Marital and Family Therapy Program Handbook

Marital and Family Therapy Program Handbook Revised Summer, 2013 Welcome to the Marital & Family Therapy Program at Western Seminary, Sacramento. We are excited to join you on your educational journey. Our desire is to create a focused but flexible learning environment in which you will have the opportunity to grow personally, spiritually, and professionally. We would like to assist you in having a successful academic journey and hope that you have fun while learning. This handbook is provided to inform you of program policies and procedures, to answer routine questions concerning the program, and to guide you to completion of your degree. Please keep it on hand for ready reference. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this Handbook, Western Seminary has the right to make changes at any time without prior notice. The purpose of this handbook is to provide information; it does not constitute irrevocable terms of the contract between the Seminary and current or prospective students. There are established procedures for making changes; procedures which protect the Seminary s integrity and the individual student s interest and welfare. A curriculum or graduation requirement, when altered, generally is not made retroactive unless the alteration is to meet counseling licensure requirements or is to the student s advantage and can be accommodated within the span of years normally required for graduation. Students are advised to carefully read the Seminary Catalog, available at New Student Orientation or through the Student Services Office. The M.A. MFT Handbook provides specific and detailed information as a supplement to the Catalog. Details on specific course offerings and class times are published in the Class Schedule, available in advance of each semester from the Student Services Office and on the school website. Information on current fees and financial policies is available from the Student Services Office. Students may consult with faculty advisors for additional information and assistance. At this link, you can find the MFT program checklist. It is provided as a convenient record of your progress in the program and as a way to see the program at a glance. For MFT students who have added the Addiction Studies Certificate program, they can find the program checklist here. Other forms and information that you will need throughout the course of your studies are found in the Forms Supplement or are available online at this link. In addition to the materials in this handbook, we (faculty and staff) are available to provide personal guidance and responses to your questions. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to call us at the Seminary number: 916.488.3720. Jon Holmes, MFT, M.Div. Counseling Program Director Phone: 916.488.3720, x2 Email: jholmes@westernseminary.edu While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this handbook, we reserve the right to make changes at any time without prior notice. Revised Summer, 2012.

TABLE OF CONTENTS QUESTIONS EVERYONE ASKS... 3 PROGRAM DESCRIPTION... 4 Overview..... 4 Admission Requirements... 5 Addiction Studies Certificate Program... 5 Readiness Exams... 5 Degree Requirements... 5 Basic Curriculum (MFT and ASC)... 6 Graduation Plans and Program Checklists... 9 POLICIES AND PROCEDURES... 10 Course Load and Code of Ethics... 10 Grading and Attendance Policies.... 11 Writing Guidelines... 12 Time Limits of Program... 12 Evaluation Procedures... 12 Graduation Requirements... 13 Counseling Services... 14 PRACTICUM / TRAINEESHIP... 15 Purpose.... 15 Requirements.... 15 Trainee Role... 15 Summary of Traineeship Procedure... 16 Practical Trainee, Intern, and Licensing Sequence... 17 POST-GRADUATE LICENSURE... 18 How to Become an LMFT in California... 18 MFT Intern Registration Process... 18 Required Supervised Work Experience... 18 Forms... 18 Internship Hours... 19 MFT LICENSING EXAMINATION ELIGIBILITY... 20 Applying for Written Exam Eligibility... 20 The Six-Year Rule... 20 Examination Deadlines & Administration... 20 MFT STANDARD WRITTEN EXAMINATION... 21 MFT Standard Written Exam Candidate Handbook... 21 MFT Standard Written Exam Content... 21 After Passing the MFT Standard Written Exam... 21 MFT CLINICAL VIGNETTE EXAMINATION... 22 MFT Clinical Vignette Exam Candidate Handbook... 22 MFT Clinical Vignette Exam Content... 22 After Passing the MFT Clinical Vignette Exam... 22 FACTS OF INTEREST... 23 Western's MFT Program and the LPCC Profession... 23 APA WRITING SAMPLE... 24 The current edition replaces all prior versions. 2

QUESTIONS EVERYONE ASKS Look for the answers to these questions on the pages listed below What makes Western Seminary's MFT Program distinct?... 4 In what order should I take my classes?... 9 How do I know if I've taken all the courses I need to graduate?... 9 What kind of course load should I take?... 10 When do I start my Traineeship?... 15 What Trainee Sites are available?... 15 How do I get started on my Traineeship?... 15 Do I need liability insurance?... 15 How do I go from MFT Trainee to MFT Intern?... 18 How many hours of experience do I need to complete my internship?........ 18 What do I need to do to obtain state licensure?... 18 The current edition replaces all prior versions. 3

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION Overview The Master of Arts in Marital & Family Therapy (M.A. MFT) is focused on preparing Christian counselors with the knowledge, skills, and insight needed to practice counseling in clinical settings, non-profit organizations, or church contexts. Western has created this program to be an integrative approach that seeks to understand and explain counseling issues and problems that people face in life from a thoroughly biblical point of view. The counseling program is designed to place an emphasis on theological and spiritual reflection as they relate to the therapeutic process. Three major areas of study are blended in the M.A. program: biblical studies, theological studies and counseling studies. The program combines the following components: A quality classroom and academic experience. Application of the classroom education in a practical setting - the Traineeship site. Personal examination and reflection in class and supervision. Faculty involvement. In each of these settings the student is challenged to reflect upon the practical application of theory and what meaning it has for them personally and professionally. The M.A. in MFT program is intended to prepare individuals for clinical mental health settings, church staff positions in pastoral counseling, work in para-church ministries, family services, residential and outpatient treatment programs, and counseling centers. Four distinctions make Western s MFT Program different from other similar programs. First, our commitment to teaching is based in a clearly Christian worldview. Students extensively examine their own worldview, alternative worldviews and consider how these foundational issues interact in the counseling experience. We are committed to the integration of theology, counseling theory, and spirituality. After considering what other professionals in the field have written and said, students are challenged to develop their own personal model of integration. Developing their own model gives each student the chance to personalize the issues so that they begin on the road to being an integrated person, not simply someone who does integrative counseling. Second is accessibility. Classes are scheduled on Saturdays and weeknights leaving you great flexibility for other commitments such as family, work, and church. All required biblical and theological studies courses and a few core counseling classes are also available in a distance education format. Third is the commitment to the student s clinical experience. Students in Western s program are required to complete three semesters of MFT Practicum. This large investment of time devoted to Traineeship demonstrates Western s commitment to practical skills and relevance in learning. Fourth, our faculty are adjuncts, meaning the are in the counseling field. They are constantly learning & refining their skills and their integrative approach. They are committed to raising up our students to be the next generation of clinicians working in the field of counseling. The current edition replaces all prior versions. 4

