The course examines characteristic changes in behavior and functioning in each stage of life from conception to death. Physical, cognitive, affective, and social bases of behavior are explored.

Major theories of personality are covered as represented by the biophysical, intrapsychic, existential, and behavioral approaches.

This course examines the healthy personality, maladjustment, transient disorders, anxiety states, psychosis, mood, psychosomatic and personality disorders. The course focuses on the description of the main criteria and associated features of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) diagnostic groups. In addition, etiology, prognosis, prevention, and treatment of the disorders are considered.

Major approaches to counseling and psychotherapy are analyzed with emphasis on applications in the theoretical relationship. Professional psychological writing style is discussed in this course.

The course provides an overview of research methods commonly used in clinical and counseling psychology. Both research methodology and statistical analysis are reviewed. The course focuses on the interpretation and understanding of research and applied statistical procedures.

This course examines the structure and function of families and relationships, connecting theoretical and research underpinnings to the major models of family therapy. Family development, roles and interactions are studied as foundational in the practices of systemic/relational therapy interventions. Efficacy research for individual models and for common factors across models are presented.

This course will focus on the history of marriage and families, including the changing forms and demographics of modern couples and families in Western societies, especially the United States. State and national policy issues impacting the health and well-being of couples and families will also be addressed. Particular attention will be given to understanding the goals of each policy, and current research will be presented on both their intended and unintended consequences since implementation.

This course focuses on the study of culturally diverse couples and families with special emphasis on understanding the significance of cultural contexts in working with people of different cultures. Issues of racism, sexism, heterosexism, ageism, and other isms are explored. Dynamics of power and privilege are explored. Strategies to prevent their clinical biases from interfering with therapeutic relationships with diverse populations are developed. Included is an exploration of various types of couples and families.

This course introduces historical, contextual, and clinical applications to relationships including couples, families, and systems. Relationships between spouses and partners are explored and analyzed in order to create an understanding of the dynamics that enhance relationships from a therapeutic context. Issues regarding communication, conflict resolution, and interactions are included.

This course provides an opportunity for students to develop skills conducting therapy with couples and families. Awareness of the influence of race, culture and gender in couple and family therapy is developed. Experiential and didactic approaches are used.

This course focuses on current approaches to couples and marriage therapy. Emphasis is on the assessment of couples and development of appropriate interventions to address the concerns presented by couples. Issues regarding marital and divorce therapy as well as working with special populations are explored.

This course addresses current approaches in the practice of sex therapy. Emphasis is on the assessment of individuals and couples and the development of appropriate interventions to address the sexual concerns presented by the couples and individuals. Issues regarding identification and treatment of male and female disorders as well as treatment of special populations are included.

This course examines the strengths and limitations of different assessment strategies with couples and families, including assessment based on observation, therapist/rater, family report, and interactional methods. It includes an overview of various measures and instruments used, including parent-child, family, and couple inventories.

These courses examine issues in therapy with families presenting with special members and/or special problems. These courses rotate each semester.

This 1-credit course is part one of a 3-credit triad of courses which include the concurrent courses, MFT643 and 644. This course covers professional issues in the Marriage and Family Therapy field, including information about the licensure process, state and national professional associations, regulatory boards, post-degree supervision requirements and opportunities, possible employment contexts.

This course examines professional, legal, and ethical issues in the practice of couples and family therapy. The code of ethics of the Minnesota Board of Marriage and Family Therapy and AAMFT, selected Minnesota laws pertaining to children and families, and ethical and professional problems of confidentiality, dual relationship, and other potentially problematic areas are studied.

This course examines the assessment and diagnostic process for working with children and adolescents in a behavioral health setting utilizing a developmental-systems approach and the criteria from the DSM IV. This course focuses on assessment and diagnostic methods and tools (DSA and others}) and the development of appropriate treatment plans for clients based on diagnostic and problem formulation.

This 1-credit course is part of a triad of courses which include the concurrent courses, MFT642 and 644. This course focuses on systemic interviewing techniques for assessment and clinical intervention with more than one member of a relational system present concurrently in the clinical session. Opportunities for simulated practice and videotaping will be offered.

This course is part three of a 3-credit triad of 1-credit courses which include the concurrent courses, MFT642, 643. In this portion of the triad, students will observe clinical therapy sessions as they actually occur in a community clinic. Students will have the opportunity to go to the community clinic and serve as a live reflecting team with therapists at that clinical setting.

