What is Community Psychology?
Community psychology is a branch of psychology focuses on the study of how individuals relate to their communities and the reciprocal effect of communities on individuals. “Communities” are not solely defined as a neighborhood or geographic areas. Schools, church groups, or other organizations are communities, and as such, have their own social and psychological dynamics.
It applies knowledge from a variety of fields including psychology, public health, organizational development, sociology, social work and others to understanding and solving community, organizational, and societal problems.
Through examining these disciplines together, community psychology emphasizes understanding individuals within their social and cultural context, and aims to promote community well-being through research and action. It has an established history of focusing on the identification of community needs and the development of resources to address those needs. An example would be using research to determine the need for a food kitchen in a lower-income community.
Why choose a Community Psychology degree at Pacific Oaks?
At Pacific Oaks, we apply well-established community psychology principles and techniques to improve well-being and effectiveness at individual, organizational, and community levels. We do so with an explicit concern for social action, inclusiveness and participation, the value of diversity, collaboration, prevention, and a focus on strengths.
Our Community Psychology program aims to enhance protective factors and prevent the development of problems in communities, groups, and families.
The program is designed to teach students the skills to identify the needs of a community and design interventions that lead to positive and sustainable results.
Careers in Community Psychology
Graduates from the bachelor’s Community Psychology degree program have a diverse range of career paths to choose from. They may find opportunities in higher education or public education; governmental health and human service agencies; law enforcement or probation departments; non-profit groups, such as community-based organizations, advocacy groups, religious institutions, or neighborhood groups; public policy organizations, research and evaluation firm, independent or consulting groups.
Some specific roles may include:
Entry level counselor
Special events development manager
Social media content analyst
Community parent educator
Community programs director
Marriage and Family Therapy Degree Programs
What is marriage and family therapy?
Marriage and family therapy (MFT) is a form of mental health counseling that is focused on helping individuals, couples, families, and groups manage and overcome mental or emotional disorders as well as relational conflict. Marriage and family therapists diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders including depression, anxiety, trauma, child-parent conflict, relationship problems, adult schizophrenia, alcoholism, bipolar disorder, drug abuse, childhood autism, and anorexia. In contrast to other modes of therapy, many marriage and family therapists practice short-term therapy—usually between nine and 50 sessions focusing on helping people return to functioning healthily in the community.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists is positioned to grow much faster than the average for other occupations.
Those working in this field have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and families by providing a much needed resource that far too many communities throughout California are lacking.
How do I become a marriage and family therapist in California?
Earn a master’s or doctoral degree from a qualifying college.*
Register with the BBS as an MFT Associate.
Earn 3,000 hours of post-degree client hours.
After accruing the required client hours, apply for the clinical exam.
In California, those interested in becoming a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) must first possess a qualifying* doctoral or master’s degree in marriage and family therapy before sitting for the licensure examination.
Upon graduation from the qualified MFT degree program, the pre-licensee must register with the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) as an MFT Associate in order to accrue post-degree hours of supervised experience. Pre-licensees must complete 104 weeks of supervision and 3,000 hours of supervised work experience. Within the first year of registration as Associates, they are required to take the California Law and Ethics Examination.
Once the supervision and work experience requirements have been met, which usually takes two to six years, MFT Associates can apply for eligibility for licensure from the BBS. After receiving notification of eligibility, candidates may schedule an examination date at any one of the official testing locations throughout California.
*For a program to be qualified, it must satisfy all of the requirements of the SB 33 and the BBS (Business and Professions Code Sections 4980.36c, d e 4980.39, 4980.40, and 4980.41).
Why choose a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy degree from Pacific Oaks?
The Pacific Oaks’ Marriage and Family Therapy degree program offers a traditional MFT program along with four MFT specializations centered on addressing the unique needs and feelings of individuals and families in these cultural communities or with these experiences.
Students pursuing a degree in any of our three culturally centered MFT specializations may choose to add a secondary specialization in Trauma Studies. Those interested in this additional specialization must submit a request to their academic adviser prior to the completion of their second semester.
The master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Pacific Oaks College offers multidisciplinary, inclusive curricula based on developmental and family systems theories and evidence-based theory and practice. With years of experience in the field, faculty help students maintain a commitment to understanding their patients holistically—taking into account life experiences, culture, oppression, and social-political context.
All programs provide students with a robust blend of theory and hands-on practice. By maintaining relationships with clinics and community agencies throughout the greater Los Angeles and San Jose areas, we are able to provide students with extensive choices of locations in diverse communities to fulfill their supervised fieldwork practicum requirement.
Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure
MFT students must complete 225 clinical hours of the pre-graduate portion of the 3,000 supervised clinical hours required by the BBS for licensing to qualify for graduation. LPCC students must complete 280 hours. Students secure clinical training placements within community agencies and schools in California in the Los Angeles, Pasadena, and San Jose areas.
Non-Licensure M.A. Program
Marriage and Family Therapy Sample Courses
Couples Therapy
This is an introductory marriage and family therapy course for working with domestic partners. This includes an overview of approaches from various schools of thought, as well as training in relationship skills, including the dynamics of bonding and attachment, communication skills, conflict management skills, and negotiating differences. The course will include reflections upon one’s own significant relationships; role-playing and skill practice; and application of therapy skills to issues of diversity.
Theories of Marriage, Family and Child Counseling
This MFT course will review the major psychotherapeutic approaches in marital and family therapy. There will be a focus on interpersonal theories, family systems theories, and feminist theory and how each informs work with individuals, couples, families, and children. The class will present an inclusive framework so that students develop competency working with bicultural populations.
Personality Theories and Clinical Intervention
This course is designed to explore the various personality theories and develop a beginning understanding of these through an application in psychotherapy. An overview of psychological testing will be introduced. This class meets the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) requirements for the California MFT license.
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Specialization
For those who wish to expand the scope of their degree to include groups and individuals outside of a marriage and family therapy setting, students may elect to enroll in the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) Specialization. To complete this specialization, students will need to take these additional courses and have a total of 280 face-to-face clinical training hours before graduation.
MFT 670 Career Development Theories and Techniques (3 units)
MFT 681 Advanced Topics in Addictions Counseling (1 unit)
MFT 683 Advanced Topics in Psychopharmacology (1 unit)
Careers in Marriage and Family Therapy
Marriage and family therapists work as clinicians in a variety of settings, including:
Outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers
Facilities that address intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health, and substance abuse
Hospitals
Individual and family services
State and local government, excluding education and hospitals
Outpatient care centers
Practitioner offices
Nursing and residential care facilities