Admission Requirements In addition to the general requirements for admission to the Seminary, applicants to the MFT Program [M.A. in MFT, M.A. MFT/M.Div., M.A. MFT/M.A. (Biblical and Theological Studies), or an M.A. MFT/M.A. in Ministry and Leadership] must have earned an accredited baccalaureate degree with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale), including a breadth of liberal arts. Applicants who do not meet these general academic requirements may be accepted on a provisional or probationary basis if their previous record indicates a weakness but with promise of greater achievement possible. Through the application process, applicants must give evidence that their personal character, interpersonal relationships, goals, motivation, and potential make them fit for a future counseling career and ministry. These will include a vital spiritual life, growing and nurturing relationships with people, commitment of a biblical orientation to the therapeutic process, evidence of good moral character, and vocational aspirations involving the care and nurture of people. Readiness Exam Entering counseling students are expected to bring a foundational knowledge of psychology. Proficiency in this foundational knowledge will be confirmed through a readiness exam, required of all incoming counseling students without a background in psychology. The exam is self-administered and consists of 115 multiple choice questions. If deficiencies are indicated, remedial work will be required. Counseling students must satisfy these deficiencies by completing a self-guided study provided through the MFT Department and a retake of any failed tests. The student may not begin the second year of counseling studies without satisfying proficiency requirements. For more information on the Readiness Exams, click here. Degree Requirements The Master of Arts in MFT degree is conferred upon the attainment of certain personal and academic requirements. In addition to the general seminary requirements, degree candidates must: 1. Give evidence of a genuine Christian character, orthodox belief, and conduct consistent with a God-given call to a position of leadership; 2. Complete all courses in the prescribed M.A. curriculum with a minimum grade point average of 2.5 overall, and 3.0 in counseling studies (please see a more comprehensive policy statement under the Grading section on page 16); 3. During the course of study, complete personal counseling requirements of 30 hours of individual counseling with a licensed mental health professional. (4) complete a minimum of three semesters of MFT Practicum with at least 225 hours of face-toface experience counseling individuals, couples, families, children, or groups. Up to 75 of those hours may be gained performing Client Centered Advocacy The M.A. MFT degree requires 73 hours of study. Courses are drawn from counseling studies (60 hours), biblical interpretation studies (8 hours), and theological studies (5 hours). The program checklist for the MFT Degree can be found here. The M.A MFT/M.Div. dual degree track requires a total of 130 hours. Courses are drawn from counseling studies (60 hours), spiritual formation studies (8 hours), biblical interpretation studies (16 hours), biblical language studies (12 hours), theological studies (16 hours), and ministerial studies (18 hours). This dual track checklist can be found here. The current edition replaces all prior versions. 5

The M.A MFT/M.A. (Biblical and Theological Studies) dual degree track requires a total of 118 hours. Courses are drawn from counseling studies (60 hours), spiritual formation studies (8 hours), biblical interpretation studies (16 hours), restricted elective studies (18 hours), and theological studies (16 hours). This dual track checklist can be found here. Basic Curriculum These courses provide training in the theory and practice of counseling, preparing men and women with a commitment to ministry to serve in a variety of community and church settings. They also integrate biblical and theological foundations with the insights of psychology and practical counseling methods. Western Seminary seeks to remain on the cutting edge of professional counselor requirements with a curriculum designed to meet the educational requirements of the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as well as that of the majority of states across the nation. In addition to 8 credits of biblical interpretation studies and 5 credits of theological studies, the M.A. MFT degree requires the following counseling study courses: CNS 501 Clinical Foundations: Basic Counseling Skills and Interventions. This course introduces the student to basic skills of attending, empathy, acceptance, genuineness, and concreteness necessary to effective clinical counseling. The course also addresses the additional skills of confrontation, immediacy, self-disclosure, and strategies for change to develop the psychotherapeutic skills for clinical intervention and accomplishing goals. The role of faith in psychotherapy will be explored. Activities include reading, lecture, observation, role playing, and student audio/videotaped clinical practice. 2 credits. CNS 502 Psychological Theory and Techniques. This course will cover the application and development of treatment strategies and interventions. Focus will be given to an eclectic approach to therapy. Prerequisite: CNS 501, 504, 505, 506, & 507. 3 credits. CNS 503 Family Systems Therapy. This course will include the theoretical and practical approaches to understanding and intervening with families. A review of the major family system theories will be covered. Prerequisites: CNS 501 and CNS 505. 3 credits. CNS 504 Psychotherapeutic Systems. This course will provide a historical and theoretical overview of the major counseling theorists. 2 credits. CNS 505 Psychopathology. This course will focus on diagnosis and treatment of the major psychopathologies. Focus will be given to using the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder). 3 credits. CNS 506 Legal and Ethical Issues. This course will include an overview of professional ethics and state law as applied to counseling in private and state agencies, including addiction recovery programs. Topics to be addressed will include professionalism, licensure, and practice issues. Prerequisite: CNS 501. 2 credits. CNS 507 Human Life Span Development. This course covers human development; including biological, psychological, sociological, and cognitive development from conception to death, including aging and longterm care. Diagnostic and psychotherapeutic issues that are particular to each phase of development will also be highlighted. 3 credits. The current edition replaces all prior versions. 6