Students unable to complete the required 300 hours of client contact in two semesters of practicum may register for Practicum Completion course. Students continue to take the practicum supervision seminar for each semester needed to complete the hours. A completion fee is assessed for each semester. This course is P/NC.

This course is an introduction to play therapy theories and techniques, their historical and cultural contexts and their application to the marriage and family therapy process.

This course examines the occurrence and causes of violence and physical and sexual abuse in family relationships. Emphasis is on the therapeutic and corrective strategies for treating victims and perpetrators of violence and abuse in intimate relationships.

Systemic issues related to counseling the families of addiction are explored in this course. It provides a preliminary overview of some of the current effects experienced by adults who have been raised in such a setting. The course considers system strategies for fostering a path of recovery for those who find themselves suffering the effects of an addiction-based childhood.

This course provides instruction in the use of spiritual resources in the theory and practice of family therapy.

This course examines the diagnostic criteria and categories for children and adolescents. It also explores and examines diagnostic methods, tools, and approaches applicable to this age and population.

This course examines the unique stressors and relationship issues experienced by immigrant individuals and families. Historical and cultural contexts, highlighting the need to understand pre-immigration as well as post-immigration factors in assessing and treating immigrants are emphasized.

This course examines the nature and philosophy of in-home therapy services. We will focus on the pragmatic issues of delivering home based services to families. This course is designed to give students a realistic view and understanding of current in-home therapy as presented in the State Statutes and HMO contracts. Diagnosis, treatment planning, effective models of therapy, and ethical dilemmas will be reviewed.

This course provides advanced instruction in the theory and practice of play therapy, the psychotherapeutic modality of choice for many children.

This course introduces the principals and practices of art therapy as it may be used in a marriage and family therapy perspective with individuals, couples and families. Various theoretical approaches and hands-on techniques are introduced. The emphasis in this course is placed on experiential techniques and processes of art therapy.

This course examines the common goals/process as well as differentiated goals/process in marriage/family therapy and law enforcement. It is designed to facilitate greater understanding of the alternate discipline and to develop a basis for teamwork between law enforcement officers/departments and marriage and family therapists. This team work helps both communities work toward the good of the greater community.

This course provides an introduction to understanding the complexities of grief and loss as clinical issues in family therapy. It examines what we know about grief and loss as well as exploring the beliefs and myths we hold around the topic of loss and change. It is designed to facilitate a deeper understanding of grief, unresolved mourning, the impact of loss and unexpressed grief and implications for the therapeutic process.

This course presents an overview of disabilities, defines how a disability can impact the overall family system, typical family functioning, and the family life cycle. Family and professional partnerships that are more effective, strength-focused, and empowering to the families are introduced.

This course introduces the student to the interface between family therapy and the health care delivery system. A wide variety of settings in which family therapists and health care providers interact are explored. The benefits and challenges of such collaborations are discussed in terms of patient care. Specific tools for successful collaboration are presented.

This course explores how and where the interface of the self of the therapist impacts therapeutic work with individuals, couples and families. The personal and professional development of the therapist is the focus. Issues that addressed include self awareness, self-care, transference/counter transference, and integration of self into the theory and practice of marriage and family therapy.

Families often identify one member and one member only who requires assessment, treatment and therapy for substance abuse/dependency. This course will address the recovery process as a family system collaborative.

This course provides an opportunity to develop expertise in conducting couple and family therapy with Gay, Bi-sexual, Lesbian, and Transgender couples and families. It examines how couple and family therapy can address issues of sexual orientation and gender preference and the special needs of these populations.

This course focuses on the current issues, values, and family dynamics in African American families. Redefining the genesis of the African American family as well as providing a context in which African Americans thrive today is addressed.

This course examines the therapeutic issues and skills that are needed to work with returning military personnel from the Middle East. The unique aspects of the reentry process for military personnel and their families are addressed. Emphasis is placed on the relationship issues that soldiers and their families face when re-integrating into their communities. Best educational and therapeutic practice models and current literature and research are reviewed and discussed.

Basic concepts and practice of narrative therapy. Primary emphasis is on Expressive Arts and how it is applied to Narrative practice. Non-traditional talk therapy modalities will be explored within an experiential learning environment.

This course investigates the principles and history of psychological testing, both individual and group, and assessment. Theories of measurement and selected psychological tests and inventories are covered.