Request Information Information Packet (PDF)
Lena Lopez Bradley, PhD, MS, LMFT
The Loma Linda University MFT is one of the most well-established programs in the state of California and has the distinction of being COAMFTE-accredited. There is a strong emphasis on whole person care and interdisciplinary learning. A Christ-centered approach is utilized to promote wellness for individuals and families. The program is based on the values of compassion, integrity, excellence, freedom, and justice. There is a low faculty to student ratio, which allows for significant academic and professional mentoring.
The MFT program is unique in that there are multidisciplinary settings available within Loma Linda University for its students. These include the Loma Linda University Medical Center, Children's Hospital, the inpatient Behavioral Medicine Center, and the outpatient Behavioral Health Institute.
To be eligible for admission to the Marital and Family Therapy MS program, applicants must have a bachelor's degree with a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 in the last 45 quarter (30 semester) credits from a regionally-accredited institution and meet all other requirements outlined in the University Catalog. In addition, applicants must provide evidence of academic competence, professional comportment, and mature judgment. Individuals whose undergraduate degree is in still progress may be accepted pending satisfactory completion prior to beginning the master’s degree program. Applicants with an undergraduate degree offered in a language other than English must provide TOEFL scores in accordance with university policy.
Applicants may apply to begin to the campus-based Marital and Family Therapy MS program full-time or part-time in Fall (September), Winter (January), or Spring (March) quarter. Applicants may apply to begin the online MFT MS program in Fall (September). Application deadlines vary according to the academic calendar and are posted. Applicants should plan on the process taking a minimum of two to three months.
Applications for admission are completed, paid for, and submitted online. Applicants are asked to provide current and permanent contact information, academic history, names of three recommenders, and a description of their rationale choosing to enroll in the Marital and Family Therapy MS program at Loma Linda University.
On the application form, individuals are asked to list the names, professional positions and e-mail addresses of three individuals who can recommend them for the Marital and Family Therapy MS program. At least two of the recommenders should be current or former professors who know the applicant's academic history, and one of the recommenders can be a current or former employer or supervisor. Recommendations from friends, relatives, or co-workers are not acceptable. When the application is submitted each of these individuals will receive an email with a link to access the recommendation form, which is to be completed and submitted online.
It is the applicant's responsibility to contact all colleges and universities attended since graduating high school and request that sealed, official transcripts be sent directly from the institution to the following address:
Admissions Processing
Loma Linda University
11139 Anderson St.
Loma Linda, CA 92350
After three recommendations and all official transcripts are received, qualified applicants will be invited to an on-campus or Zoom interview with faculty. Following that interview, faculty make a recommendation to the Dean regarding acceptance.
Applicants will be notified of the admissions decision within two to three weeks following the interview.
The MFT MS program here at Loma Linda University has allowed me the growth and knowledge to excel in my career as a therapist. Both the staff and my cohort created a supportive and comfortable environment for me. I have grown and learned much more about myself and what it means to be a therapist in the field of mental health—while continuing to maintain a balance of my own needs and support in the process.
The MS degree in marital and family therapy is designed to give students an excellent academic and clinical background, accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) and approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, which prepares students for professional practice working with individuals, couples, and families in a variety of settings. These include, but are not limited to, medical, legal, educational, community mental health, managed care, church settings and private practice.
Education and training are offered with the purpose of preparing students to be effective with a variety of mental health problems such as co-occurring disorders, serious emotional disorders, crisis care, chronic and/or serious mental illness, child and elder abuse, emancipation issues, and homelessness and complex relational issues. Great care is taken to include training that addresses issues of cross-cultural awareness, diversity, law and ethics, systemic approaches to treatment along with other evidence-based modalities, life-span development, family and community systems, community integration for support and resources, collaborative case coordination, and a focus on elimination of discrimination and stigma of mental illness. Education emphasis includes relational therapy, marriage and couple therapy, and systemic practice.
*All posted schedules are subject to change based on program scheduling needs.
The Medical Family Therapy Specialization is designed for individuals with an interest in working with patients and families living with an illness, injury, or disability. Courses include relevant family systems-informed theories and models, assessment and intervention skills, emphasis on diversity and social contexts, and collaborating with medical professionals, and unique self-of-therapist considerations. The specialization in medical family therapy prepares students to work as a member of the healthcare team in addressing the biopsychosocial-spiritual needs of patients and families. Individuals trained can work in medical settings, private practice, schools, community settings, mental health facilities, etc.
The Medical Family Therapy Specialization consists of 6 units of coursework and a 9-month fieldwork experience in an approved healthcare setting.
Candidates will complete a minimum of 3 quarters of fieldwork in an approved medical or health-related clinical setting during their second year in the MFT MS program. The experience prepares students to participate as a member of a collaborative team to help support the biopsychosocial-spiritual needs of patients and families.
MFT MS students must apply and be accepted into the Medical Family Therapy Specialization program during the Fall quarter of their first year. Application consists of the following steps:
Application deadline: November 1.
Contact the Program Coordinator, Jacqueline Williams-Reade, PhD, at jwilliamsreade@llu.edu for additional information.
Students entering an MS degree program within the Department of Counseling and Family Sciences in academic year 2023-2024 who are interested in obtaining certification in Play Therapy or Drug & Alcohol Counseling will receive a tuition waiver for the certificate program of their choice. Students interested in this benefit are required to enroll in elective courses specified by their academic advisor. Given available spaces, students enrolling in the Systems, Families, and Couples PhD program may also take advantage of this benefit. Tuition waivers do not apply to any units used to support the student's primary degree program.
The faculty at Loma Linda are compassionate, proficient, exceptional individuals who helped me to grow as both a clinician and a learner.
Loma Linda University's policy on anti-discrimination states the following: The University is committed to equal education and employment opportunities for men and women. While Loma Linda University (LLU) gives preference in its selection processes to students and employees who are aligned with the faith-based mission of the University and the Seventh-day Adventist Church, LLU does not and shall not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, medical condition, physical handicap, mental condition, veteran’s status, or age in the provision of any of its services. In the department of counseling and family sciences, we adhere to this policy and additionally do not discriminate against anyone on the basis of socioeconomic or relationship status.
The MFT programs are accredited in both formats by WSCUC and COAMFTE. Further, the content of the programs meets all requirements stipulated by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
The campus-based MS in Marital and Family Therapy is approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) to prepare their students for both the License in Marital and Family Therapy (LMFT) and the License in Clinical Counseling (LPCC). For this option, students are required to add four academic units to their program.
For information on our student demographics, as well as student and faculty achievement information, please click here.
*Applications received by the priority deadline are reviewed first and receive admission responses earlier. Applications received after the priority deadline and before the standard deadline are reviewed as they are submitted and until the program has reached capacity. If you have any questions about when your application might be reviewed, please contact the program director.
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