M.Sc., Applied, in Couple and Family Therapy
School of Social Work
Faculty of Arts
Information Session: January 29, 2014.
Sharon Bond, PhD
School of Social Work
Overview of the MSc (Applied) CFT

Couple and Family Therapy: Early Roots
in Social Work
Background: Historical review
McGill Social Work: Commitment to
Teaching Couple and Family Therapy
Psychotherapy Regulation (Law 21)
Program Description

Application Process




School of Social Work
Couple and Family Therapy:
Early Roots in Social Work

Treating the person-within-their-social context has
been a core paradigm of social work long before the
ecological approach was introduced to family
systems theory

Despite social work’s focus on the treatment
of the “family as the primary unit of
intervention”, the profession has never been
adequately acknowledged for its pivotal role
in developing couple and family therapy
School of Social Work
McGill Social Work: Commitment to
Teaching Couple and Family Therapy

McGill School of Social Work has a long tradition
of teaching in the area of couple and family
practice

Development of this program within Social Work
places couple and family therapy front and
center within the social work profession and will
underscore the School’s leadership role in its
development
School of Social Work
Background: Historical Review



November 2001 Couple and family therapists
were integrated into the Ordre Professionnel des
travailleurs sociaux du Québec (“OPTSQ”) under
the provisions of Quebec’s Professional Code.
May 2010 the OPTSQ was renamed “ Ordre des
travailleurs sociaux et des thérapeutes
conjugaux et familiaux du Québec » (OTSTCFQ)
OTSTCFQ regulates both social work and
couple and family therapy in Quebec.
School of Social Work
Social Work “The Professional Home:
Couple and Family Therapy”
 Offering
a specialized master’s
represents an educational
continuity for our student body.
School of Social Work
Psychotherapy Regulation


Bill 21(Act to amend of Professional Code in
the field of mental health and human
relations) (2011) provides the delineation for
professional activities for social work, couple
and family therapists and other mental health
professionals in the Province of Quebec
Outlines parameters for the psychotherapy
designation defining it as a “reserved act”
School of Social Work
Psychotherapy Regulation


June 12, 2012 Bill 21 was adopted as law
with specific criteria for the psychotherapy
designation confirming “couple and family
therapy” as a “form of psychotherapy”
CFTs in Quebec now require two permits:


1. TCF (OTSTCFQ)
2. Psychotherapist (OPQ)
School of Social Work
Recognition by the Professional
Order

June 12, 2013 the OTSTCFQ approved
McGill’s revised program proposal as fulfilling
the requirements for both couple and family
therapy title and the psychotherapy permit
School of Social Work
American Association for Marriage
and Family Therapy


Program curriculum was designed to respond
to the requirements of clinical membership for
the American Association for Marriage and
Family Therapy
This allows for transportability of this degree
to other jurisdictions in Canada and United
States
School of Social Work
MASTER’S DEGREE IN COUPLE AND FAMILY
THERAPY

This degree was designed as an expansion
to the existing MSW program and to provide
two entry paths for admission

The degree has been designed with flexibility
to give advanced standing for students with
prior training in couple and family therapy
(e.g., M.S.W. students with immediately
relevant courses).
School of Social Work
Relationship to the MSW
Program

This program will allow students who have
followed the child and family concentration
in their MSW to deepen their clinical skills with
couples and families

It will allow for students with this background
to enter into the advanced path and have to
complete a minimum of 45 credits
School of Social Work
Small Cohort Entry

Program is designed as a clinical degree with
small cohort entry (18 advanced path
students (45 credits) per cohort and 8
master’s level (60 credits) per cohort)
School of Social Work
MSc. (Applied) Couple and Family Therapy
Department of Social Work, Faculty of Arts


Professional Master’s program of 60 credits
taken over five semester terms.
Its curriculum was developed through the
standard requirements of: OTSTCFQ; Law 21:
Psychotherapy Permit (OPQ); and the
Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and
Family Therapy Education of America
Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
(AAMFT).
School of Social Work
MSc. (Applied) Couple and Family Therapy



The Master’s Program in Couple and Family
Therapy is designed as a comprehensive two-year
clinical degree or three semester terms for
students with a Master’s degree and the required
courses
Combines the academic excellence of McGill
University, a major research university
Clinical expertise of The Institute of Community
and Family Psychiatry, (JGH), a widely recognized
center for clinical training in couple and family
therapy.
School of Social Work
Curriculum and Law 21

Course content was revised with attention to
theoretical models; specific language and
components of Law 21; professional core
competencies and reserved acts
School of Social Work
Curriculum and Law 21