CNS 508 Introduction to Integrative Issues. This course provides an introduction to the theological and psychological categories or systems providing one with a model of integrative thought and practice. Prerequisites: CNS 504, DBS 506/516. 2 credits. CNS 509 Advanced Integration. This course is part two of the required integration classes. It will explore the components and dynamics of the integration process. Focus points will include issues surrounding the person of the counselor in the integrative task, in addition to the assessment of paradigms utilized in cross-disciplinary integration. Topics include (but are not limited to) the history of integration, evaluation of models of integration, addressing objections to integration, the sufficiency of Scripture, the role of the Holy Spirit in counseling, mental health from a Christian world view, God in the treatment process, the role of suffering and hope. A base understanding of theology and psychology is assumed. Prerequisites: CNS 508, 530, DBS 506/516, THS 501/511. 2 credits. CNS 510 Spiritual Development and Assessment. The practical and theological dynamics of spirituality will be examined. This course will focus on the process by which we both assess and encourage the spiritual life of those to whom we minister. Attention will be given to understanding the dynamic of spirituality, methodology for assessment, development of spiritual maturity and ways to involve spirituality in pastoral and clinical counseling. 2 credits. CNS 512 Group Counseling. This course provides an overview of the principles of group theory, dynamics and process as applied to various therapeutic settings and problems. Prerequisite: CNS 501. 3 credits. CNS 513 Social and Cultural Foundations. This course will focus on the problems and issues arising from values and assumptions that affect counseling with individuals and families of different ethnic origins, including addictive behavior and co-occurring disorders. Prerequisite: CNS 501. 2 credits. CNS 516 Marriage Counseling. This course will cover the major issues involved with marital counseling. Focus will be given to contemporary marital patterns, the resulting problems and appropriate psychoeducational and therapeutic interventions. Prerequisites: CNS 501. 3 credits. CNS 517 Child and Adolescent Therapy. This course provides an overview of the major treatment modalities for children and adolescents. Prerequisite: CNS 501, 505, 507. 2 credits. CNS 518 Career and Lifestyle Development. The course begins with an exploration of the theology of work and moves to an examination of career selection and career development theories. Students will learn about occupational information sources and systems as well as lifestyle and career decision making. 2 credits. CNS 523 Human Sexuality. This course will give an overview of the theological, physiological, psychological, and sociological perspectives on human sexuality. It includes a consideration of sexual identity, sexual behavior and sexual disorders as well as an introduction to treatment considerations and referrals. Co- or Pre-requisite: CNS 505. 2 credits. CNS 524 Research in Counseling and Family Studies. This course is an introduction to psychological research and testing. The student will be introduced to research design and statistical methodologies. 2 credits. The current edition replaces all prior versions. 7

CNS 525 Tests and Measurements. This course will provide an introduction to testing instruments that are available to the counselor for use in diagnostic and therapeutic interventions within a counseling setting. There is a materials fee associated with this course. Prerequisite: CNS 524. 3 credits. CNS 526 Psychopharmacology. This course provides an overview of basic psychopharmacology including an introduction to the interaction between neurophysiology and psychotropic medications, and how such interactions influence psychotherapy treatment planning and interventions. Prerequisite: CNS 505. 2 credits. CNS 529 Counseling Addictions. This course will examine the major categories of psychoactive drugs, the biology of addiction, and theories of addiction and recovery. Topics include the history and classification of psychoactive drugs, the neurobiology of addiction, principles of drug actions, uses and side effects, and the addiction cycle and treatment alternatives. Theories of addiction will be examined from both a worldview and from a spiritual experience. 2 credits. CNS 530 Counseling Practicum. This course will provide a supervised counseling experience with an onsite supervisor, and class and faculty feedback and evaluation. The practicum requires that the student apply classroom knowledge to interviewing, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of individual, marital, and family dysfunction. Prerequisites required. Enrollment limited to MFT degree students. Prerequisites: CNS 501, 502, 504, 505, 506, 507. 2 credits. CNS 531 Counseling Practicum II. Prerequisite: CNS 530. 2 credits. CNS 532 Counseling Practicum III. Prerequisite: CNS 531. 2 credits. CNS 544 Counseling Violence and Abuse Issues. The purpose of this class is to prepare counselors to recognize and respond to some of the most pervasive, emotionally and physically damaging, yet hidden behaviors in our society. Prerequisites: CNS 505 & CNS 507. 3 credits. CNS 553 Human Services for Addiction Treatment. This course presents case management, program development and management, and clinical supervision of addiction treatment. This will include specific case presentation skills such as assessment, treatment planning, counseling, crisis intervention and referral. Community care, prevention, education, outreach and response services will be studied. Prerequisite: CNS 529. 2 credits. CNS 559 Emergency Preparedness: Crisis Management. This course will provide an overview of emergency preparedness and crisis management as well as providing a focus on helping those in crisis including a basic crisis intervention model and appropriate clinical presentations of persons in crisis in a variety of settings, e.g., suicidality, AIDS- and HIV-related, substance abuse, disaster, loss, acute stress disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and victimization. Topics include defining crisis, when crisis is a danger and/or emergency, ethical and professional considerations, and use of self in crisis counseling. Students learn about the theory and skills, mental health triage, cultural sensitivity, community resource information, referrals, treatment planning, and networking related to crisis intervention. Prerequisite: CNS 529. 2 credits. The current edition replaces all prior versions. 8

Graduation Plans Course sequencing These suggested Graduation Plans are provided to enable students to better plan the M.A. MFT and MFT/ASC programs and to guide them as to plot out their progress through these programs. We strongly recommend that you follow them as closely as possible when scheduling your classes. If you have changes to your Grad Plan, please contact the MFT Administrative Coordinator for advising. Changes made without advising can lead to conflicts between classes & may push back a student s graduation date. Graduation Plans are kept by the MFT Administrative Coordinator and can be requested by e-mail or in person. Program Checklists These program checklists are provided to enable students to better track their completion of course requirements. The checklists, along with the Graduation Plans should facilitate planning course loads. If the program checklists are followed, the student will be assured of meeting all their academic requirements for graduation. The checklists can be found on these forms: Program Checklist M.A. Marital & Family Therapy Degree Program Checklist M.A. MFT/Addiction Studies Certificate Program Checklist M.A. MFT/M. Divinity Dual Degree Program Checklist M.A. MFT/M.A. (Biblical and Theological Studies) Dual Degree The current edition replaces all prior versions. 9

