La Salle University
Program snapshot
Why Study Marriage and Family Therapy at La Salle?
The Marriage and Family Therapy program at La Salle progresses from a knowledge base of core courses in systems theory to a sequence of skills courses in assessment and intervention, to actual clinical practice, completed in a one-year clinical placement in the final year. The required courses fulfill the educational requirements for licensure in the state of Pennsylvania and most other states, as well as for clinical membership in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
La Salle’s MFT degree prepares students for licensure as marriage and family therapists (LMFT) in Pennsylvania and most other states and for employment in many professional settings. Upon graduation from the program, students meet the education eligibility requirement for the national exam for licensure. The MFT degree also is excellent preparation for those students planning to pursue doctoral studies in marriage and family therapy or a related field.
Highlighted Courses
PMFT 505 Systems and Systemic Thinking
This course provides the student with an overview of systemic concepts and systemic functioning. It includes structure, development, health, and dysfunction from traditional systemic theoretical constructs and approaches. Particular emphasis is placed on acquiring a systems perspective and applying that perspective to families and other systems.
PMFT 608 Therapeutic Approaches for Children and Adolescents
This course is designed to provide an understanding of working with children, adolescents, and their families. It will focus on treating a variety of presenting issues, as well as provide several theoretical perspectives for working with families with children and/or adolescents. We will explore many clinical interventions for working with youth of varying ages, and the course will include play therapy. Students will have many experiential opportunities to learn about play therapy techniques and interventions. Careful attention will be paid to ethical issues, laws regarding mandated reporting, duty-to-warn, when treating children and adolescents, as well as cultural and diversity issues will be addressed.
PMFT 634 Addictions and the Family
This course focuses on an understanding of how addictive processes interact with social and family contexts. This allows more effective treatment interventions to be designed. The current research on family dynamics and treatment of codependence, adolescent substance abuse, and children of addicts will also be reviewed.
Meet the Faculty
As a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) with a Master’s degree in Marriage & Family Therapy, April Lancit-Harmon offers her expertise in systemic theory, marriage and family therapy and mental health. Mrs. Lancit-Harmon is a strong advocate for mental health and faith-driven practices. Her clinical interest has included providing compassionate and intimate conversations that facilitate access to mental health-related services to black and brown communities who would not otherwise have access. April specializes in couple therapy and black and brown mental health.
Accreditation
The Marriage and Family Therapy Program at La Salle University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, 112 South Alfred Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, Tel. No. 703.838. 9808. This accreditation is a measure of the program’s excellence. With it comes national recognition as one of the nation’s premium MFT training programs. AAMFT’s Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) is the nationally recognized accrediting agency that accredits master’s degree, doctoral degree, and post-graduate degree clinical training programs in marriage and family therapy throughout the United States and Canada.
