Master of Arts - Marriage and Family Therapy - LGBTQIA+ Studies

This unique marriage and family therapy degree specialization offers curriculum informed by the strengths and experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community. The LGBTQIA+ Studies Specialization guides future practitioners in developing the awareness, knowledge, and skills necessary to work effectively in clinical settings with LGBTQIA+ individuals and families in addition to other communities.

Graduates who earn their M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy with an LGBTQIA+ Studies Specialization will be uniquely positioned to provide comprehensive and culturally appropriate mental health services at any mental health agency.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness people in the LGBTQIA+ community with mental illnesses often face a perceived double stigma and can benefit from trained, LGBTQ-inclusive therapists who are capable of providing comprehensive treatment and family support.

This specialization seeks to prepare competent professionals through emphasizing a cultural, developmental, and relational framework in marriage and family therapy while also focusing on the diverse mental health needs of LGBTQIA+ individuals, children, and families. Additionally, particular interest is concentrated on the psychological impact of culture, history, heteronormativity, trauma, and intersectionality on the LGBTQIA+ community.

Finally, the Pacific Oaks College educational experience of this MFT program specialization’s cohort model is culturally transformational; it is an intensely dynamic, intellectually relevant process. Together, faculty and students create a learning community that uniquely challenges both the personal and professional development of all participants.