Marriage, Couple & Family Counseling (MA)

Credential

Master of Arts: Marriage, Couple, & Family Counseling 

Introduction

The Master of Arts: Marriage, Couple, & Family Counseling program will provide training that will give entry level qualifications for opportunities within marriage, couple and family counseling, eligibility to apply for state licensure in PA (Licensed Professional Counselor), and professional certification. For this degree, graduates will also be prepared to sit for the National Counselor Examination (NCE). Although not yet accredited through CACREP, the structure and content of the MA in Marriage, Couple, & Family Counseling program are aligned with the CACREP 2016 Standards.

Program Purpose

The program will provide training that will give entry-level qualifications for opportunities in the Marriage, Couple, & Family Counseling field, eligibility to apply for state licensure in PA (Licensed Professional Counselor), and professional certifications.

Program Philosophy

The Master of Arts in Marriage, Couple & Family Counseling program is focused on preparing Christian students to understand the multifactorial causes and research-based treatments for various issues in the context of relationships and families. The curriculum of this program is centered on biblical truth using the Integrated Psychotherapy Model that combines current industry-proven strategies with biblical principles. 
Throughout our masters in marriage, couple and family counseling program, students will examine their own personal experiences and expectations, study the role and importance of marriage and family from a biblical perspective and learn the fundamental skills of effective counseling and therapy rooted in the truth of Scripture. This program equips individuals with theological distinctiveness, contemporary scholarship and professional counseling skills to serve within the local church, para-church organizations, counseling organizations, hospitals, prisons, retirement centers, and a variety of human service settings.

Educational Philosophy

The Educational Philosophy of the MA Clinical Mental Health Program is:

1. To provide clinical training such that students are well-versed in research-based theoretical orientations and able to articulate and apply such views.
2. To provide ample clinical experiences (in vivo and case study) such that students are able to grasp and deliver individual psychotherapy.
3. To provide a framework of learning that promotes critical thinking so that students are able to demonstrate professional evaluation of theoretical content in light of a biblical worldview.
4. To provide robust clinical supervision for students as they practice/apply clinical skills taught in the classroom. 
5. To provide experiences in which students can transition their knowledge of scholarly publications and foundational, research-based clinical theories into future research endeavors. 

Locations offered

Lancaster, PA

 

 

Program Core Competencies

The Master of Arts in Marriage, Couple & Family Counseling Program will equip students for the field of counseling by developing:

1. Recognize the history, development, legislation, government policy, ethics, professional identity development of counselors within the context of marriage, couple, and family counseling. 
2. Evaluate family phenomenology, family of origin theories, models, techniques, and interventions related to marriage, couple, and family counseling, in order to foster family wellness through a biblical perspective.
3. Learn the application of theories and models in developing case conceptualization, etiology, treatment planning, diagnostic process, and referral within family systems and dynamics. 
4.  Comprehend assessments, including diagnostic interviews, genograms, family mapping, mental diagnostic status examinations, symptom inventories, and psychoeducational and personality assessments. 
5. Develop an understanding of scholarly literature and its application of the structures of marriage, couples, and families, within the realms of human sexuality and its effect on couple and family functioning, aging and intergenerational influences, immigration, and related family concerns.
6. Enhance skills necessary to conduct competent cultural treatment relevant to marriage, couple, and family functioning, at various delivery modalities within the continuum of care.
7. Understand the etiology of trauma and crisis as well as the impact of interpersonal violence, mental health, and addiction on marriages, couples, and families.
8. Acquire strategies for interfacing with the legal system while understanding ethical principles and application to prospective marriage, couple, and family counseling.
9. Demonstrate understanding regarding the impact of life, gender roles, career, unemployment, under-employment, and changes in socioeconomic standing on marriages, couples, and families. 
10. Synthesize information and knowledge into practice through supervised counseling experiences.

Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling MA Curricular Structure/Degree Requirements

Foundational Courses

• Bible & Theology Foundational Courses must be completed before the practicum, unless student has earned Advanced Standing through previous Bible & Theology courses. 
• An undergraduate psychology course must be completed before the first graduate course.
• MAT 216 is required if the student has not taken a statistics course.
• Orientation Seminar ORI 500 is taken at the time of admission.

