Program Overview

Program Overview

The Post-Masters Certificate and Diploma in Couple and Family Therapy is designed for professionals holding master’s degrees in various disciplines, including social work, nursing, psychology, counseling, public health, pastoral/theology, education, law, family medicine, or psychiatry. This program aims to provide advanced practice skills in working with couples and families.

Program Structure

• The program is offered online with a social work perspective.
• It is provisionally accredited by the Canadian Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (CAMFT).
• The program is designed to help families facing multiple stressors and/or are underserved.

Certificates and Diploma

• The certificates at Levels 1 and 2 are each comprised of four courses and are pre-requisites for the Diploma.
• The Diploma is comprised of a 350-hour supervised practicum.
• The program includes:
  • Certificate in Couple and Family Therapy Level 1
  • Certificate in Couple and Family Therapy Level 2
  • Diploma in Couple and Family Therapy

Time and In-Residence Requirement

• Each didactic online course takes place over one semester, including spring and summer.
• Each certificate is one year in length.
• The practicum for the diploma will take one calendar year (May to April) to complete.
• All diploma students will attend and experience a 30-clock hour residence in early May at the Calgary Family Therapy Centre to begin their practicum.

Cost

• Students will pay a $100.00 CDN application fee to the program for Certificate 1.
• Tuition will be assessed at $1,100.00 CDN per course.
• There will be a $250.00 CDN program fee assessed per certificate and diploma.

Admission Requirements

• Applicants must hold a master’s degree in a related helping profession, or an M.D. (Family Medicine or Psychiatry), or an undergraduate degree in law (LLB or JD), and a minimum GPA of 3.0.
• Approved master’s degrees include:
  • Master of Social Work
  • Master of Nursing
  • MSc in Psychology
  • Master of Counselling
  • Master of Divinity (pastoral or theology)
  • Master of Public Health
  • Master’s degrees or higher from the fields of education, psychiatry, business, pastoral/theology, or public health
• Applicants whose primary language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency.

Required Admission Documents

• The application process includes a submission of the following materials:
  1. Application fee: $100.00 CDN
  2. Official transcripts from all previously attended post-secondary institutions
  3. Two (2) letters of reference from professionals who can speak to your practice capabilities
• Letter of intent, including:
  1. Interest in applying to the program
  2. Level of knowledge and understanding of family therapy
  3. Human service work experience
  4. Affiliation with professional organizations
  5. Professional career goals
  6. Three-page narrative account of significant turning points in candidate’s personal/professional career
  7. Commitment to completing the entire Certificate Level
• Current resume

Requirements for Progression and Completion

• Certificate in Couple and Family Therapy Level 1: Students will be awarded the Certificate in Couple and Family Therapy, Level 1, after they have completed the following four courses with a minimum grade of B-:
  • Systemic Approaches in Family Therapy
  • Post-Structural Approaches in Family Therapy
  • Working with Families Involved in the Mental Health System
  • Individual and Family Development
• Certificate in Couple and Family Therapy Level 2: Students will be awarded the Certificate in Couple and Family Therapy Level 2, after they have completed the following four courses with a minimum grade of B-:
  • Therapeutic Work with Family Structures and Subsystems
  • Family Therapy and Community Practice
  • Working with Sexual Identities and Dynamics
  • Ethics
• Diploma in Couple and Family Therapy: To be admitted to the Diploma in Couple and Family Therapy, the student must have completed Certificate Levels 1 and 2 within the previous 4 years. Students will be awarded the Diploma in Couple and Family Therapy after they have completed the 350-hour, one calendar year, supervised (online) practicum. The 30-hour in residence requirements will be counted toward the 350 hours.