Couple and Family Therapy DCFT

Major: Couple and Family Therapy
Degree Awarded: Doctor in Couple and Family Therapy (DCFT)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 71.0
Co-op Option: None
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 51.1505
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 21-1013

About the Program

The Doctor of Couple and Family Therapy (DCFT) is an advanced clinical degree program preparing couple and family therapists to take leadership roles in the couple and family therapy field as administrators, advanced practice clinicians and educators. The program prepares students to work with diverse individuals, couples and families across multiple health-care settings, with a particular focus on clinical issues and evidence-informed practices related to couples therapy, trauma and addiction.

This is a part-time, online program that takes approximately three years to complete. The curriculum includes courses in advanced theory and practice, teaching pedagogy, health-care policy, research methodologies and a clinical internship.

Additional Information

For more information about the Doctor of Couple and Family Therapy program, visit the Counseling and Family Therapy Department website.

Admission Requirements

The following minimum criteria will be used for to determine an applicant’s admissibility:

  • Master's degree in marriage/couple and family therapy
  • Cumulative GPA of 3.5
  • Academic transcripts(s)
  • Focused Personal Essay:
    • Reason for applying to the program
    • How the program mission fits with their professional goals
  • No GRE test scores
  • Virtual interview
  • Three (3) recommendation letters

All applicants will be scored on the following criteria, as it relates to their admission decision:

1. Ability to perform academically
2. Leadership abilities
3. Clinical abilities
5. Commitment to working with work with diverse individuals, couples and families
6. Commitment to scholarship

Degree Requirements

CFTP 710Advanced Legal and Ethical Implications in Couple and Family Therapy4.0
CFTP 716Advanced Family Therapy Theory and Practice3.0
CFTP 720Couple Therapy Theory & Practice3.0
CFTP 724Multicultural Approach to Couple and Family Therapy4.0
CFTP 734Supervision in Couple and Family Therapy4.0
CFTP 735Family Healthcare Policy3.0
CFTP 740Systemic Approaches to Addiction3.0
CFTP 742Couples Sexual Therapy3.0
CFTP 743Trauma Theory and Models with Vulnerable Populations3.0
CFTP 750Professional Development and Leadership3.0
CFTP 760Teaching Practicum2.0
CFTP 765Grant Writing for Program Development3.0
NHP 762Health Professional Education3.0
RSCH 700Foundations in Quantitative Research3.0
RSCH 714Qualitative Research Methods I3.0
RSCH 720Foundations of Biostatistics3.0
Internship
CFTP 805Couple and Family Therapy Doctoral Internship I3.0
CFTP 806Couple and Family Therapy Doctoral Internship II3.0
CFTP 807Couple and Family Therapy Doctoral Internship III3.0
Portfolio Planning and Development
CFTP 797Capstone Portfolio Development I2.0
CFTP 798Capstone Portfolio Development II2.0
CFTP 799Capstone Portfolio Development III2.0
Capstone Portfolio Sequence
CFTP 810Capstone Portfolio I2.0
CFTP 811Capstone Portfolio II2.0
CFTP 812Capstone Portfolio III2.0
Total Credits71.0

Sample Plan of Study

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
CFTP 7104.0CFTP 7203.0CFTP 7244.0CFTP 7353.0
CFTP 7163.0CFTP 7403.0NHP 7623.0CFTP 7433.0
 CFTP 7972.0 CFTP 7982.0
 7 8 7 8
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
CFTP 7344.0CFTP 7503.0CFTP 7602.0CFTP 7423.0
RSCH 7203.0RSCH 7003.0CFTP 7992.0CFTP 7653.0
  RSCH 7143.0 
 7 6 7 6
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
CFTP 8053.0CFTP 8063.0CFTP 8073.0 
CFTP 8102.0CFTP 8112.0CFTP 8122.0 
 5 5 5 
Total Credits 71

Counseling and Family Therapy Department Faculty

Veronica Carey, PhD (Capella University) Assistant Dean of Diversity and Student Affairs. Associate Clinical Professor. National and international speaker on psychiatric rehabilitation evidence-based best practices and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Adheres to social justice as an essential curriculum content orientation.
Jessica Chou, PhD, LMFT, LPC (St. Louis University). Assistant Professor. Community-based research within marginalized populations including women and families impacted by substance use, training experiences of couple/marriage and family therapists (C/MFT) and migration and resettlement among immigrant and refugee families.
Guy Diamond, PhD, MA (California School of Professional Psychology) Director, Center for Family Intervention Science. Associate Professor. Prevention and treatment of adolescent depression and suicide; screening and education in schools, primary care, emergency rooms and health care centers; Attachment-based family therapy; empirically supported treatment for youth depression and suicide.
Stephanie Krauthamer Ewing, PhD, MPH (University of Delaware). Assistant Professor. Promoting healthy emotional development and resilience in children and adolescents, attachment and care-giving relationships, impact of trauma on parenting and attachment, developmental and contextual risk factors for depression and suicide risk in youth, evidence based treatments for depression and suicide risk, research methodology.
Gloria Gonzalez-Kruger, PhD, LMFT (Michigan State University) Director of Clinical Services, Department of Counseling and Family Therapy. Associate Clinical Professor. AAMFT Approved Supervisor, Access, utilization, and cultural competency of mental health services: Underserved and marginalized communities, Latino/a families, integrated primary care/behavioral healthcare, outcome-based education and training of MFT/CFTs (cultural competence, telehealth, virtual reality).
Christian Jordal, PhD, LMFT, CST (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University) Interim Chair, Program Director, Master of Family Therapy Program (MFT). Associate Clinical Professor. Behavioral health outcomes, mixed methodology; program evaluation, sexual and gender identity, healthcare best practices.
Laura Lynch, PhD, LMFT (Drexel University). Assistant Clinical Professor. Medical family therapy, collaborative healthcare, and couples and families coping with chronic illness; couple and family therapy graduate education; couples therapy with a focus on emotionally focused therapy.
Bertranna Muruthi, PhD, LMFT (Drexel University). Assistant Clinical Professor. Transitional issues, immigrant families, family needs, resilience behaviors, and culturally responsive community-based collaborative approaches.
James Muruthi, PhD (University of Georgia). Assistant Professor. Family aging, health, wellness, social capital, health disparities.
Rikki Patton, PhD, LMFT (Ohio State University). Research Professor. Family impact of substance abuse disorders and addiction, interprofessional education and collaboration.
Holly Sawyer, PhD, LPC, NCC, CAADC, SAP (Trident University International) Director of Master in Addictions Counseling (MAC). Assistant Clinical Professor. Illicit drug use among college students, drug and alcohol prevention, substance use disorders, decriminalizing persons diagnosed with a substance use disorder, culturally inclusive clinical supervision, and self-care.
Phyllis Swint, PhD, LMFT (Drexel University) Director of Clinical Training. Assistant Clinical Professor. Development of clinical training models and affiliate relationships that align with foundational learning and placement experiences for C/MFT and Masters of Addictions Counseling students. Extensive background in advocacy and working with marginalized families in behavioral health, community mental health, and the Philadelphia prison systems. Community outreach, collaboration and research, dedicated to the relational treatment needs of marginalized communities within the scope of clinical training and development.
Ebony White, PhD, LPC, NCC, ACS (Montclair State University). Assistant Clinical Professor. Research focused on addressing issues in transracial adoption and improving trauma informed care within the African American community. Understanding global mental health within the African diaspora and expanding developmental pathways through advocacy and social justice.
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