ORI 500
MAT 216	Statistics for the Social Sciences	3
	Undergraduate Psychology Course

Core Professional Courses

These courses must be taken as part of the Preliminary Acceptance Phase.

CPS 501	Orientation to Professional Counseling Identity, Function & Ethics	3
CPS 508	Counseling Skills in Helping Relationships	3
CPS 515	Counseling Theory and Techniques	3
CPS 530	Professional Ethics and Legal Issues in Counseling	3
CPS 541	Group Counseling Leadership Skills	3

Second Tier Professional Courses

These courses can be taken after Candidacy is granted.

CPS 505	Research and Program Evaluation	3
CPS 510	Human Growth and Development across the Lifespan	3
CPS 525	Assessment Techniques in Counseling I	3
CPS 531	Psychopathology & Counseling	3
CPS 583	Multicultural Foundations of Counseling	3
CPS 588	Career and Lifestyle Development	3

Third Tier Advanced Courses

These courses can be taken by candidates who have completed the Second Tier Professional courses.

CPS 540	Marriage Counseling & Psychotherapy	3
CPS 550	Family Counseling & Psychotherapy	3
CPS 552	Marriage and Family Issues	3
CPS 572	Counseling Addictions	3
CPS 575	Counseling Children and Adolescents	3

Professional Practice Courses

These courses can be taken after completion of the Core Professional and Second Tier courses.

CPS 601	Professional CNS Practicum	3
CPS 602	Professional CNS Internship	3
CPS 603	Counseling Internship II	3

Elective

Choose one elective to be taken after completing Second Tier.

CPS 514	Psychopharmacology	3
CPS 517	Biopsychology	3
CPS 545	Counseling the Older Adult	3
CPS 546	Theories of Personality	3
CPS 551	Assessment Techniques in Counseling II	3
CPS 553	Counseling & Psychotherapy for the Individual	3
CPS 573	Advanced Addictions Treatment Methods	3
CPS 577	Human Sexuality	3
CPS 586	Advanced Applied Research Practicum	3

Practicum and Internships

Practicum and Internships
The Practicum and Internship courses are a critical and integral component in the training of a well-equipped counselor. These courses provide students with the opportunity to utilize their classroom learning in counseling situations under the supervision of professional counselors.

Professional Counseling Practicum (CPS 601)
• May be taken after completing a minimum of 33 graduate credits (Tier 1 & Tier 2 courses) with a minimum GPA of 3.0, completion of the candidacy process, and passing the CPCE exam.
• Minimum of 200 hours of field experience is required to complete the practicum:
o 80 hours of direct client contact 
o 20 combined hours of individual and group supervision
o 100 hours of administration (ie. Research, writing, training, admin tasks)
• Students are required to participate in a blended classroom component. Each student will be required to record four (4) 50-60 minute therapy sessions and schedule one-hour appointment with the processor for each VCS to review the recordings. 
•
Professional Counseling Internship I (CPS 602) 
• May be taken after completing a minimum of 36 graduate credits (Tier 1 & 2 courses) with a minimum GPA of 3.0, and successfully completing CPS 601 Practicum. 
• Minimum of 300 hours of field experience is required to complete the internship:
o 130 hours of direct client contact
o 20 combined hours of individual and group supervision
o 150 hours of administration (ie. Research, writing, training, admin tasks)
• Students are required to participate in a blended classroom component. Each student will be required to record four (4) 50-60 minute therapy sessions and schedule one-hour appointment with the processor for each VCS to review the recordings. 

Professional Counseling Internship II (CPS 603)
• May be taken after completing a minimum of 39 graduate credits (Tier 1 & 2 courses) with a minimum GPA of 3.0, and successfully completing CPS 601 Practicum and CPS 602 Internship I. 
• Minimum of 300 hours of field experience is required to complete the internship:
o 130 hours of direct client contact
o 20 combined hours of individual and group supervision
o 150 hours of administration (ie. Research, writing, training, admin tasks)
• Students are required to participate in a blended classroom component. Each student will be required to record four (4) 50-60 minute therapy sessions and schedule one-hour appointment with the class professor for each VCS to review the recordings. 