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES Course Load Course loads vary with individual situations and depend on such factors as outside commitments, work &/or ministry load, family responsibilities, and finances. An MA MFT student averaging 8 credits per semester can complete the program in 3 years, while a dual degree student averaging 10 credits a semester can finish in 4 1/2 years. We recommend planning your course load a year or more in advance. Suggested course sequencing is provided with variances for course load. Students are not permitted to enroll for more than 14 credits per semester without written permission. When planning your classes and commitments, estimate 2.5 hours outside of class for each hour in class. For example, an eight credit load would be 8 hours in class each week and 20 hours outside of class, for a total of 28 hours of school work. This does not include commuting and traineeship hours. Class Interaction Protocol Consistent with a God-controlled life, students are expected to conform to the highest standards of conduct and professionalism, both on and off campus. Students are routinely evaluated by counseling faculty incorporating information from classroom interaction, clinical placement, and incidental social contact. In addition to state reporting laws with regard to child abuse, vulnerable adult abuse, or harm to self or other, information regarding student integrity and character may also be shared among faculty or with the Office of Student Development to promote continued academic and professional growth. Code of Ethics The Counseling Program adheres to the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists code of ethics. As such, students are expected to abide by the following: 1. RESPONSIBILITY TO PATIENTS. Marriage and family therapists advance the welfare of families and individuals, respect the rights of those persons seeking their assistance, and make reasonable efforts to ensure that their services are used appropriately. 2. CONFIDENTIALITY. Marriage and family therapists have unique confidentiality responsibilities because the "patient" in a therapeutic relationship may be more than one person. The overriding principle is that marriage and family therapists respect the confidences of their patient(s). 3. PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND INTEGRITY. Marriage and family therapists maintain high standards of professional competence and integrity. 4. SUPERVISOR, STUDENT, AND SUPERVISEE RESPONSBILITIES. Marriage and family therapists do not exploit the trust and dependency of students and supervisees. 5. RESPONSIBILITY TO COLLEAGUES. Marriage and family therapists treat and communicate with and about colleagues in a respectful manner and with, courtesy, fairness, and good faith, and cooperate with colleagues in order to promote the welfare and best interests of patients. 6. RESPONSIBILITY TO RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS. Researchers respect the dignity and protect the welfare of participants in research and are aware of federal and state laws and regulations and professional standards governing the conduct of research. The current edition replaces all prior versions. 10

7. RESPONSIBILITY TO THE PROFESSION. Marriage and family therapists respect the rights and responsibilities of professional colleagues and participate in activities that advance the goals of the profession. 8. RESPONSIBILITY TO THE LEGAL SYSTEM. Marriage and family therapists recognize their role in the legal system and their duty to remain objective and truthful. 9. FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS. Marriage and family therapists make financial arrangements with patients and supervisees that are understandable, and conform to accepted professional practices and legal requirements. 10. ADVERTISING. Marriage and family therapists who advertise do so appropriately. Their advertising enables consumers to choose professional services based upon accurate information. To view a complete description, see http://www.camft.org Grading Policy Educational programs at Western Seminary employ a common set of marks to indicate student performance for each level of achievement. The following criteria are used at Western Seminary in assigning a final grade: A = Excellent; superior achievement of course objectives B = Good; commendable achievement of course objectives C = Satisfactory; acceptable achievement of course objectives D = Poor; marginal achievement of course objectives S = Satisfactory; adequate achievement of course objectives U = Unsatisfactory; insufficient achievement of course objectives F = Failure to advance in the course to the extent necessary for credit to be given W = Withdrawal; official permission granted to withdraw from the course after the final date for dropping the course Temporary notations are used: I = Incomplete, a temporary extension IP = In Progress; continuation into subsequent term R = Registered Grades have been assigned the following numerical values for the purpose of computing the grade point average: (values are in grade points per credit) A/A+... 4.0 A-... 3.7 B+... 3.3 B... 3.0 B-... 2.7 C+... 2.3 C... 2.0 C-... 1.7 D+... 1.3 D... 1.0 D-... 0.7 F... 0 11 The current edition replaces all prior versions.

Grading Policy (cont.) A student has one full semester to protest in writing any grade received. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in their counseling courses, and are limited to receiving only two [2] C or below grades in their counseling courses. Grades of C- or below in any counseling course will result in an automatic required re-take. Further, a C or below grade in one of the following counseling courses (CNS 501, 505, 506, and 53X Practicum) will result in an automatic retake of the course. If the second attempt does not surpass a C grade, the student will be referred to the Student Development Committee for dismissal from the MFT program. The student will be given the opportunity to appeal the referral before the action to dismiss is implemented. Additionally, a C grade in one of the student s Practicum courses will automatically activate the Professional Assessment of Candidates Committee (Portland) or Faculty action (Nor Cal) to initiate a remedial plan. Attendance Policy We believe that students benefit from class interaction with faculty and other students. More than two absences, or 20% of the in-class time, in a given class may constitute grounds for a failing grade in the course. Writing Guidelines Provided at the end of the handbook is a writing sample that follows the APA guidelines. These guidelines should be used for papers that are written for all counseling classes. All submitted papers must include a cover page that lists a way to return the paper. Time Limits of Program All course work for a degree offered by Western Seminary must be completed within the established time limit as measured from the date of entry to the degree program. Master of Arts should be completed in four years and a Master of Divinity should be completed in five years. The faculty may recommend termination of the student s program unless a written plan for timely completion is approved by the Counseling Program Director and the Registrar. Evaluation Procedures Several phases of evaluation facilitate ongoing improvement and development of your learning experience. They include student evaluations of the program, faculty evaluations of students, supervisor evaluations of trainees, and trainee evaluations of sites. Student evaluation of the program is facilitated through a systematic assessment of each course and instructor at the end of each term and through participation in the annual review of Western Seminary. Forms will be distributed in classes or in student mailboxes. Evaluation of students and their trainee sites are also required as part of the Practicum experience. These evaluations can be found in the MFT Practicum Manual, and will be provided to students at the appropriate times. Staff and faculty always welcome suggestions and comments. The current edition replaces all prior versions. 12

Graduation Requirements In order to graduate from the Seminary, all students must: 1. Give evidence of orthodox belief, genuine Christian character, and conduct consistent with a God-given call to a position of leadership. 2. Demonstrate an ability to use the English language with precision in speech and writing. 3. Complete the prescribed course of study within the time limitation and achieve the required grade point average as outlined in the catalog. 4. Remove any admissions provisions. 5. Settle all financial obligations, including payment of the graduation fee. Students who have not made satisfactory financial arrangements will not have access to any student services, including transcript, diploma, or enrollment for a second degree. 6. Receive the recommendation of the Faculty and approval by the Board of Trustees for graduation. 7. File all graduation information with the Records Office. 8. Attend the annual commencement exercises. Permission (in writing) to graduate in absentia must be requested by writing to the administrative committee at least six weeks prior to commencement. Such permission is normally granted only when it would cause serious hardship for the student to attend. In addition to the above mentioned seminary requirements for graduation, MFT students are required to provide documentation that they have completed the following: 1. MFT Practicum Hours: Completion of a minimum of 225 hours of face-to-face experience counseling individuals, couples, families, children, and/or groups. Up to 75 of those hours may be gained performing Client Centered Advocacy (CCA). Students who have added the Addiction Studies Certificate must earn 270 hours of addiction counseling spread between all 12 core functions. 2. All required Practicum paperwork, including Site Approval, MFT Practicum Agreement, BBS forms, and all Evaluations. Students who include the ASC will have to turn in the specific ASC paperwork as well. 3. Personal Counseling: Completion of 30 hours of personal counseling with a licensed mental health professional. It is the student s responsibility to find their own personal therapist. Counseling hours will only be counted once the student is formally admitted into the MFT program. Counseling hours obtained prior to program admission will not count. Students who have not completed all academic requirements may petition the Administrative Committee for permission to participate in commencement exercises if the following conditions are satisfied: 1. The remaining graduation requirements will be completed by the last day of the summer semester. 2. Eight hours (M.Div.), six hours (M.A.), or four hours (Th.M.) or less remain for completion of the degree. 3. The student has registered for these courses from the regularly scheduled summer course offerings (CLL, independent, and individualized studies specifically excluded). 4. All admission provisions are removed. 5. All incompletes satisfied. 6. The appropriate graduation fee has been paid. 7. Confirmation of 30 hours of personal counseling has been submitted. 8. All Practicum requirements [MFT and/or ASC] have been met. The current edition replaces all prior versions. 13

