What is an MFT degree?

As a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), you can help couples and families identify the conflicts and issues affecting their relationships and then develop strategies to enable them to work through and overcome those problems.A Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) is the graduate degree required before a person can move on to earn licensure and become an LMFT. Prior to earning an MFT degree, the student would first need to earn a bachelor’s degree. Two logical choices that would suit a future career in marriage and family therapy would be a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology or a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work.

What jobs can you get with an MFT degree?

Of course, the most common career for a person with a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy is to become a therapist. That role is discussed on the program page above.But an MFT degree can open doors to a variety of career options beyond being a marriage and family therapist. Here are a few different options:School counselor — Counselors work with students on classroom behavior, academic performance, and other areas such as anxiety. They can also provide career guidance. The span of the role can vary depending on the size of the school and the school district.Residential counselor — Residential counselors provide counseling to adult residents with mental health issues within healthcare facilities or community-based institutions.Case manager — Case managers are the facilitators between patients and health care providers, coordinating mental, physical, or emotional support and healthcare for patients. Assessing patient needs is an important component of this job.Health educator — The role of a health educator is to help clients understand how to live healthier, happier lives. Health educators may work on their own or they can work within school systems, healthcare facilities, or rehabilitation facilities. In government positions, health educators can create educational campaigns intended to boost public health.Clinical director — This role is a supervisory one tasked with leading a particular department in settings such as hospitals. In smaller facilities, clinical directors may coordinate and manage the entire facility.

What are the steps involved in becoming a marriage and family therapist?

The path is not set in stone, but becoming a marriage and family therapist typically involves these four steps:Education — Most states require a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy. But there is some leeway here, as some programs in mental health fields that focus on family therapy may also satisfy the educational component.Supervised clinical experience — After earning a master’s degree, a person must complete a specified number of supervised clinical hours working with clients. These hours, typically under the supervision of a licensed therapist, are in addition to the practicum hours earned with the master’s degree.Licensing exam — To demonstrate knowledge appropriate for a marriage and family therapist, states require you to pass a state-administered licensing exam. This exam covers topics such as assessment, diagnosing, systemic therapy, and hypothesizing. For instance, the California MFT Clinical Exam involves 150 questions and has a four-hour time limit. These exams are not uniform across every state.Continuing education — Once a person has gained licensure, most states require continuing education to stay up to date with the latest treatment/therapy approaches. To maintain your license as a marriage and family therapist, you must provide verification of completion of your required continuing education.

How much clinical experience is required to earning an MFT license?

There are two aspects to in-person practice involved when a person wants to become a marriage and family therapist. First, there is the practicum requirement, which is part of the master’s degree curriculum. At UMass Global, MFT students must complete 400 hours of hands-on experience in their six practicum courses. Of these 400 hours, 300 will be spent in direct client contact and the remaining 100 hours are spent in supervision of others providing therapy. The direct client contact hours require 100 hours spent with couples and family client units. The remaining 200 hours may be individual or relational hours.Once you earn your MFT degree, prior to sitting for your licensing exam, you now need to accumulate a certain amount of supervised clinical experience. For most states, (including California) this number is 3,000 hours. This takes two years in most cases. In these sessions, you work with clients while receiving supervision from a licensed therapist.

Dr. Vanessa Holtgrave

Associate Professor of Psychology

Arts and Sciences

Specialty Forensic Psychology, Clinical Assessment, Child and Adult Psychopathology

vholtgra@umassglobal.edu

Dr. Holtgrave obtained her Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degree from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Clinical-Forensic Psychology with a research emphasis on police psychology. Dr. Holtgrave is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in the State of California and a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society. She has extensive experience in psychological and neuropsychiatric assessment and diagnosis of neurocognitive disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, and other psychopathologies. Dr. Holtgrave has worked closely with forensic teams, provides consultation and supervision, and coordinates patient care with medical professionals in a psychiatric settings. Over the years, Dr. Holtgrave has worked within the prison system, juvenile detention facilities, in crisis settings conducting evaluations for civil commitment, and within child and adult community-based outpatient mental health.

Education History

2015 - Psy.D. in Clinical-Forensic Psychology, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

Dissertation: “Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Features in Law Enforcement”
Honors: Edward Alexander Bouchet Graduate Honor Society

2006 - B.S. in Psychology, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, IL

Minor in Sociology
Honors: Psi Chi

Scholarly Activities

Holtgrave, V., & Good, J. (2020, October 12). Teaching Psychology Courses Online: Redefining and Exploring the Impact of the Synchronous Model. 2020 UPCEA Western Regional Conference.
Holtgrave, V. (2021, August 12-14). TogetherWell: Using Technology for Connecting Communities to Mental Health Education. American Psychological Association 2021 Convention.
Holtgrave, V., & Good, J. (2021, October). Innovative Use of Technology to Teach Clinical Skills to Future Mental Health. UPCEA 2021 Regional Conference.
Holtgrave, V., & Good, J. (2021, September 22). Innovative Use of Technology to Teach Clinical Skills to Future Mental Health Counselors [Education Session – Live]. Online Learning Consortium - OLC Accelerate 2021.
Holtgrave, V., & Good, J. (2023, June). Application of the iDEAL Model of Learning to Instructional Design and Media in Online Learning. European Journal of University of Lifelong Learning (EJULL).
Holtgrave, V., Good, J., & Fazakerley, J. (2025, March 26). Bringing lessons to life: Media-driven approaches in online learning [Conference session]. Innovative Teaching and Learning Conference, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States.
Holtgrave, V., Good, J., & Fazakerley, J. (2026). Bringing Lessons to Life: Media-Driven Approaches in Online Learning. International Journal of Technology in Education