Course descriptions now provide detail of
hour allotment per psychotherapy model:
(communication/systems; psychodynamic;
cognitive-behavioral; humanistic) ; major
components of core competencies for both
TCF and Psychotherapy. (i.e. Common
factors; Critical tools; Legal, ethics,..)
Course are organized as developmentally
progressive
School of Social Work
MSc. (Applied) Couple and Family Therapy

Program curriculum fulfills all of the
requirements for both designations:



Couple and Family Therapist (OPTSTQ)
Psychotherapy (OPQ)
Graduates are eligible to receive two
professional permits
School of Social Work
Curriculum




1) four prerequisite courses (0-12 credits)
2) seven basic core courses (21 credits)
3) eight advanced courses (36 credits)
4) one complementary (elective) course (3
credits)
School of Social Work
Supervised practicum course
over three semester terms

500 hours (15 credits) of supervised
practicum includes direct client contact with a
maximum ratio of 5 hours of clinical contact
to 1 hour of supervision
School of Social Work
CAFT 606 J1/J2/J3 Internship in Couple and
Family Therapy

Students must complete 500 hours of direct
client contact (with a minimum of 10 clients,
each client receiving a minimum of 10 hours
of direct treatment) and receive 100 hours of
individual supervision and 200 hours of
clinical activities related to the practice of
psychotherapy
School of Social Work
Two paths of entry


Master’s level entry (60 credits) :requiring
the successful completion of a bachelor’s
degree in a related field (B.Sc. Psychology,
Sociology).
Advanced level entry (45 credits) :
requiring the successful completion of a
master’s degree in a related human sciences
profession, i.e. Clinical Psychology,
Educational Psychology, Sociology, Nursing,
etc.
School of Social Work
Prerequisite Courses (12 credits)




Human Development (3 credits)
Psychopathology (3 credits)
Techniques in Interviewing/Counselling (3
credit)
Research Methods or Statistical Methods (3
credits)
School of Social Work
Basic Core Courses (21 credits)







SWRK 622 Understanding and Assessing Families (3
credits)
SWRK 610 Family Treatment (3 credits)
SWRK 623 Couple Therapy (3 credits)
CAFT 600 Family Therapy Pre-Practicum (3 credits)
CAFT 603 Research Methods for Couple and Family
Therapists
(3 credits)
CAFT 608 Human Development Across the Lifespan for
Couple and Family Therapists (3 credits)
SWRK 630
Adult Mental Health (3 credits)
School of Social Work
Advanced Courses (36 credits)








CAFT 601 Diversity and Couple and Family Therapy (3 credits)
CAFT 602 Advanced Assessment in Couple and Family Therapy
(3 credits)
CAFT 604 Contemporary Issues in Couple and Family Therapy (3
credits)
CAFT 605 Advanced Family Treatment Across the Lifespan (3
credits)
CAFT 607 Legal, Ethical and Professional Issues in Couple and
Family Therapy (3 credits)
CAFT 609 Advanced Couple Therapy (3 credits)
CAFT 610 Biological Foundations of Behaviour for Couple and
Family Therapists
(3 credits)
CAFT 606 J1
Internship in Couple and Family Therapy (5
credits)
School of Social Work
1 Complementary (3 credits)









EDPC 503 Human Sexuality: Professionals (3cr)
SWRK 621 Seminar on Trauma and Resilience (3
cr)
SWRK 628Violence Against Women (3cr )
SWRK 635 Advanced Clinical Seminar: Use of Self
(3cr)
SWRK 655 Seminar on Aging (3 cr)
SWRK 657 Seminar in Mental Health (3 cr)
SWRK 668 Living with Illness, Loss and
Bereavement (3cr).
SWRK 669 Disability and Rehabilitation (3 cr)
SWRK 670 Seminar in Caregiving (3 cr)
School of Social Work
Application Process






