What do Salem, Colonial history, and amazing Autumn foliage all have in common? They can all be found in Massachusetts, a state full of stories and beauty. Many well-known institutions call the state home, like Harvard. The MFT programs in the state may also be of interest to those seeking academic marital and family training. Whether students wish to study here or continue on and become licensed in the state, here is everything you need to know about what programs are available and how to become an LMFT in Massachusetts.
Accredited MFT Programs in Massachusetts
When searching for an MFT program, students will want to make sure it is accredited, which means it has been assessed for meeting minimum standards for a marriage and family therapy training program. There are two major accrediting agencies for MFT programs, and the first is called the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). CACREP accredits programs that train students in clinical mental health therapy in general, though MFT programs can also be CACREP-accredited. Unfortunately, there are no CACREP-accredited programs in Massachusetts, but there are plenty of online accredited marital and family counseling programs to choose from.
Walden University:
M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling Specialization)
Walden University has a CACREP-accredited MFT specialization that can be completed with the M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. Students complete coursework related to marital, couple, and family dynamics and counseling techniques in addition to the core curriculum. Students must complete a practicum and internship during the program, as well as a pre-practicum online lab in which students receive their first experience in applying counseling techniques. The curriculum also includes a 10-week group lab with 10 hours of live synchronous group.
COAMFTE Accredited Massachusetts MFT Programs
Another well-recognized accrediting agency for MFT programs is the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy (COAMFTE). COAMFTE is different from CACREP in that COAMFTE specifically examines marriage and family therapy training programs. There are no COAMFTE-accredited MFT programs in Massachusetts, but here are a few online programs accredited by COAMFTE to consider.| University Name | City | State | Degree Level | Modality | Accreditation | GRE Required? | Full Program Name | Program URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield College | Springfield | MA | Masters | Campus | COAMFTE | N/A | Marriage and Family Therapy | Click Here |
| William James College | Newton, | MA | Masters | Campus | COAMFTE | N/A | Couples and Family Therapy | Click Here |
| Cambridge College | Boston, | MA | Masters | Online | COAMFTE | N/A | Marriage and Family Therapy | Click Here |
Abilene Christian University Online:
Abilene’s program touts its flexibility for its students. The program is designed for professionals who are working or have other priorities rather than full-time students. The 60-credit program prepares students in the crucial components of marriage and family therapy techniques and issues and does so from a Christian perspective. Cultural diversity, systemic diagnosis and assessment, and family theory are just a few of the subjects explored in the curriculum. By the end of the program, students have the minimum hours of practicum and internship clinical practice to move into the next steps after graduation.
Northcentral University:
M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy
This 45-credit program takes around 33 months to complete. The program explores theories and techniques of counseling in their application to couples, families, and individuals. Cultural sensitivity, competence, and ethics are some key values explored in the program. The program’s website pointedly states that it does not require in-person residencies, and faculty have all received a doctorate. The only traditional in-person requirements are practicum, internships, and clinical supervision hours.
No GRE Required MFT Programs in Massachusetts
Any student who has researched requirements for graduate school has likely come across the GRE, a standardized test used by schools to assess readiness for continued education beyond the undergraduate degree. For those hoping to avoid this test, many universities are making the submission of GRE scores optional. While Massachusetts does not have any accredited programs in the state, here are a few accredited online programs that do not require the GRE:| University Name | City | State | Degree Level | Modality | Accreditation | GRE Required? | Full Program Name | Program URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield College | Springfield | MA | Masters | Campus | COAMFTE | N/A | Marriage and Family Therapy | Click Here |
| William James College | Newton, | MA | Masters | Campus | COAMFTE | N/A | Couples and Family Therapy | Click Here |
| Cambridge College | Boston, | MA | Masters | Online | COAMFTE | N/A | Marriage and Family Therapy | Click Here |
What will you learn in a Massachusetts MFT program?
In Massachusetts, graduate or doctoral programs can both lead to licensure. The program does not necessarily need to be a marital and family therapy program as long as it is in a related field and students take the additional coursework needed to satisfy licensure requirements. Programs should include 60 semester hours of coursework in the following areas:-human development (3 courses)
-marital and family studies (3 courses)
-marital and family therapy (3 courses)
-professional studies (1 course)
-research (1 course)
Programs should include a clinical practicum or internship with at least 300 hours spent with clients and 100 hours of supervision. Twenty-five of the supervision hours should be observation.
| University Name | City | State | Degree Level | Modality | Accreditation | GRE Required? | Full Program Name | Program URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield College | Springfield | MA | Masters | Campus | COAMFTE | N/A | Marriage and Family Therapy | Click Here |
| William James College | Newton, | MA | Masters | Campus | COAMFTE | N/A | Couples and Family Therapy | Click Here |
| Cambridge College | Boston, | MA | Masters | Online | COAMFTE | N/A | Marriage and Family Therapy | Click Here |
How to become an LMFT in Massachusetts
To become an LMFT in Massachusetts, candidates must complete an accredited program that meets the basic requirements mentioned above. Completing practicum or internship hours while in school is a required prerequisite to licensure, and students should ensure that their program provides the minimum internship hours required by Massachusetts.
Upon graduation, candidates will continue their clinical training by working in a clinic with an approved supervisor for at least two years. These post-graduation working hours make up what is called the resident in training period. In Massachusetts, the resident in training must accrue 3,360 clinical hours. 1,000 of those hours should be face-to-face with clients, and 500 hours should be spent in sessions related to couples and families.
Before completing the training residency, candidates should send in their application for licensure to secure permission to take the Examination in Marital and Family Therapy. State permission is granted by the Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professionals, which is also the licensing board. It can take between four and six weeks for candidates to receive their test scores and find out if they have been granted licensure. Candidates can expect to pay almost $300 to take the exam.
What does an LMFT in Massachusetts do?
LMFTs in Massachusetts work with families, couples, and individuals on issues related to relationships. LMFTs deal with intrapersonal and interpersonal challenges, which means sessions can focus on issues between two people or issues within an individual that effect their relationships. In this way, marital and family therapists use many of the same techniques and deal with many of the same challenges as clinical mental health counselors. The difference is in the focus on family systems perspectives.
Massachusetts LMFT Career and Salary Opportunities
Mental health has become a hot topic in the U.S., especially after the rise of the Covid19 pandemic, which forced many people to confront themselves and those around them in ways they had not done previously. A number of other factors contribute to this rise in popularity, including the increased access to mental health services with the rise of telehealth counseling. As technology advances and awareness and normalization toward seeking counseling grow, it is likely the mental health field will experience further growth.
The marriage and family therapy field has also seen a rise in demand. In fact, the MFT field is expected to grow 16 percent from now to 2030 nationwide, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Already, the number of employed LMFTs in the country has reached an all-time high, with 880 LMFTs employed in Massachusetts as of 2021. The field promises some stability as well, with the national average for licensed marriage and family counselors at $59,660 as of May 2021. The Massachusetts average yearly salary for that same year was higher at $53,940.
Massachusetts MFT Resources
While Massachusetts does not have any accredited MFT programs in-state, there are plenty of accredited online options for students to consider. For those interested in exploring their options in Massachusetts and online, here are the links to some of the programs discussed in this article.
Additional Resources:
Walden University: M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling Specialization)
Abilene Christian University Online: Master of Family Therapy
Northcentral University: M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy