Become a leader in the mental health field while honing your skills and knowledge in marriage and family counseling.
The Chicago School’s in-person Psy.D. Marital and Family Therapy program is designed for pre-licensed and licensed master’s-level mental health professionals who want to advance in their careers and take advantage of opportunities that a doctoral degree provides.
The curriculum integrates core competencies informed by the educational model of the National Council of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology (NCSPP) and the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). In addition, your practitioner-scholar faculty are actively engaged in practice and scholarship and will incorporate a wide variety of clinical examples into classroom activities.
The Psy.D. Marital and Family Therapy coursework also covers topics such as teaching in higher education, agency management, grant writing, program development, and advanced clinical principles, to ensure you are well-prepared for your practice and career, post-graduation.
Nazila Amighi, M.A., LMFT
Admissions Requirements
Application to The Chicago School’s Marital and Family Therapy Psy.D. program is open to any person who has earned a license-eligible master’s degree in a mental health field from an accredited institution and who meets other entrance requirements.
Applicants will be judged on their overall ability to do graduate work. Factors considered in admission are:
- GPA from undergraduate and graduate schools
- Generally, a graduate GPA of a 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale is required for admission to the school’s Psy.D. Marital and Family Therapy program
- Successful work history
- Admission essay(s)
- Three letters of recommendation from academic professors or professional or volunteer experience supervisors
- Admission interview
Accreditation & Licensure
Accreditation
To learn more about The Chicago School's institutional and programmatic accreditations, visit our Accreditation page.
Licensure
For information on whether a program at The Chicago School meets or does not meet licensure eligibility requirements for the state in which you wish to be licensed, please visit our licensure disclosures page.
Additional Program Components
Comprehensive Examination
All students are required to successfully complete the Psy.D. Comprehensive Exam. The information tested by the exam covers the program competencies. The comprehensive examination is generally administered twice a year and taken during the final year of enrollment in academic coursework.
Dissertation
The dissertation is an essential aspect of a student’s academic experience and clinical education at the school. The dissertation provides the school with the opportunity to formally evaluate the student’s ability to contribute to the field by applying theory and research to areas of clinical psychology, thinking critically and creatively about professional psychology, and demonstrating self-direction and professional/scholarly writing. The dissertation should clearly and concisely demonstrate the student’s command of the body of knowledge in a chosen area, as well as the ability to critically evaluate and synthesize this knowledge. The student’s Dissertation Committee is responsible for assessing the student’s abilities and critical thinking, determining the professional standards the dissertation must meet, and giving final approval to the dissertation.
Sample Courses
Etiology and Diagnostic Conceptualization of Mental Illness
This course provides a framework for exploring the range of personality and behavioral disorders as presented in the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” by the American Psychiatric Association (DSM-IV). The class focuses on the description, etiology, assessment, and understanding of major diagnostic categories. The student becomes familiar with the utilization of Axis I through V Diagnostic dimensions. Developmental and Dynamic elements are considered in the utilization of case studies. Diagnosis is viewed through the biological, psychodynamic, family systems, and humanistic models.
Clinical Consultation and Supervision
This course addresses clinical consultation and supervision. Topics include historical perspective of clinical supervision and consultation, evidence-based models of supervision, quality and availability of training placement, enhancement of training through facilitating reflection, and critical thinking methods.
Existential Humanistic Approaches
This course explores in-depth humanistic psychotherapies. The origins and histories of the Existential, Gestalt, and person-centered therapies are examined. Particular emphasis is given to the philosophical and phenomenological assumptions underlying these approaches. Key figures of each of these schools of therapy will be highlighted.
Career Pathways
Our Marital and Family Therapy Psy.D. program prepares graduates to practice as licensed professionals, assume leadership positions in the mental health field, and to teach in higher education. You can apply your knowledge to a range of settings, including:
- Hospitals and community-based clinics
- Substance abuse treatment centers
- Mental health centers
- Social service agencies
- Private practice
- Higher education
Career Outcomes
The Chicago School prepares you to make an impact in a variety of high-demand careers. Below, you will find possible career options and salaries associated with this degree.
Data is pulled by a third-party tool called Lightcast, which includes data from sources including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Census Bureau, online job postings, and other government databases. The information below represents a regional and national career outlook related to this degree program*. The Chicago School is dedicated to assisting you in achieving your career goals.
*Many degree programs are intended to fulfill licensure requirements in specific states. The data shown here may not represent the state where you currently reside. For more information on how this program is applicable to the requirements of your state, please speak with your admissions representative.
Financing Your Education
The Chicago School is dedicated to keeping our professional degree programs accessible to anyone regardless of financial status. In addition to the scholarships that may be available, our Financial Aid department will provide you with information to determine what financial arrangements are right for you.
FAQs
Psy.D. Marital and Family Therapy FAQs
What will I learn in the family therapy degree program?
In the Psy.D. Marital and Family Therapy program, you will learn advanced marital and family therapy theories and research. The curriculum integrates core competencies informed by the National Council of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology (NCSPP) and the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), covering topics like teaching in higher education, agency management, grant writing, program development, and advanced clinical principles.
How long does it take to complete the program?
The expected completion time for The Chicago School’s Psy.D. Marital and Family Therapy program is three years full-time. At this time, this program isn’t offered part-time.
Can you get a Psy.D. without a master’s?
The Chicago School’s Psy.D. Marital and Family Therapy program specifically requires that an applicant must have a license-eligible master’s degree in a mental health field such as counseling, psychology, and social work.
Can you get a Psy.D. with a master's in counseling?
Yes, you can pursue a Psy.D. MFT with a master's in counseling. The Chicago School’s program is open to individuals who have earned a master’s degree in a mental health field, which typically includes counseling.