Students anticipating graduation must inform the Records Office in writing prior to their final semester of enrollment. Degrees are recorded each semester. The last day of the semester, as indicated by the academic calendar, is considered to be the official date of graduation. Commencement exercises are held only once a year in the summer. A degree is granted only when the Registrar confirms the completion of all academic requirements, the Business Office affirms the settlement of all fees, the faculty recommends, and the Board of Trustees votes to award the degree. Counseling Services All incoming MA MFT students are required to have 30 hours of personal counseling with a licensed mental health professional (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC, Licensed Psychologist, or Licensed Psychiatrist). When complete, turn in the record of session to the MFT Administrative Coordinator. MFT students must seek counseling services from a licensed counselor, other than program faculty. It is recommended that you do not seek therapy from a therapist or site that you may work at as an MFT Trainee. It is highly recommended that students release the results of their psychological assessment testing to their therapist to use in their personal therapy. Please contact your advisor with questions. The current edition replaces all prior versions. 14

PRACTICUM/TRAINEESHIP Purpose An emphasis in Western's Marital & Family Therapy Program is to learn while doing -- the practicum experience. During the program each student will complete a minimum of three semesters of practicum. Each practicum experience offers opportunities for the student to apply their classroom learning to the practical world of actual counseling. After completing the foundational coursework necessary, students have the opportunity to develop their skills while still involved in the classroom experience. Combining practical and academic experience provides a rich learning environment. Students have increased motivation to learn and better retention because they have a place to apply the material immediately. They ask effective and tougher questions in class which, in turn, motivates the faculty to be on the cutting edge in their own professional lives. Traineeships are under the close direction of both an on-site Clinical Supervisor and an on-campus Practicum Professor. In the Practicum class student peers and supervising faculty review the Trainee s work. Feedback is provided in an encouraging atmosphere, assisting in the student s personal and professional growth. Skills to be developed in Practicum are articulated in the Practicum Competencies handout included in the Forms Supplement. Requirements After having successfully completed CNS 501, 502, 504, 505, 506 and 507, students have taken all the required coursework to be allowed to begin their MFT Practicum experience. Students are also required to attend the MFT Practicum Orientation that is held once a year, generally in January. At the MFT Practicum Orientation, students will be given the MFT Practicum Manual which has invaluable information for MFT Practicum students. At the MFT Practicum Orientation, students will review the available sites and the program's requirements concerning being a Trainee of Western Seminary. Students may identify and develop their own practicum site, contingent upon the Director s approval of the site. Contact information for each site director and clinical supervisor, as well as other official documentation must be provided to the counseling department at least two months in advance of the desired traineeship. Information on established sites and other necessary forms are available from the MFT Administrative Coordinator. Trainee Role The future Trainee needs to have a good understanding of the sites he/she will be contacting and what he/she would like to obtain from the Traineeship. Most Practicum sites require interviews and resumes, so be prepared when you call the site or sites. It is recommended that you contact four to five sites, early in January and February prior to a Fall traineeship start date. There are always other schools sending possible trainees to Practicum sites. Please be aware of the fact that you are representing Western Seminary and that other trainees will be following you in the future. Therefore, present yourself professionally! Before a traineeship can begin, there are several items that need to be submitted to the MFT offices. The Trainee must submit the paperwork listed on the MFT Practicum Checklist that is part of the MFT Practicum Manual. Trainees must also join CAMFT and obtain liability insurance. CPH & Associates also offers student liability insurance. You can apply online at www.cphins.com or call them at (800) 875-1911. This process can take three to six weeks to complete, so the earlier you begin, the better. The current edition replaces all prior versions. 15

A copy of your CAMFT membership and insurance cover sheet, the MFT Site Approval form, and the MFT Practicum Agreement need to be given to the MFT offices once they have been filled out and signed. A record of the hours worked at the traineeship needs to be maintained for the trainee s records. A copy of the hours must be turned in at the end of every semester. It is very important to maintain these records because they will be needed to gain licensure. Please note that in order to get credit for MFT Practicum class, student s need to turn in all required paperwork at the end of each semester. Evaluations of the trainee will be completed by the site supervisors and by the trainee at the end of each semester. When a trainee is working at two or more sites concurrently, a separate set of forms must be completed and signed separately for each site. At the end of Practicum, the intern should fill out and turn in their Experience Verification form and the record of their required 30 hours of therapy. Summary of Traineeship Procedure 1. Complete CNS 501, 502, 504, 505, 506, and 507. 2. Attend the yearly MFT Practicum Orientation to review appropriate sites to which you may apply and receive the MFT Practicum Manual. 3. Join CAMFT and obtain liability insurance. 4. Prepare resume, contact sites, and set up interviews. 5. Turn in all required MFT Practicum paperwork. This must be submitted to the MFT offices BEFORE YOU START YOUR TRAINEESHIP. Client contact hours will not be counted and students will not be allowed to continue in class until the required forms are received. 6. Register for MFT Practicum classes (CNS 530, 531, 532, or 539) respectively. 7. Maintain record of hours throughout traineeship. This includes Responsibility Statement for Supervisors and Weekly Summary of Hours of Experience forms. Separate Practicum paperwork must be keep if a Trainee is gaining hours at more than one site. 8. When the semester ends, turn in required paperwork (Weekly Summary of Hours, Trainee and Practicum Site Evaluations). 9. At the end of the MFT Practicum experience, turn in the MFT Experience Verification form and a record of all 30 hours of personal therapy. 10. If the student is graduating and in their last semester of MFT Practicum, they must turn in all required paperwork before the official end of the semester. If there is any remaining paperwork, the student s degree will not be certified until all the required paperwork has been submitted. The current edition replaces all prior versions. 16

