Program Mission
The mission of the University of Nebraska’s Marriage and Family Therapy Master’s program is to train ethical, systemic, and attachment- and trauma-informed clinicians who practice culturally responsive, inclusive, and affirmative care by integrating theory, research, knowledge, and service.
Program Diversity Statement
Following the AAMFT ethical code includes subscribing to an ethic of non-discrimination. Being non-discriminatory means embodying cultural humility and responsiveness, affirmation and inclusive beliefs about and towards clients with marginalized identities (e.g. Black, Indigenous, and People of Color [BIPOC]; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Nonbinary, Asexual, and all people marginalized on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression [LGBTQIA+]; disabled person, immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers; people of varying socio-economic statuses; religious and ethnic minorities, etc.). Embodying non-discrimination and culturally responsive, affirmative and inclusive practice translate to believing that there is not anything inherently wrong, unhealthy, less than, deviant, sinful, or non-normative about marginalized persons, relationships, and family structures. Sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts (e.g., conversion therapy) are harmful, unethical practices that are not compatible with the AAMFT Code of Ethics.
Becoming therapists that embody cultural humility and responsiveness, as well as holding affirmative and inclusive beliefs towards marginalized persons and families is a lifelong endeavor. Our program helps developing therapists cultivate a mindset of curiosity, humility, and accountability when exploring self-of-therapist issues that relate to biases, discriminatory beliefs, societal systems of oppression, and other beliefs/behaviors which may impede the therapeutic process. Issues of diversity are woven into every course, and all members of the MFT program are expected to continually learn about diversity issues and their impact on individuals, couples, families, and communities.
Program Goals
The MFT program at UNL aims to graduate Marriage and Family Therapists who successfully complete the clinical and academic training standards as informed by the AAMFT Professional Marriage and Family Therapy Principles. These include integration of the AAMFT code of ethics, the COAMFTE Core Competencies, and Nebraska state MFT licensure requirements into goals rooted in knowledge, practice, research, ethics, and diversity.
Our program:
- Will train students to apply knowledge of systemic and relational principles, theories, and research to practice, evidence-based practice of therapy with individuals, couples, and families.
- Will prepare culturally responsive, inclusive, and affirmative students who can create a therapeutic environment which attends to components of diversity, power, and privilege in mental health treatment.
- Will prepare students who have the professional identity of a marriage and family therapist and know the importance of, and have the ability to, maintain compliance with ethical, legal, and professional standards in the practice of marriage and family therapy.