basic administration, scoring and diagnostic skill development. This course reviews instruments including TAT, MMPI and Rorschach as well as language and alternative non-language-based intelligence tests, achievement tests including the WISC-IV, the Woodcock-Johnson III, tests of nonverbal intelligence, and other state-of-the-art diagnostic tools. Emphasis is on clinical integration of the testing materials, useful intervention strategies and recommendations for the counselor, treatment team and/or referral agent. Test reliability, validity, standard deviations, scaled scores, percentiles and interpretation of significant differences are taught. This course includes the fundamental occupational tasks of assessment, case presentation, case collaboration, team membership and client interaction. This course addresses the following Massachusetts State Standards for School Adjustment Counselor/School Social Worker: c. Learning disorders, including emotional issues affecting student achievement, and their treatment. This course addresses the following Massachusetts State Standard for School Counseling: b. Understanding and interpretation of Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) and other academic test results to students, teachers, and peers.

The use of medications in the treatment of alcohol and drug dependence and their co-occurring disorders has historically been controversial. Newer medications with less potential for addiction are increasingly being used, including agonist and antagonist drugs designed to have a direct impact on the neurochemistry of addiction. Finding the balance between treating dependence and co-occurring depression, anxiety, trauma and other disorders poses a special challenge, and it appears that addressing these issues concurrently shows the most success. This course will review current clinical models of intervention and differential diagnosis. A brief review of relevant neuroanatomy and neurophysiology will set the stage for an examination of major psychotropic medications, including antipsychotics, antidepressants, mood stabilizers and anti-anxiety medications, as well as newer medications for addictions treatment. This course will be grounded in clinical material and frequent presentation of case material. Requirements will minimally include one topical presentation. Responsibility will be shared for presenting material throughout the class. Includes the fundamental occupational tasks of assessment, case presentation, case collaboration, team membership and client interaction.