 

Application, Admission, Retention, and Graduation

Admission Requirements

The application process for the M.A counseling programs has four phases: Initial application phase (IAP), Interview phase (IP; parts 1-2), Preliminary acceptance phase (PAP), and Candidacy phase (CP).

Initial Application Phase (IAP) requires submission of the following items:
• Online application form with $40 application fee.
• Personal statement of spiritual journey and statement of faith
• Two professional references completed online by their applicant’s supervisor(s) and their pastor
• Transcript of an accredited Bachelor’s degree (and grad. transcripts if seeking transfer credit approval).
• The TOEFL examination is required only if English is not the applicant's native language or if the applicant has not completed a degree program taught in English. TOEFL scores must be from tests administered within two years of the application deadline. If required, their test score must meet the following minimum for admission: Paper Score 550; Computer Score 213; or Internet Score 79. International students must also complete the Duolingo test with a score of 105. The applicant’s skill score in writing will also be considered in the admissions decision. The official TOEFL score report must be sent directly from the Educational Testing Service.
• Individuals seeking admission to the MA program must complete each step of the application process by submitting a complete application by:

Fall Semester Start August 1
Spring Semester Start December 1
Summer Semester Start April 1

Application Process

 Interview Phase Part 1 (IP1):
The prospective student is invited for an on-campus interview with the admission committee. Before the meeting, the applicant is asked to type a 1-page scholarly paper using APA format in Microsoft Word reviewing articles given to them before scheduling the interview. Writing samples help us assess for graduate-level skills related to comprehension, adaptability, critical thinking, and scholarly writing.

Interview Phase Part 2 (IP2):
After completion of the writing sample, the student has to appear before the admission committee for a face-to-face interview. During the interview process, the committee assesses interpersonal skills, critical thinking, and self-awareness. Those who have met the interview criteria will be welcomed to the preliminary acceptance phase.

Preliminary Acceptance Phase (PAP):
This phase enables provisional acceptance to the graduate program. Students must satisfy academic requirements of the 1st Tier Professional Core courses and then complete the steps for candidacy to continue in the MA counseling programs.

Candidacy Phase (CP):
Upon receiving provisional acceptance to the graduate program, new MA counseling students will be required to complete the candidacy requirements acceptance into the MA program. 

Application Response

After completion of the Interview Phase 2. The admission committee will communicate their decision to the Office of Adult Learner Services and they will communicate the decision of the committee within 7-15 days. One of the three decisions described below are possible.

Recommended admission without contingencies: The applicant is fully accepted without any noted concerns.

Recommended admission with the prerequisites noted: The applicant is accepted with admission’s academic deficiencies identified. The applicant will be informed as to the required steps toward achieving full acceptance.

Do not recommend admission: These applicants will be notified in writing regarding this decision.

Advanced Standing

Transfer Credit Policy: Applicants pursuing a master's degree in the professional counseling program at LBC|Capital may request to transfer a maximum of 18 graduate credits (6 courses) into their master's degree program into which they are applying. To complete the Master of Arts professional counseling programs (Addiction, Clinical Mental Health, Marriage, Couple & Family), a student must have completed 60 credits of graduate coursework. To transfer the graduate courses, the individual grade earned must be at least "B" or higher, and the course must be relevant to the degree program that the applicant is applying for as determined by the program director. The Counseling and Social Work Department reserves the right to approve or decline the transfer credits, which will be communicated to the students during the interview process.   Pre-Program Requirements Counseling/Psychology Prerequisites Required before any Classes:  PSYC _____ Undergraduate course in counseling/psychology 3   Basic Research & Statistics Course Prerequisites Required before any Classes:  MAT 216 Statistics for the Social Sciences OR Equivalent Basic Statistics 3

 

Retention

Candidacy Process:

Upon receiving provisional acceptance to the graduate program, new MA counseling students will be required to complete the following steps in order to obtain full candidacy acceptance into the MA program. Students’ academic performance, interpersonal characteristics, and behavior are monitored throughout the program to ensure competency in preparation for the counseling profession.

