The certificate in Relationship and Family Counseling, is intended for persons who have a prior master's degree in counseling or a closely related practice field. The certificate in Relationship and Family Counseling will help you to add-on the requirements for licensure in marriage and family therapy (LMFT) if you are already academically prepared or licensed as a clinical mental health counselor. If you are not licensed (e.g., you are certified as a school counselor), the certificate will help you gain valuable understanding and new skills to work with families, although will not lead to the LMFT without taking some additional courses in mental health counseling. At the end of the program, students will have completed the necessary course requirements to become eligible for a Florida dual license that includes Marriage and Family Therapy. For more information see http://floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov/licensing/.
Admission Requirements
- Submission of a FGCU Post-Baccalaureate Non-Degree Application to the Office of Graduate Admissions.
- Master's degree in counseling or closely related field from an institution that maintains accreditation by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting body (https://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html) or equivalent foreign institution, as documented by official transcripts.
- An official transcript of all completed bachelor's and post-bachelor's coursework.
- International graduate applicants are required to submit a minimum TOEFL score of 550 (paper-based test) or 213 (computer-based test) or 79 (internet-based test), or a minimum IELTS score of 6.5.
- Documentation of any counseling certification or license held in Florida or any other US state, if applicable.
- Submission of a written statement of career goals including the understanding that internships if offered are only offered during the fall and spring terms and may require daytime work hours.
Note: Counseling Criminal Record Policy Statement: All applicants are advised that in order to complete the program they must complete internships. Most internship facilities do background checks and will not permit the placement of counselor interns with criminal records. The department reserves the right to deny program admission to any applicant if it appears that applicant is unlikely to be able to complete the internship requirement due to a criminal record, thus inhibiting their ability to complete the program.
Deadline: Applications for admission are considered on a continuing basis but applicants should consider that required courses may only be offered once per year and that internships are completed at the end of the program.
Additional Graduation Requirements
- Students must satisfactorily complete the minimum number of credits specified by the certificate program in specific courses or approved substitutes.
- A grade of B or higher must be earned in all graduate courses used as prerequisites and in each required course.
- A cumulative GPA of 3.0 for all coursework and Satisfactory (as appropriate) for all field experiences in the certificate program.
Program Requirements
- Required Courses (9 credits)
MHS 6435 Fam Couns Theory & Techniques (3)
MHS 6446 Relationship/Marriage Counsel (3)
MHS 6445 Intro Relations/Family Counsel (3) - Restricted Electives (3 credits)
At least one course from among the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program course inventory under advisement including:
MHS 6021 Intro to Clin Mental Hlth Coun (3)
MHS 6070 Mental Disorders (3)
MHS 6422 Play Therapy (3)
MHS 6450 Issues in Addictions and Abuse (3)
MHS 6466 Crisis/Trauma Counseling (3)
MHS 6470 Human Sexual Issues Counselor (3)
MHS 6807 Relationship/Fam Couns Intern (1-3)
Transfer or course substitutions may be considered on an individual basis.
Total Semester Hours Required: 12 Hours
