Marriage and Family Therapist Degrees in Tennessee
Lee University in Cleveland is slightly bigger than Lipscomb University in Nashville, and both are medium-sized private institutions.
Lee University Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy
The Christ-centered university offers a Master's degree in marriage and family therapy that implements faith and science-based therapy solutions and prepares students for the profession.
At least five semesters are required to complete the program, which requires 60 credit hours. Clinical experiences on campus will prepare students to deal with real-world scenarios on hundreds of hours of training and experience.
MFT Courses
Example courses in the curriculum include Traditional and Systemic Therapies, Human Growth and Development, and Family Stress and Resilience. Admission requirements for the program include an undergraduate degree, GRE scores if the GPA is not high enough, and potential students may be interviewed.
Prior to taking any courses, students will need to get a background check through the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to determine if they are eligible to participate in practicum coursework.
Consider a Featured Online MFT Program
| School and Program Information | Online Program? Entry Requirements |
Course Information |
|---|---|---|
| Walden University
MS in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling
 CACREP Accredited |
✔ Online
|
Learn how to support the well-being of your students as they cope with complex personal and family challenges. Explore human sexual development as well as the relationships and family dynamics impacting young people’s lives today. Build the cross-cultural competencies and skills required to understand family structures, life-cycle dynamics, intergenerational influences, and healthy family functioning. The optional accelerated track is designed for students who are interested in taking three courses per quarter and potentially finishing their program in a shorter time frame. The accelerated track has the same curriculum, residencies, and field experience requirements as the general track, but requires a strong time commitment and is best suited for students who can dedicate themselves full time to their studies. Learn More |
| Walden University
PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision, Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling
HLC Accredited |
✔ Online
|
In the PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision with a specialization in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling, you’ll look at human sexuality and empirically supported treatments and techniques for promoting the well-being of couples. Build competencies for working effectively with children and adolescents. You’ll also learn how to assess procedures for evaluating research in this area—and how to apply these findings to your practice. Learn More |
| Northwestern University
Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy
COAMFTE Accredited |
✔ Online
GRE Not Required Bachelor's Required |
The COAMFTE-accredited MFT@Northwestern is offered by The Family Institute at Northwestern University. Full-time students can complete the program in as few as 21 months. No GRE is required, but applicants must hold an undergraduate degree. Full and part-time tracks available. Learn More |
| National University
Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy
COAMFTE Accredited |
✔ Online
GRE Scores Not Required |
Earn your masters in Marriage and Family Therapy at National University. COAMFTE and IACSTE accredited. Learn More |
| National University
Doctor of Philosophy in Marriage and Family Therapy
COAMFTE Accredited |
✔ Online
GRE Scores Not Required |
Earn your Doctor of Philosophy in Marriage and Family Therapy at National University. COAMFTE and IACSTE accredited. Learn More |
| Grand Canyon University
Master's Degree in Counseling
HLC and NASAC Accredited |
✔ Online
|
Clinical Mental Health Counseling master's degree emphases include: Childhood and Adolescence Disorders, Christian Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Trauma. Designed to meet the academic requirements of the National Board for Certified Counselors for the National Certified Counselor credential, the Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor credential and the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners. As a private university, GCU has the same in-state and out-of-state tuition. Learn More |
| Liberty University
MA: Marriage and Family Therapy
SACSCOC |
✔ Online
Online with required intensives |
A Liberty University marriage and family therapy master’s program online can prepare you to help individuals, couples, and families find healing through counseling. Online and on campus. Training Champions for Christ since 1971. Learn More |
| Colorado Christian University
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.A. - Marriage & Family Therapy
CACREP Accredited |
✔ Online
Bachelor's Degree |
CCU's online Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.A. - Marriage & Family Therapy program prepares you to address couples and families in a clinical environment. Required to attend a five-day on-campus residency held each summer of the program. Apply for free! Learn More |
| University of West Alabama
Online MS in Family Counseling
|
✔ Online
Flexible online environment |
Programs in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Guidance and Counseling Learn More |
Lipscomb University Master of Marriage and Family Therapy
The Master of Marriage and Family Therapy is a 60-credit hour program that explores various problems and conflicts within relationships and family, such as grieving, addiction, and transition.
Specializations
The goal is to provide solutions for these patients through a mixture of science-based therapy and family systems theory.
There is a specialization in Play Therapy, where children will use toys to communicate their feelings and knowledge in a therapeutic fashion. Students will utilize Spark Cool Springs, the university's idea center that aids in training and has served thousands of clients.
LMFT Licensure in Tennessee
There are various requirements needed to gain marriage and family therapy licensure in the state of Tennessee. Candidates must have a graduate-level degree from an accredited program, and those designated by COAMFTE would satisfy this criteria.
MFT Licensure Requirements
They would also satisfy the various coursework needed in human development, family studies, research, and professional ethics, along with the 300 hours needed in clinical practicum experience. There must be at least 1,000 hours of post-graduate supervised experience, and the supervisor must have at least five years of clinical experience in the field, two years of experience in supervision, and their training must come from the American Association for Marriage and Family Training (AAMFT).
Applicants must also complete a national examinations in a proctored location. The national exam takes place once every four years and graduates must take it nine months after receiving a temporary license for post-graduate supervision experience. Even if the applicant fails the exam, they will have up to two years to pass after receiving the temporary license. A criminal background check is required and fingerprints will be made during the application process. Applying out-of-state will require the use of hard copies of finger prints with an additional fee.
Tennessee Board of Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marital and Family Therapists and Licensed Pastoral Therapists
665 Mainstream Dr. Second Floor
Nashville, TN 37243
Website
LMFT Licensure:
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
LMFT Careers and Salaries in Tennessee
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Tennessee has over 500 workers in the field of marriage and family therapy. That is on the higher spectrum compared to the rest of the nation, and is similar to its neighboring states, North Carolina and Virginia.
Median salary is significantly lower than the national average, hovering around $36,500 annually. This number is similar with states like Kentucky, Alabama, and Mississippi.
Youth Villages is a regional health care center with many locations in the Southeast and along the West Coast. They provide treatment and therapy from the comfort of the patients' own home, and also offer crisis services and foster care.
Popular Online MFT Programs
Grand Canyon University 🗹 Online
Liberty University 🗹 Online
Campus-Based COAMFTE Accredited Tennessee MFT Degrees
The COAMFTE (Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education) is the top accrediting board for MFT programs. Below is a list of COAMFTE accredited MFT programs in Tennessee. You can view online COAMFTE accredited MFT counseling programs or all Tennessee counseling degrees.
- MS in Marriage and Family Therapy
- Master of Marriage and Family Therapy