MSc (A) CFT CV Form
MSc (A) CFT Letter of Intent Guidelines
MSc (A) CFT Prerequisite Form
MSc (A) CFT Advanced Standing Courses
3 Letters of Reference (one academic; 2
professional)
Interview for short-listed candidates
School of Social Work
COMPARATIVE REPRESENTATION OF TYPICAL PATHS:
BACHELOR’S-LEVEL ENTRY VS. AVANCED MASTER’S-LEVEL
ENTRY
(pre-Entry Prerequisite Courses (12 credits)
MASTER’S-LEVEL ENTRY
(60-Credit Path)
ADVANCED-LEVEL ENTRY
(45-Credit Advanced Path)
Fall-Year 1
4 Basic Courses (12 credits)
SWRK 622 Understanding and
Assessing Families (3 cr)
CAFT 600 Family Therapy PrePracticum (3 cr)
CAFT 603 Research Methods for
Couple and Family Therapists(3 cr)
CAFT 608 Human Development across
the Lifespan for Couple and Family
Therapists (3 cr)
Fall Year 1
3 Basic Courses (9 credits)
CAFT 600 Family Therapy PrePracticum (3 cr)
CAFT 603 Research Methods for
Couple and Family Therapists(3 cr)
CAFT 608 Human Development across
the Lifespan for Couple and Family
Therapists (3 cr)
2 Advanced Course (8 cr)
CAFT 602 Advanced Assessment in
Couple and Family Therapy (3 cr)
CAFT 606 J1 Internship in Couple and
Family Therapy (5cr)
School of Social Work
COMPARATIVE REPRESENTATION OF TYPICAL PATHS:
BACHELOR’S-LEVEL ENTRY VS. AVANCED MASTER’S-LEVEL
ENTRY
ADVANCED-LEVEL ENTRY
MASTER’S-LEVEL ENTRY (60-Credit Path)
Winter: Year 1
3 Basic Core Course (9 credits)
SWRK 610 Family Treatment (3 cr)
SWRK 623 Couple Therapy (3 cr)
SWRK 630 Adult Mental Health (3 cr)
1 Advanced Course (3 cr)
CAFT 607 Legal, Ethical & Professional Issues in
Couple & Family Therapy (3cr)
Spring/Summer Year 1
3 Advanced Courses (11 credits)
CAFT 601 Diversity & Couple & Family Therapy (3 cr)
CAFT 605 Advanced Family Treatment across the
Lifespan (3cr
CAFT 606 J1 Internship in Couple and Family
Therapy (5cr)
Option of 1 Complementary Course (3 credits)
EDPE 503 Human Sexuality: Professionals (3 cr)
(45-Credit Advanced Path)
Winter: Year 1
5 Advanced Courses (17 credits)
CAFT 610 -Biological Foundations of Behavior
for CFT (3 cr)
CAFT 604 Contemporary Issues in C & Family
Therapy (3 cr)
CAFT 609 Advanced Couple Therapy (3 cr)
CAFT 607 Legal, Ethical & Professional Issues
in Couple & Family Therapy (3cr
CAFT 606 J2 Internship in Couple and Family
Therapy (5cr)
Spring/Summer Year 1
3 Advanced Course (11 credits)
CAFT 601 Diversity & Couple & Family
Therapy (3 cr)
CAFT 605 Advanced Family Treatment across
Lifespan (3 cr)
CAFT 606 J3 Internship in Couple and Family
Therapy (5cr)
School of Social Work
MASTER’S-LEVEL ENTRY(60-Credit Path)
Fall-Year 2

2 Advanced Courses (8 credits)

CAFT 602 Advanced Assessment in CFT (3 cr)

CAFT 606 J2 Internship in Couple and Family Therapy (5cr)








1 Complementary Courses (3 credits)
Chosen from amongst the following
SWRK 668 Living with Illness, Loss and Bereavement.
(3 cr)
SWRK 628 Violence Against Women (3 cr)
SWRK 635 Advanced Clinical Seminar: Use of Self (3 cr)
SWRK 657 Seminar in Mental Health (3 cr)
SWRK 670 Seminar on Caregiving (3 cr)
School of Social Work
MASTER’S-LEVEL ENTRY(60Credit Path)












Winter Yr 2
4 Advanced Courses (14 credits)
CAFT 610 -Biological Foundations of Behavior for CFT (3 cr)
CAFT 604 Contemporary Issues in C & Family Therapy (3 cr)
CAFT 609 Advanced Couple Therapy (3 cr))
CAFT 606 J3 Internship in Couple and Family Therapy (5cr)
Option of 1 Complementary Course (3 credits)
Chosen from amongst the following
SWRK 655 Seminar on Aging (3 cr)
SWRK 669 Disability and Rehabilitation (3 cr)
SWRK 621 Seminar on Trauma &
Resilience (3 cr)
School of Social Work
Master’s program in Couple and Family
Therapy: A First for McGill

McGill will be the first university in Quebec to
offer a Master’s degree in Couple and Family
Therapy and the first in Canada to offer this
degree within Social Work

We are excited to launch the new
MSc(Applied) Couple and Family Therapy fall
2014!
School of Social Work