A family therapist counsels a couple

Master of Relational and Family Therapy

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 provisionally 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, along with the Master of Psychotherapy and the Master of Arts in Mental Health.

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.

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.

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-S
Associate Professor, Family Relations and Applied Nutrition

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-SQ
Clinical Supervisor and Instructor

Applying to the Master of Relational and Family Therapy

  • Completion of an honours (four-year) baccalaureate degree or equivalent, with a minimum 75% average in the last two years of study.
  • Completion of a social science research methods course with a grade of 70% or higher.

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.

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

The Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition offers financial support to qualified graduate students through a combination of financial planning support, scholarships, Graduate Teaching Assistantships, Graduate Research Assistantships, and other employment.

Search entrance scholarships for graduate students at the University of Guelph.

You are also encouraged to apply for government-funded awards and external awards.

Learn more about funding your graduate education on the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies website.

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).

RPTP Webinar | August 2024

Interested in applying to the Relational and Psychotherapy Training Program?

Check out our recent webinar, in which we review the details of each program, go over what to expect during the application process, and answer your questions!

Recorded August 9, 2024.

Get in Touch

Questions about the Master of Relational and Family Therapy program? Contact:

Shauna Porter
Graduate Program Assistant
Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition
Email: rptp@uoguelph.ca