Master of Arts in Relationship and Pastoral Therapy (MARPT)
Integrating systems and psychological theories, supervised clinical experience, theological education, and spiritual formation in order to heal and empower diverse families, individuals, and groups from any faith and culture.
The Master of Arts in Relationship and Pastoral Therapy program integrates effective, competent clinical education and practice with theological studies and spiritual formation. Students learn about systems theory, historic, current, and evolving approaches to marriage and family therapy, individual and family development, psychology and mental health, and research within clinical practice. The degree requires 600 hours of supervised clinical practice, including group and individual supervision.
This program is unique in that it highlights the need for therapists to work with families and individuals who come from complex worlds, including diverse faith and cultural traditions. Therapists are prepared to treat a wide variety of presenting problems, from difficulties with family transitions to individuals who present with anxiety, depression, and other mental health related concerns. Required courses introduce not only systemic, contextual family and individual treatment, but also psychopathology, assessment, and diagnosis in order to both offer clients’ holistic care and to be able to collaborate with other health care providers, physicians, and significant persons in clients’ lives. Broader than a traditional advanced degree in psychology or counseling, the Master of Arts in Relationship and Pastoral Therapy affords graduates the skills to utilize clients’ own faith and belief practices by incorporating spiritual reflections, rituals, and discussions into the clinical work, at the clients' request, in order to help clients live healthier and more fulfilling lives.
The program is designed based on standards from Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). It is intended to meet the educational requirements for the Washington State Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) license, and certification as a pastoral counselor by the American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC).
Start in Summer or Fall!
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Private Practice, Licensed Therapist
Director of Social Services
Hospital Counseling Provider
University Resident Director
Private Practice, Family Therapy
Recovery Program Director
Faith-Based Counseling Services
Certified Pastoral Counselor
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Click here for MARPT Learning Outcomes (update coming soon!)
* All credits are quarter credits
** Years average is based on FT at 3 classes per quarter
I. Theological Foundations
Twelve credits:
STMM 500 - Christian Anthropology (3)
or
STMA 575 - Images of the Sacred (3)
STMM 526 - Hebrew Scriptures (3)
STMM 527 - Christian Scriptures (3)
STMM 561 - Contemporary Christian Spirituality and Prayer (3)
or
STML 570 - Spiritual Discernment and Decision Making
or
Elective in Spirituality (3)
II. Clinical Theory
Thirty credits:
STMM 553 - Pastoral Care Skills (3)
STMA 561 - Psycho-Spiritual Development (3)
STMM 552 - Family Systems in Ministry (3)
STMC 551 - Advanced Relationship and Pastoral Therapy Skills (3)
STMC 552 - Counseling Theory and Techniques (3)
STMC 553 - Integrating Systemic and Spiritual Approaches to Couples Therapy (3)
STMC 554 - Group Theory and Techniques (3)
STMC 570 - Systemic Treatment of Addiction and Abuse (3)
STMC 571 - Psychopathology (3)
STMC 572 - Assessment and Diagnosis (3)
III. Clinical Integration
Thirty-nine credits:
STMM 568 - Research Methods (3)
STMC 569 - Research Seminar (1)
STMM 547 - Christian Sexuality (3)
STMC 516 - Historical and Contemporary Theories of Care (3)
STMC 521 - Relationship and Pastoral Therapy in a Multicultural Context (3)
STMC 522 - Relationship and Pastoral Therapy: Identity and Ethics (3)
STMC 523 - Professional Ethics and Law (1)
STMC 561 - Career and Professional Development (1)
STMC 574 - Psychopharmacology (1)
STMC 555 - Clinical I (3)
STMC 556 - Clinical II (3)
STMC 557 - Clinical III (3)
STMC 558 - Clinical IV (3)
STMC 559 - Integration Clinical I (3)
STMC 560 - Integration Clinical II (3)
STM Elective Required (2 or 3)
MINIMUM CREDITS REQUIRED FOR DEGREE .................. 81
Focus Areas
Holistic Health
Assisting and facilitating growth toward mental, spiritual, emotional, interpersonal, behavioral health, wholeness and maturity in the clients’ facing every day challenges, includes the ability to understand and reflect with a client on the client's spiritual/faith assumptions and practices
Clinical Excellence
Assessing, diagnosing, and implementing a treatment plan using contextual and systemic frames, the DSM, and spiritual assessment tools
Client Treatment
Demonstrating in clinical practice: the capacity to draw on systemic, psychological, and spiritual/theological principles, and demonstrated ability to read and interpret research; ability to research clinical material in support of client treatment
Skilled Supervision
Students are trained by the program’s use of a developed sophisticated approach to team-building, supervision and consultation
Diversity Expertise
A demonstrated approach to all of one's work with openness to the presence of all forms of diversity
Written Proficiency
Producing effective written documentation and oral presentations for the purpose of clinical practice: in support of client treatment, for legal purposes, for reference to colleagues for guidance and for professional development includes the ability to adhere to APA writing guidelines
Post Master's Certificate in Pastoral Counseling
Designed for students who already have advanced degrees in theology/ministry and want to become licensed mental health counselors and certified pastoral counselors.
Post Master's Certificate in Pastoral Theology
Designed for students who already have advanced degrees in psychology who want theological/spiritual training to become certified pastoral counselors.