Practical Trainee, Intern, and Licensing Sequence Formal training starts at the beginning of the program and continues until licensure. The training sequence for a Licensed Marital & Family Therapist (LMFT) is as follows: 1. Completion of CNS 501, 502, 504, 505, 506, and 507. 2. Enroll in MFT Practicum 1-3 (CNS 530-3), and Advanced Practicum if needed. See section on how to get started. 3. Graduate with Master of Arts in Marital & Family Therapy degree. 4. Register as an MFT Intern with the State of California through the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (CA-BBS). 5. Register as an Intern with the BBS. This is done through application for Internship. Application packets are available through the Board s website at: http://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/forms/mft/imfapp.pdf 6. Completion of supervised experience as a registered Intern, totaling 3000 hours of counseling experience. 7. Apply for LMFT examination eligibility with the BBS. Applications are available from the BBS website. 8. Pass the LMFT Standard Written Examination. Apply for eligibility to take the Clinical Vignette test with the BBS. Exam Eligibility packets are available through the BBS website at: http://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/forms/mft/mftapp.pdf 9. Pass the LMFT Written Clinical Vignette Examination. 10. Apply for & receive your LMFT license The current edition replaces all prior versions 17

POST-GRADUATE LICENSURE How to Become an LMFT in California The Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) is the regulatory agency responsible for licensing Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT) in the State of California. They have put together a pathway from entry into an MFT Program all the way to MFT Licensure. You can get the information by clicking on this link. MFT Intern Registration Process You will apply to be a registered MFT Intern upon graduation from Western Seminary s MFT degree program. The application is easily accessible in the Forms and Publications section of the BBS Web site. Click on this link: MFT Intern registration application The 90-Day Rule What happens during the period of time immediately after graduation, but before you get your registration number? The hours of qualifying supervised work experience that you gain after you graduate will be accepted as long as you have your MFT Intern application postmarked no later than 90 days after your degree conferral date. Required Supervised Work Experience In addition to your degree, you are required to accrue 3,000 hours of supervised work experience and 104 weeks of supervision. This experience must be gained under the supervision of a licensed mental health professional. For a detailed list of other supervisor requirements, see the Responsibility Statement for Supervisors of a MFT Trainee or Intern. You cannot gain hours under someone holding an invalid (delinquent) license or has been licensed for less than two years in the State of California. The supervisor must be licensed in California if providing supervision. You can verify the status of your supervisor s license using the BBS Online License Verification feature. Counseling Experience-Supervision Ratio 1. As an MFT Trainee, you will be required to obtain one unit of supervision for every five hours of direct counseling experience earned in each setting. 2. As an MFT Intern, you must meet the mandatory minimum of one unit of supervision per week to count ten hours of direct counseling experience. You will need to obtain an additional unit of supervision in any week in which you earn more than 10 hours of direct counseling hours in each work setting. Forms While gaining your hours you will use the following forms which are available in the Forms and Publications section of the BBS Web site. Responsibility Statement for Supervisors of an MFT Trainee or Intern Weekly Summary of Hours of Experience MFT Experience Verification For your MFT Intern experience only you must also submit W-2s for each employment setting in which you were paid. The current edition replaces all prior versions 18

Internship Hours Direct Client Contact Hours: This is the time in actual counseling with a client, couple, family, child, or group. Client contact is defined as time providing therapy to individuals, groups, couples, children, and families. These are the actual hours spent counseling not including supervision, write-ups, record keeping, clinical staff meetings, case conferences, and etc. Client Centered Advocacy: This is defined in Business & Professions Code [Section 4980.34(h)] as including, but not limited to, researching, identifying, and accessing resources, or other activities, related to obtaining or providing services & supports for clients or groups of clients receiving psychotherapy or counseling services. Total Clinical Hours: This is the total of all time related to your internship experience. This includes; intakes; direct client contact hours, clinical assessment; conducting psycho-educational trainings, consultations, write-ups, record keeping, clinical staff meetings, Client Centered Advocacy, supervision, etc. Applicants for MFT Licensure are required to turn in the Responsibility Statement for Supervisors and the Experience Verification forms. Weekly Logs of Hourly Experience are to be turned in only if audited by the BBS. If audited, applicants will need to submit a record of all trainings/seminars that were attended. Licensees are required to renew licenses every two years, meet continuing education requirements (36 hours every two years), and abide by a Code of Ethics adopted by the Board. For further information regarding licensure contact: California Board of Behavioral Sciences 1625 North Market Blvd., Suite S200, Sacramento, CA 95834 Telephone: (916) 574-7830 www.bbs.ca.gov The current edition replaces all prior versions 19

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST LICENSING EXAMINATION ELIGIBILITY Applying for Written Exam Eligibility The LMFT Examination Eligibility Application is also available in the Forms and Publications section of the BBS Web site. The application includes a checklist to assist you in sending all the correct materials. The Six-Year Rule Hours of experience must be gained no more than six years immediately proceeding the date on which you filed your application for LMFT examination eligibility. The only exception is a maximum of 500 hours of experience as a Trainee (direct counseling and supervision) that may be older than six years. Preparing for the Written Examination Once your application is approved, you will begin the process of taking your examinations (the Standard Written and the Written Clinical Vignette Examination). Once you are in the examination process, meeting your examination deadlines is critical. Failing to meet an examination deadline results in the abandonment of your examination eligibility and requires you to resubmit an application to become reeligible. The Board provides materials to candidates to assist them in preparing for the licensing examinations. The examination candidate handbooks contain valuable information such as sample questions and the examination content outline. These publications can be found in Forms and Publications. For more information please visit the Applicant/Registrant section of the BBS Web site. Examination Deadlines and Administration Once the Board approves a candidate, the candidate MUST TAKE the examination within one year of the eligibility date on the examination handbook. Candidates must take an examination at least once a year until successfully passing both examinations. A candidate who fails an examination must retake the examination no later than one year from the date of failure. In order to retest, the candidate must submit an application with the appropriate fee and wait the required minimum six months before sitting for re-examination. The current edition replaces all prior versions 20

