Candidacy & Clinical Training

Candidacy

Acceptance into the MCS-MFT program indicates only that a student has met minimal requirements for beginning professional counselling training.

Admission to candidacy in the MCS-MFT program signifies that the student has demonstrated the interpersonal abilities/skills, ethical character, and academic qualifications suitable for the profession of counselling. 

Candidacy is reviewed each May following a student’s completion of the practicum. The MCS-MFT candidacy application is found in the MFT student program guide (a link to the guide will be provided) and must be completed by May 1 of the year the student completes their practicum. Students who do not apply for candidacy risk not being able to enrol in further courses. Candidacy requirements include: 

  1. Satisfaction of all undergraduate prerequisites or other conditions of admission. 
  2. A grade of B or better in all counselling courses. 
  3. Evidence from the student's performance in skill-based courses and interactions with peers and faculty that indicate that he/she has the basic interpersonal skills and psychological/spiritual maturity required for a successful career in counselling. 
  4. Satisfactory completion of a minimum of 16 semester hours of specific course work: 
    • MFT 552: Marriage & Family Therapy Theories
    • MFT 553: Advanced Skills in MFT
    • MFT 661: Group
    • MFT 590: Practicum
    • MFT 660: Marriage & Family Counselling
  5. Students will receive a letter indicating their eligibility for candidacy in the MFT program, no later than May 31.

Clinical Training

Supervised practice experiences during graduate counselling studies are a critical component of counsellor training. The Master of Christian Studies in Marriage and Family Therapy (MCS-MFT or MFT) program requires 640 hours of supervised practice for completion of the degree: 140 practicum hours and 500 internship hours.

The MCS-MFT supervised practice sequence looks like this:

  • MFT 590: Practicum = 140 hours total:
    • 40 direct client contact hours (20 direct client contact, 20 reflecting team)
    • 50 supervision hours
    • 40 other activity hours (additional reflecting team hours, case management, case review, etc.)
    • 10 group hours
  • MFT 691: Internship I = 250 hours total:
    • 111 direct client contact hours
    • 70 supervision hours (minimum)
    • 22 supervision hours with your site supervisor (minimum)
    • 48 supervision hours via internship class
    • 54 other activity hours
    • 15 group hours
  • MFT 692: Internship II = 250 hours total:
    • 111 direct client contact’ hours
    • 70 supervision hours (minimum)
    • 22 supervision hours with your site supervisor (minimum)
    • 48 supervision hours via internship class
    • 54 other activity hours
    • 15 group hours

Total = 640 hours

The MCS-MFT supervised practice sequence is modeled after CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs) and CACFT (Canadian Association for Couple and Family Therapy) recommendations.