MSc.CFT Graduate Employability
Couple and Family Therapy graduates are employed in diverse settings including: community family service / therapy agencies, Family Health Teams, social service agencies, hospitals, mental health centres, treatment centres for children and adolescents, employee assistance programs, community colleges and universities, as well as in private practice. Graduates who chose the research thesis option are well positioned for continued study in doctoral programs. Alumni have found employment in all regions of Canada, from East coast to West coast and in the far North. Several international students have returned to their home countries to be leaders in the field there.
"The training I received was first-rate and I have been sought out by employers because I am a graduate of this program." MSc.CFT Graduate
"It is my experience that the graduates from the Couple & Family Therapy Program at the University of Guelph graduate with strong knowledge and skill in family and individual therapy, and are well trained in leading edge approaches such as Narrative Therapy, Brief Therapy, and Solution-Focused approaches. I am confident when hiring for therapist positions that graduates from this program will provide excellent therapeutic experiences for clients and make meaningful contributions to their work environment." (M.S.W.), Clinical Supervisor, children's assessment and treatment centre.
Potential for Doctoral Studies
Graduates who have pursued the thesis option have excellent potential to continue with doctoral studies. Graduates of the MSc.CFT program in FRAN are in a very strong position to continue in the FRAN as doctoral students and/or apply to other institutions for PhD work. The PhD program in Family Relations and Human Development is a research intensive program. Students who have a continued interest in the CFT area have the option to be advised/supervised by a CFT faculty member and to do research specifically focused on issues in the CFT field. Students who intend to apply for PhD Studies should complete thesis research during their MSc.CFT studies. While it is possible to obtain and demonstrate research skills in other ways post-master's, this may be difficult and will not necessarily be acceptable for admission to many doctoral programs.
"When I arrived at the University of Minnesota to begin a PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy with other highly competent students from around the world, I wondered if I was ready. I soon discovered that my Master's degree training at the University of Guelph in Family Relations and Human Development (with a specialization in Couple and Family Therapy) had prepared me well. The theoretical, research, and clinical training I received at the Master's level laid the foundations for a positive and successful doctoral experience." CFT Graduate
Couple and Family Therapy Centre, University of Guelph - Client Satisfaction
Annual surveys indicate high client satisfaction with the services received at the CFT Centre.
Almost all CFT Centre clients surveyed described their therapist as "respectful"; sensitive to race, age, sex, and culture; and accepting. A large percentage of clients said that they felt understood by their therapist, and that they would recommend the CFT Centre to a friend.
Qualitative data indicate clients appreciate the process of therapy at the CFT Centre and highly value working with therapist-interns. Many clients indicated how helpful the therapy had been in their lives, as well as how easy it was to talk with their therapist.