Marriage, Couple, & Family Therapy

Family therapy is a distinct profession with its own history, theories, models, professional organizations and journals. Family therapists are generalists in that we typically treat a wide variety of psychological, emotional, and relational problems. 

We work with individuals, couples, families, and community groups. The hallmark of family therapy is our systemic and social constructionist approaches, as well as our preferred inclusion of multiple people in the therapeutic process. Family therapists share the premise that human behavior occurs within family, social, and cultural contexts. We understand thoughts, feelings and behaviors/interactions as interrelated across individual, family, community, societal, and global systems. This includes acknowledging individual psychological, physiological and genetic factors as well as family and other relational patterns of interaction. Importance is placed on understanding how race, gender, social class, sexual orientation, abilities, language, country of origin, and other social identities/locations interconnect to maintain systems of power and privilege. Family therapists are concerned with how these contextual factors influence well-being and committed to challenging social structures that maintain individual and family problems.

Advising and Contact Information

Program Director: Teresa McDowell, Ed.D., teresamc@lclark.edu
Clinical Coordinator: Andraé Brown, Ph.D., albrown@lclark.edu
Program Faculty: Sebastian Perumbilly, ABD, perumbil@lclark.edu
Adjunct Faculty: Steven Berman, MSW, Annabelle Goodwin, M.Ed., ABD, Marisol Garcia, ABD

Resources for MCFT Students

AAMFT web site
AAMFT Core Competencies 
The International Family Therapy Association website 
Oregon State information on Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure 
Information on the MFT national exam 
Family Therapists for Social Justice 
Psychologists for Social Responsibility 

Accreditation

The Marriage and Family Therapy Master's Program at Lewis and Clark College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), 112 S. Alfred Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, (703) 838-9808.