 

1. Complete all 1^st Tier Professional Core courses (15 credits) to demonstrate academic fitness and interpersonal fitness. Students must obtain a grade of B or higher. Each student will also be rated by their professors on various interpersonal and academic performance standards via the Critical Competencies Review form in each of the Tier 1 courses.
2. Obtain two (2) background checks are required prior to your candidacy interview and are necessary for approval for field placement. (If living or working in a different state, please review your state requirements for obtaining clearances).

• PA Child Abuse Clearance (ACT 151)
• PA Criminal Background Check (ACT 34)
• Proof of completed Mandated Reporter Training

1. Complete Personality and Career Assessment to ensure the student is at a socio-emotional and behavioral level fit for the profession.
• MMPI-2: Before exiting the Pre-Candidacy phase, the student will need to obtain a personality evaluation, comprising of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory – 2^nd Edition Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF).  The student’s advisor will review the results of this assessment and discussed at the Candidacy interview.   The results of the personality evaluation may verify the student’s continuation within the program and/or evidence a need for additional counseling, or it may show evidence that another area of pursuit would be in the student’s best interest.  Failure to complete this requirement will result in the student’s inability to take additional courses. 
• 16-PF: The student is also required to take the 16-Personality Factors Assessment. The assessment is reviewed with the student during the candidacy interview.  We utilize the Human Resource Development Report that will assess your personality and the associated relationship with common workplace factors to ensure that your chosen career path correlates with common counseling environments. 
2. Submit the Candidacy Application to the Counseling & Social Work department for     review.
3. Schedule and participate in a candidacy interview. After the required assessments are completed and all materials received by the Department Assistant, the student will be allowed to schedule an appointment to be interviewed for Candidacy. This meeting is an intentional pause to assess academic, intrapersonal, and interpersonal fitness to continue in the program. During the Candidacy meeting, the student will be interviewed by the Program Director. The interview will consist of review current grades in the core courses, review of interpersonal and academic rating (via a standardized form) completed by your professors, overall program fit, and the results of the MMPI-2 and the 16 PF.

 

Based on the results of the Candidacy meeting, recommendations germane to findings will be generated. Examples of recommendations include but are not limited to:

• Formal approval as socio-emotionally, academically, and behaviorally fit for advancement to Candidacy.
• Provisionally fit for Candidacy IF various recommendations are followed
• Temporary hiatus from additional classes until requirements have been satisfactorily fulfilled.
• Unfit for candidacy and dismissal from the program.

Upon receiving full candidacy acceptance to the MA program, students can then proceed to enroll in courses from the 2^nd Tier Professional Courses.

 

Counselor Preparation Comprehension Examination

Prior to practicum and internships, students must take the Counselor Preparation Comprehension Examination (CPCE) after completing Tier 1 and Tier 2 courses. The purpose of the exam is to assess the student’s knowledge of counseling to ensure minimum competence in the field. The CPCE will cover the eight required core areas outlined in CACREP 2016 Standards. Furthermore, the CPCE will also provide collective feedback that can be used by the program in developing/adapting curriculum. The CPCE is offered once each Spring, Summer, and Fall semester. More specifically, students can expect the exam to take place on a weekday between 5:30-10:00pm at Lancaster Bible College’s campus.

Graduation

The following requirements must be successfully completed in order to receive the Master of Arts degree:

•  Satisfactory completion of all course work

•  A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0

•  Fulfillment of all financial obligations

•  Adherence to biblical standards and ethics in living one's lifestyle

Faculty

Resident Faculty:
Jon Shacklett, MA, LPC, CAADC, ACS
Melissa Boas, MEd
Praveen Rudra, MA, LPC
Day Butcher, EdD, LPC, LCAT, ATR-BC

Adjunct and Visiting Faculty:
Abby Keiser, MS
Brittany Ober, MA
Carol Geiger, MA, Med, LPC
Faith Ann Day, MA, LPC
Grace Martin, MA, LPC
Jenee Bare, MA
Jessica Todorov, MA
Jonathan Reese, MA, LPC
Joshua Irvine, MA, LPC
Karen Mummau, MSW, LCSW 
Kevin Gushiken, PhD
Lori DeWald, MA, NCC, LBS
Olivia Murrin, MA, LPC
Sean Dougherty, MS, Med
Tony Byler, MD