MFT STANDARD WRITTEN EXAMINATION MFT Standard Written Examination Candidate Handbook provided here MFT Written Examination Plan The MFT Standard Written examination plan consists of six content areas: clinical evaluation, crisis management, treatment planning, treatment, ethics, and law. In each content area, the examination plan describes examination content in terms of task statements and knowledge areas resulting from the occupational analysis. It is important that candidates prepare for the examination by studying the examination plan. MFT Standard Written Examination Items The MFT Standard Written examination contains no fewer than 175 multiple-choice items There is only one correct answer for each item. The incorrect answers are typically common errors and misconceptions, true but not relevant statements or incorrect statements. There are no trick questions in the examination. You will have 4 hours to take this examination. Marriage and Family Therapist Examination Content The following is information regarding examination content. It is important for candidates to use this section as a study guide because each item in the Standard Written examination is linked to this content. Standard Written Examination Content I. CLINICAL EVALUATION 22% II. CRISIS 14% III. TREATMENT PLANNING 14% IV. TREATMENT 17% V. ETHICS 16% VI. LAW 17% Examination Results At the end of your test, a pass or fail result will be shown on he screen and you will receive a printed score report. Numerical (raw) scores are provided to candidates who fail, but are not provided to candidates who pass. Your test results are confidential and are released only to you and your state incensing agency. After Passing the Examination Candidates are eligible to apply to take the Written Clinical vignette examination after passing the Standard Written examination. To apply, candidates must submit a Request for Examination Clinical Vignette and the required fee to the BBS. Request for examination forms are provided with candidate result notices by the BBS or available here. You will the receive notification of eligibility to take the Written Clinical Vignette examination which will include the Written Clinical Vignette Examination Candidate Handbook. Candidate Handbooks for the Clinical Vignette Exam will also be available online here. The current edition replaces all prior versions 21

MFT CLINICAL VIGNETTE EXAMINATION MFT Clinical Vignette Examination Candidate Handbook provided here MFT Clinical Vignette Examination Plan The MFT Written Clinical Vignette examination plan consists of six content areas: crisis management, clinical evaluation, treatment planning, ethics, and law. The Written Clinical Vignette examination is directly related to clinical practice situations. MFT CLINICAL VIGNETTE EXAMINATION ITEMS The MFT Written Clinical Vignette examination consists of 5 to 7 clinical vignettes with typically 4 to 7 multiple-choice questions associated with each vignette for a total of 30 multiple-choice questions. The multiple-choice items evaluate candidate knowledge, skills, and abilities in the following content areas: Crisis Management, Clinical Evaluation, Treatment Planning, Treatment, Ethics, and Law. The main differences between a clinical vignette item and a standard multiple-choice test is that a clinical vignette may contain a series of items related to the same vignette, and the possible answers are longer and more complex, listing a sequence of actions or describing a process of applying knowledge. You will have 2 hours to take this examination. Clinical Vignette Examination Content I. CLINICAL EVALUATION II. CRISIS MANAGEMENT III. TREATMENT PLANNING IV. TREATMENT V. ETHICS VI. LAW Examination Results At the end of your test, a pass or fail result will be shown on the screen and you will receive a printed score report. Numerical (raw) scores are provided to candidates who fail, but are not provided to candidates who pass. Your test results are confidential and are released only to you and your state licensing agency. To protect your privacy and to maintain the confidentiality of test results, score information is not given over the telephone. After Passing the Examination Candidates are eligible to apply for licensure after passing the Written Clinical Vignette examination. To apply, candidates must submit a Request for Initial License Issuance and the required fee to the BBS. Request for Initial License Issuance forms are provided with candidate result notices, are also available by contacting the BBS, and online at www.bbs.ca.gov. The current edition replaces all prior versions 22

FACTS OF INTEREST Western s MFT Program and the LPCC profession Western Seminary has crafted an MFT program of 60 semester credits that meets all the criteria of the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. Western students are equipped to pursue licensure as Marital & Family Therapists. The BBS is now in the process of reviewing our MFT program to see if we meet the Educational Requirements (i.e., required coursework) for the LPCC. We are hopeful and fairly confident that Western s program will meet all these requirements. As we were making changes last year to meet the new BBS 60 unit program requirement, we were also working with the BBS to simultaneously meet the LPCC educational requirements. The goal was to have our program meet both the BBS educational requirements for MFT and LPCC licensure. However, the LPCC does have pre-degree Experiential Requirements (i.e., required practicum hours). The statement from the BBS was: Students who are planning to pursue only MFT licensure may continue to earn 225 direct hours. However, if students want to pursue LPCC licensure, then they will need to complete 280 direct hours prior to graduation. Students who enter their program on or after August 1, 2012 or finish after December 31, 2018 need 280 direct hours. Students starting the program after August 1, 2012 will need to complete 280 direct hours of practicum experience to meet the LPCC requirement. So, students can obtain either or both licenses as long as they meet both the Educational and the Experiential requirements. The choice of which license to pursue will be up to each student as they evaluate what will work best for their needs. One of the main advantages of the LPCC is reciprocity between states. The LPCC is accepted all 50 states, while the MFT license may or may not be accepted by other states. Financial Assistance Most students finance their seminary education through a combination of two or more of the following: personal employment, family support, loans, or pledged support. Because the school's ability to offer financial assistance is limited, it is expected that a student will provide the majority of the total amount required to meet expenses. For more information regarding financial aid, refer to the current school catalog or contact our Financial Aid Office at: Web: http://www.westernseminary.edu/aid/ Email: finaid@westernseminary.edu Phone: (503) 517-1818 Endorsement Policy Upon completion of the Master of Arts in Marital & Family Therapy degree, the graduate may receive program faculty endorsement. This endorsement will be provided only: 1. On the basis of demonstrated proficiency in the vocational or licensing area for which endorsement is sought. The current edition replaces all prior versions 23

