From rising anxiety to increasing social injustices, today’s challenges highlight the critical need for mental health support. And though injustice — and even violence — has long been part of our nation’s story, the forces have taken new shape and, in many ways, have been amplified in recent years.
At the same time, technological shifts and economic uncertainly have contributed to rising anxiety, isolation, and substance abuse affecting nearly every corner of society. Mental health challenges do not discriminate — they affect everyone in varying degrees.
Consequently, the need for individuals to have mental health training, like the training you’ll receive in the Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy online program at USC Rossier, has never been greater.
The USC Rossier Online MFT Program Addresses Challenges Systemically
The solution our complex society demands is a systems-based approach. Viewing challenges in the context of an individual’s experience alone can be limiting. Understanding mental health requires looking beyond the individual—considering how relationships, society, and systemic factors shape well-being.
In the context of Marriage and Family Therapy careers, these systems aren’t merely our partnerships or families; they refer to how we are connected to the larger fabric that makes our society what it is. The MFT program at USC Rossier believes strongly in the African proverb “I am because we are.” It’s a cornerstone of the program, one that is anchored in the idea of the beloved community, which recognizes that well-being of any kind cannot be developed in isolation.
That’s why graduates of our MFT online program go into communities and larger spaces to discuss mental health. The stigma around mental health is so pervasive that Marriage and Family Therapists are called to do mental health training and teaching. It’s a critical part of the training structure and another way USC Rossier prepares students to enter the workforce.
The USC Rossier MFT Online Program Emphasizes Social Justice and Multiculturalism
Regardless of edicts or the viewpoints of popular podcasters, the world we live in is multicultural. It’s complex and connected. And injustice based on identity is omnipresent. That requires Marriage and Family Therapists to not only think about who people are, but also how their identity impacts the way they behave, the way they think, their relationship to emotion, and their relationship to others.
That foundation of multiculturalism and social justice is a key element of the USC Rossier online MFT degree. Studies show that clients from diverse racial or cultural backgrounds are more likely to seek therapy when their therapist shares or understands their lived experience. That’s why our program trains students to incorporate culturally responsive techniques into therapy, ensuring they can effectively serve individuals from all backgrounds. And those clients are not only families and couples — they are more varied than many realize.
Marriage and Family Therapists Treat Individuals, Too
With a professional title like Marriage and Family Therapist, it’s easy to assume clinicians with the license only work with people in relationships or family units. But that’s a misconception, especially in the State of California, as some of the most prevalent clients that Marriage and Family Therapists see are individual clients. And that includes clients spanning a wide age range — a master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy positions you to serve 4-year-old, 14-year-old, and even 74-year-old clients. In other words, an MFT degree equips you to serve people across the lifespan.
Marriage and Family Therapists see clients outside of a traditional office setting, too. Technology continues to play an increasingly large role in the mental health space, which means training clinicians to work via telehealth is an important aspect of any MFT program.
At the same time, clinicians need to understand how larger technological experiences impact well-being. For example, social media has a known deleterious effect on adolescent mental health.
Marriage and Family Therapists can also help consumers and clients critically engage with information related to mental health. The public has greater access to information, but many do not have the tools to critically consume what they are exposed to. Part of a clinician’s role is helping bridge that knowledge gap within their own communities and client base.
Ensuring MFT Graduates are Prepared for Licensure in California
If the need for mental health practitioners is greater than ever, the need for licensure within the State of California is greater than ever. In California, those applying for licensure are required to have 3,000 hours of practicum experience. The USC Rossier MFT online program requires students to accrue at least 240 direct face-to-face hours with clients. What that typically means is that during your last year of the program, you’ll undergo a practicum internship where you’ll work under the license of an onsite supervisor at a variety of different community agencies.
Because of the practicum, many of our students are accruing between 400 and 500 of the mandated hours during their last year of school — and all those hours accrued in school count toward the 3,000 needed for licensure in California. In many cases, the remaining hours are attained over the course of two years while either continuing to work for the agency where you were working for your practicum, or by working in private practice, a school, or hospital. After the hours are accepted by California, Marriage and Family Therapists seeking licensure must take and pass an exam. The good news there is that USC Rossier MFT graduates have had a consistent 95-100% pass rate every year for the past 26 years.
Marriage and Family Therapy is a Career and a Calling
A master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy will change your career trajectory in meaningful and powerful ways. Regardless of the path you choose — whether it’s in an agency, a school, hospital, or private practice — the MFT online program at USC Rossier will prepare you more comprehensively.
In addition to focusing on relevant themes, the curriculum balances research and self-reflection. Your classes are led by faculty experienced in navigating the complexities and exploring cultural and social cues (e.g. body language, facial expressions, and environment) of clients in online settings, which prepares you to more effectively deliver both in-person and online therapy.
You will be ready to tackle to today’s unique challenges. You will be able to adapt theories so they are more culturally appropriate for the clients you serve. You will learn to think differently because of the skills you develop in the MFT online program. And, ultimately, you will be able to help your clients overcome barriers to their well-being and goals.
Ready to advance your career in Marriage and Family Therapy? USC Rossier’s online Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy program provides expert training in mental health counseling, trauma-informed care, and social justice advocacy. Apply today to take the first step toward making a meaningful impact.