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A family therapist counsels a couple

Master of Relational and Family Therapy | MRFT

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  2. Family Relations and Applied Nutrition
  3. Grad Programs

Degree

  • MRFT (Master of Relational and Family Therapy)

Program Type

  • Coursework

Delivery

  • On-campus

Entry Terms & Deadlines

  • Summer (May): September 14

Duration

  • Full Time: 24 months

Admission Average

75%**Additional Requirements
Program Structure

Become a relational and family therapist and graduate job-ready

Mental health professionals are in demand in your community. Make a difference with the Master of Relational and Family Therapy (MRFT) program at the University of Guelph.

The Master of Relational and Family Therapy is a two-year immersive clinical training program that integrates theory into the practice of relational and systemic psychotherapy, where therapists work with a client in the context of their many relationships and broader social systems.

The MRFT is a recognized education, training and clinical experience program with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) and is accredited by the Canadian Association for Couple and Family Therapy (CACFT) and prepares you to practice psychotherapy upon graduation.

The Master of Relational and Family Therapy is part of the Relational and Psychotherapy Training Program (RPTP) at the University of Guelph.

How to Apply
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One of a Kind
The only secular, systemic relational education and training program in Ontario
Systemic-Relational Focus
Learn relationship therapy with a foundation in systemic relational training
Career-Ready Training
Clinical experience and supervision through an EDI lens to prepare you for your career

The Master of Relational and Family Therapy Program Timeline

The Master of Relational and Family Therapy program is a two-year full-time only immersive course of study beginning in May each year.

The first academic summer semester prepares you to begin your five-semester internship placement in the fall. In the final semester of the program, you'll be registered with the CRPO as a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) and you'll be on track to be become a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist (RMFT) with the CACFT.

As an MRFT student, you will complete seven courses in a combination of in-person and remote synchronous formats throughout the program:

  • Resiliency and Trauma Informed Practice
  • Sociocultural Attunement and Humility
  • Foundations of Relational and Family Therapy
  • Professional Ethics and Issues in Relational and Family Therapy
  • Research in Relational Family Therapy
  • Perspectives on Health and Well-being
  • Gender, Sexuality and Clinical Interventions

Visit the Graduate Calendar for more information on the program courses.

The front doors of the Maplewoods Centre

Training Facilities

All practicum classes, clinical work, and supervision in the MRFT program take place in the Maplewoods Centre for Family Therapy and Child Psychology.

Maplewoods is a newly-built and innovative centre on the University of Guelph campus that provides a range of clinical therapy services for youth, adults, and families in the community.

Maplewoods is equipped with a state-of-the-art video capture system, allowing for digital recording and real-time observation of clinical work.

Learn more about Maplewoods

Meet the Faculty

Robin Milhausen

Dr. Robin R. Milhausen has appeared extensively in the media as an expert in sexual and relationship satisfaction. More recently, she has been studying the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on long-term couple relationships.
Robin R. Milhausen, PhD, RPProfessor, Family Relations and Applied Nutrition
Rana Khan

Rana Khan specializes in how cultural differences impact individuals, relationships and families. He teaches and mentors students as a clinical instructor and supervisor at the Maplewoods Centre for Family Therapy and Child Psychology.
Rana Khan, MSc, RP, RMFT-SQClinical Supervisor and Instructor
Orion Neustifter

Dr. Orion Neustifter is a researcher, intimacy coach, and anti-oppression trainer. They use decolonizing approaches to study relational mental health, diverse genders and sexualities, and relational impacts of trauma.
Orion Neustifter, PhD, RP, RMFT-SAssociate Professor, Family Relations and Applied Nutrition
Kevin Stafford

Kevin VanDerZwet Stafford has over 30 years of experience as a practicing clinician, educator, and advocate for the profession of psychotherapy. Today, he is the Co-Director of the Maplewoods Centre for Family Therapy and Child Psychology.
Kevin VanDerZwet Stafford, MSc, RP, RMFT-SMDirector of Clinical Training

Dr. John Beaton has been training graduate students to be therapists for over 15 years. His research and clinical interests focus on men's health and fatherhood, and families with children with disabilities and chronic health conditions.
John Beaton, PhD, RP, RMFT-SAssociate Professor, Family Relations and Applied Nutrition

Emma Turner has extensive experience working with clients of all ages as a Registered Psychotherapist. She teaches and mentors graduate students as the Manager of Clinical Supervision in couple and family therapy at Maplewoods.
Emma Turner, MSc, RP, RMFT-SMManager of Clinical Supervision

Dr. Tuuli M. Kukkonen is an expert in the field of sexual psychophysiology. Her research focuses on the interaction between biological and psychosocial factors involved in sexual health, and aging and sexual health.
Tuuli M. Kukkonen, PhD, C.PsychAssociate Professor, Family Relations and Applied Nutrition

Applying to the Master of Relational and Family Therapy

Admission to the MRFT is competitive and your application will only be considered if you meet the following minimum requirements:

  1. Completion of an honours (four-year) baccalaureate degree or equivalent, with an average of 75% or higher in the last two years of study.
    • Your degree may be in progress at the time of application but must be completed by April 30 of the year you enter the program.
  2. Completion of a social science research methods course with a grade of 70% or higher.
    • Your research methods course may be in progress at the time of application but must be completed by December 31 of the year you apply.

Note: Applicants who demonstrate relevant work or volunteer experience are preferred, however, we will not accept applicants who are regulated in Ontario to practice the profession of psychotherapy or its equivalent.

Read the full guide on applying to the Relational and Psychotherapy Training Program.

For full tuition details for the Master of Relational and Family Therapy program, visit Student Financial Services.

A therapist counsels a couple

Other Programs

Master of Psychotherapy

The Master of Psychotherapy program has a more traditional psychotherapy focus. Students complete two in-person practica at the Maplewoods Centre and a one-year externship, gaining direct clinical experience in a placement with a community-based service provider.

Master of Arts in Mental Health

The Master of Arts in Mental Health is an online course-based program designed for professionals who want non-clinical mental health training infused with systemic thinking and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

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