2. For the professional credential or license for which the student prepared, including coursework, practicum or internship placements. 3. During candidacy for the program degree, endorsement is available for those students having completed a substantial portion of their program. Courses needing to be completed for endorsement would include Practicum 530, 531, and 532. Endorsement will only be provided for credentials, licenses, and occupations for which the candidate is prepared. APA WRITING SAMPLE APA style is the style of writing specified in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6 th ed., 2010). Some of the more commonly used rules and reference formats from the manual are listed below. However, this is not a substitute for the manual itself, which should be purchased by students to be used for future reference. Additional help with APA formatting may be found at the following website http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/ which is maintained by Purdue University. As the APA Publication Manual explains: Typeface preferred is Times New Roman with a 12-point font size. Margins should be 1 all around. Line spacing should be double-spaced between all text lines. Indentation is five to seven spaces (½ inch) for the first line of every paragraph or footnote. Commas are placed between elements (including before and and or) in a series of three or more items and to set off clauses. Spacing after commas, colons, and semicolons, should be one space. At the end of a sentence, there should be two spaces after the period. Hyphenation should not occur at the end of lines, only between words when necessary. The title page should include the Running head flush left and the page number 1 flush right, the title centered with the first word capitalized, the student s name centered as the byline, followed by the name Western Seminary centered on the next line. For papers submitted, other than the Integrative paper, the student s campus mailbox number should be centered on the next line. A reference list cites works pertaining to a particular article. A bibliography cites works for background or for further reading. Electronic references should have an address permitting retrieval. Running heads should be placed before the title and be a maximum of 50 characters, counting letters, punctuation, and spaces between words. It should appear flush left in all uppercase letters at the top of the title page and all subsequent pages. The current edition replaces all prior versions 24

EXAMPLE OF APA STYLE 1 Example of APA Style: Cultivating Cultural Competence Mary L. Smith Graduate School of Counseling Western Seminary The current edition replaces all prior versions 25

EXAMPLE OF APA STYLE 2 Abstract Cultural identity as inclusive of but distinct from ethnic identity is the primary theme of exploration in this paper. Two levels of cultural identity are cited as particularly significant to the counseling practitioner. Every individual including the client and the counselor has a personal and cultural history that shapes perception. This paper will address the most central and essential cultural, individual, and interpersonal factors present for a dynamic and relationally based cultural competence. The current edition replaces all prior versions 26

EXAMPLE OF APA STYLE 3 Most psychologists and mental health providers approach treatment not ready to encounter another's unique specificity, but to reduce them to one of our discipline's categories, failing to thoroughly consider and incorporate an individual's social, cultural, political, and historical experiences and strengths into intervention and treatment strategies. -E. Sampson (1993, p. 1227) Edward Sampson has captured with his quote above the important professional and personal work that must be done with establishing cultural competence in clinical work. By having humility about the limitations of being embedded in a specific cultural perspective, and the limitations of the profession of counseling itself, we are each in a better place to appreciate the complexity of taking cultural distinctiveness seriously in professional practice. As Brown (2009) emphasizes, students looking to ease the tension of equivocal information in cultural competence courses by making formulaic conclusions about racial groups, will most certainly miss the significance of within-group differences and continue to operate both professionally and personally from their own ethnocentric framework. There are two levels of cultural reality that must be articulated as a philosophical basis for striving for cultural competence. First, every person brings a particular history, identity and perception of reality that is embedded in, and informed by historical, societal, cultural and circumstantial particularity, including the therapist (Fields, 2010). Despite the counseling discipline s historical proclivity for ignoring the cultural embeddings of therapists and researchers, as well as the theoretical striving for human universals, this fact of its reality still remains, all the more dangerous when ignored. In fact, as Brown (2009) notes, each person is more than the most obvious component The current edition replaces all prior versions 27

EXAMPLE OF APA STYLE 4 of our identity and these mixtures of aspects of self occur in a myriad of ways. Simplistic approaches have resulted in an overly categorical approach to understandings of identity, such as demarcations between groups that predict all individuals identity rather than understanding the inherent diversity even within ethnically-defined communities and groups (Lakes, Lopez, & Gorrow, 2006). This means that a person s cultural identity is not simply the sum of their ethnic and racial background, but has an interactional quality that takes into account how the person has come to terms with the status of their ethnicity in larger society. For this very reason, Yi and Shorter-Gooden (1999) propose an approach to understanding ethnic identity that moves away from the prominent stage theories towards an approach to ethnic identity that construes identity development as fluid, dynamic, and constructed in a relational (interpersonal) context (p. 16). This avoids a categorical and limiting understanding of ethnic identity that forms hierarchies of identity achievement against some arbitrary standard, or categorizes all people of similar racial origins into one monolithic ethnic/cultural grouping (Lakes, Lopez, & Gorrow, 2006). Furthermore, I will explore how an attentive and respectful approach to the diversity and complexity of the influence of culture on counseling as well as incorporation of indigenous understandings of illness will result in what Fields (2010) terms cultural exchange and lead to more collaborative and impactful change processes (Delphin & Rowe, 2008). In this same spirit, this paper will address the most central and essential cultural, individual and interpersonal factors present for cultural competence, making suggestions, not declarations, and provide conceptual hooks for how to allow clinical treatment to be informed by cultural competence. The current edition replaces all prior versions 28

EXAMPLE OF APA STYLE 5 References Brown, L. (2009). Cultural competence: A new way of thinking about integration in therapy. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 19, 340-353. doi: 10.1037/a0017967 Comas-Díaz, L. (2000). The torch of multicultural knowledge. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 6, 332-333. Delphin, M. E., & Rowe, M. (2008). Continuing education in cultural competence for community mental health practitioners. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 39, 182-191. doi: 10.1037/0735-7028.39.2.182 Fields, A. J. (2010). Multicultural research and practice: Theoretical issues and maximizing cultural exchange. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 41, 196-201. doi: 10.1037/a0017938 Lakes, K., Lopez, S., & Garrow, L. (2006). Cultural competence and psychotherapy: Applying anthropologically informed conceptions of culture. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 43, 380-396 doi 10.1037/0033-3204.43.4.380 Mattis, J. S. (2002). Religion and spirituality in the meaning-making and coping experiences of African American women: A qualitative analysis. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 26, 309-321. Mattis, J. S., & Jagers, R. J. (2001). A relational framework for the study of religiosity and spirituality in the lives of African Americans. Journal of Community Psychology, 29, 519-539. Morris, E. (2001). Clinical practices with African Americans: Juxtaposition of standard clinical practices and Africentrism. Professional Psychology, 32, 563-572. The current edition replaces all prior versions 29

EXAMPLE OF APA STYLE 6 Sampson E. E. (1993). Identity politics: Challenges to psychology's understanding. American Psychologist, 48, 1219-1230. Sue, D. W. & Sue, D. (2008). Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice (5 th ed.). Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Sue, S. (1998). In search of cultural competence in psychotherapy and counseling. American Psychologist, 53, 440-448. Yi, K., & Shorter-Gooden, K. (1999). Ethnic identity formation: From a stage theory to a constructivist narrative model. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 36, 16-26. Note: Reference list should be only for authors cited within text. This reference list is complete for entire paper of which this is an excerpt. The current edition replaces all prior versions 30