The Graduate Certificate in Couple and Family Counseling (GCCFC) provides specialized training for counseling students and counseling professionals interested in learning how to apply evidence-based systemic theory, assessment, and intervention to their work with individuals, couples, and families. Mental health professionals with qualifying graduate degrees and students in graduate mental health professional counseling programs who complete the 6 course (18 credits) GCCFC are eligible to accrue hours of supervised clinical experience and complete the MFT National Examination for licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in the State of Illinois. Additional information regarding licensure as an LMFT can be found on the website of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
Admission Requirements:
A graduate degree in Counseling or closely-related mental health field from an accredited university program in counseling, social work, clinical or counseling psychology that meets the academic and clinical requirements for licensure as a Master’s level mental health professional
OR
Enrollment as a student in good standing in one of Northeastern Illinois University’s Counselor Education programs.
Application terms:
To be considered for admission, the applicant must submit the following to Graduate Admissions:
For applicants who are current Northeastern Illinois University students in Clinical Mental Health, Rehabilitation, or School Counseling:
For additional information regarding the application process for the CFC, or if the links are not working, please contact the Department at (773) 442-5550 or email counsedu@neiu.edu.
For applicants who are not current Counselor Education students, the applicant must have a degree in counseling or a closely-related mental health degree from an accredited university that meets the academic and clinical requirements for licensure as a master's level mental health professional, and submit:
- Application for Admission to Graduate Programs - use the online application (with $30 application fee)
- Certificate in Couple and Family Counseling application
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
- Two letters of recommendation
- Current resume
- Essay (see p. 2 of the Certificate in Couple and Family Counseling application)
Curriculum in the Graduate Certificate in Couple and Family Counseling
The courses required to complete the GCCFC program are listed below. The two graduate-level elective courses are selected in consultation with the advisor for the Family Counseling Program in the Department of Counselor Education. All courses are 3-credit hour graduate courses. Students must successfully complete 18 credit hours of the following courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses: | ||
| COUN-420 | Introduction To Family Counseling | 3 |
| COUN-421 | Advanced Couple And Family Counseling | 3 |
| COUN-431 | Couple And Family Systems Study | 3 |
| COUN-432 | Couples Counseling And Human Sexuality | 3 |
| Elective Courses. Choose any two (total of 6 credit hours) of the following: | ||
| Children And Youth In School And Family Systems | ||
| Diagnosis And Treatment Of Addictive Disorders | ||
| Psychopharmacology | ||
| Medical & Psychosocial Aspects Of Disability | ||
| Trauma And Crisis Counseling | ||
| Case Conceptualization & Treatment Planning | ||
| Aging And The Family | ||