Professional Experience

2016-Current:

Associate Professor of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Global, 2025-Current
Assistant Professor, Brandman University/University of Massachusetts Global, 2018-2025
Adjunct Faculty, Brandman University, 2016-2018

2018-Current:

Private Practice, Dr. Vanessa M. Holtgrave
Doctoral Supervision
Consultation

2015-2018:

Clinical Psychologist, Santa Barbara County Behavioral Wellness Santa Barbara, CA
AB-109 Program in association with Santa Barbara County Department of Probation

2016-2018:

Clinical Psychologist, Casa Pacifica – Safe Alternatives For Treating Youth (SAFTY) Santa Maria, CA
5150 Civil Commitment Assessments and Suicide Intervention

2014-2016:

Browne Psychological Services Arroyo Grande, CA
Doctoral Intern
Pediatric and Adult Psychological Evaluation

2012-2014:

Santa Barbara County Behavioral Wellness Santa Maria, CA
PEI-TAY Program, Children’s Mental Health, and Juvenile Justice Mental Health

2007-2011:

Center for Mental Health – Great Falls Prison Pre-Release, Great Falls, MT
Adult Case Management, 2007-2009
Clinical Therapist, 2009-2011
Prison Transition services for state and federal parolees

2005-2006:

Illinois Center for Autism, Fairview Heights, IL
Undergraduate Internship

Education History

2015 - Psy.D. in Clinical-Forensic Psychology, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

Dissertation: “Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Features in Law Enforcement”
Honors: Edward Alexander Bouchet Graduate Honor Society

2006 - B.S. in Psychology, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, IL

Minor in Sociology
Honors: Psi Chi

Scholarly Activities

Holtgrave, V., & Good, J. (2020, October 12). Teaching Psychology Courses Online: Redefining and Exploring the Impact of the Synchronous Model. 2020 UPCEA Western Regional Conference.
Holtgrave, V. (2021, August 12-14). TogetherWell: Using Technology for Connecting Communities to Mental Health Education. American Psychological Association 2021 Convention.
Holtgrave, V., & Good, J. (2021, October). Innovative Use of Technology to Teach Clinical Skills to Future Mental Health. UPCEA 2021 Regional Conference.
Holtgrave, V., & Good, J. (2021, September 22). Innovative Use of Technology to Teach Clinical Skills to Future Mental Health Counselors [Education Session – Live]. Online Learning Consortium - OLC Accelerate 2021.
Holtgrave, V., & Good, J. (2023, June). Application of the iDEAL Model of Learning to Instructional Design and Media in Online Learning. European Journal of University of Lifelong Learning (EJULL).
Holtgrave, V., Good, J., & Fazakerley, J. (2025, March 26). Bringing lessons to life: Media-driven approaches in online learning [Conference session]. Innovative Teaching and Learning Conference, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States.
Holtgrave, V., Good, J., & Fazakerley, J. (2026). Bringing Lessons to Life: Media-Driven Approaches in Online Learning. International Journal of Technology in Education

Professional Experience

2016-Current:

2018-Current:

Private Practice, Dr. Vanessa M. Holtgrave
Doctoral Supervision
Consultation

2015-2018:

Clinical Psychologist, Santa Barbara County Behavioral Wellness Santa Barbara, CA
AB-109 Program in association with Santa Barbara County Department of Probation

2016-2018:

Clinical Psychologist, Casa Pacifica – Safe Alternatives For Treating Youth (SAFTY) Santa Maria, CA
5150 Civil Commitment Assessments and Suicide Intervention

2014-2016:

Browne Psychological Services Arroyo Grande, CA
Doctoral Intern
Pediatric and Adult Psychological Evaluation

2012-2014:

Santa Barbara County Behavioral Wellness Santa Maria, CA
PEI-TAY Program, Children’s Mental Health, and Juvenile Justice Mental Health

2007-2011:

2005-2006:

Illinois Center for Autism, Fairview Heights, IL
Undergraduate Internship

400 practicum hrs

Online Coursework

Psychology & Counseling

Marriage and Family Therapy, MA

Strengthen relationships with UMass Global's MA in Marriage & Family Therapy. Prepare for licensure with online coursework plus 400 practicum hours.

Next Start Date:

Mar 9, 2026

Learn More

Dual Licensure

Online Coursework

Psychology & Counseling

Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT/PCC), MA

Expand your therapy career with UMass Global's dual MA in Marriage & Family Therapy/PCC. Pursue dual licensure options with clinical placement support.

Next Start Date:

Mar 9, 2026

Learn More

339 practicum hrs

Online Coursework

Psychology & Counseling

Professional Clinical Counseling, MA

Transform lives with UMass Global's MA in Professional Clinical Counseling. Build evidence-based skills for diverse mental health settings with placement support.

Next Start Date:

Mar 9, 2026

Learn More

Dr. Vanessa Holtgrave

Education History

2015 - Psy.D. in Clinical-Forensic Psychology, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

2006 - B.S. in Psychology, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, IL

Scholarly Activities

Professional Experience

2016-Current:

2018-Current:

2015-2018:

2016-2018:

2014-2016:

2012-2014:

2007-2011:

2005-2006:

Education History

2015 - Psy.D. in Clinical-Forensic Psychology, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

2006 - B.S. in Psychology, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, IL

Scholarly Activities

Professional Experience

2016-Current:

2018-Current:

2015-2018:

2016-2018:

2014-2016:

2012-2014:

2007-2011:

2005-2006:

Related Programs

Marriage and Family Therapy, MA

Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT/PCC), MA

Professional Clinical Counseling, MA

Future Students

Current Students

Faculty & Staff

About UMass Global