Chaminade Launches Doctor of Marriage and Family Therapy Program

CHAMINADE LAUNCHES

Doctor of Marriage and Family Therapy Program

TO HELP MEET A CRITICAL NEED FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, LEADERSHIP AND PROGRAM

ADMINISTRATION IN HAWAI'I, CHAMINADE UNIVERSITY LAUNCHED A NEW DOCTOR OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY

THERAPY (DMFT) PROGRAM—THE INAUGURAL COHORT OF STUDENTS BEGAN THEIR ACADEMIC JOURNEY

IN OCTOBER.

The doctoral degree received Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accreditation, in recognition of the high quality of academic preparation and rigor for participating students, said the program’s director Dr. Blendine Hawkins.

Hawkins, an assistant professor of Psychology at Chaminade and a licensed marriage and family therapist, said the doctoral degree will welcome students with diverse educational and professional backgrounds, including in psychology, counseling, social work or marriage and family therapy. Applicants must have a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) or completed coursework sufficient for MFT licensure. They also must be clinically active or be working to achieve licensure.

“We want to take their skills to the next level as they become expert clinicians, serving Hawai'i in a culturally sensitive way,” she said, adding that the degree will prepare students for leadership, supervision and consultation, teaching in higher education and for program administration.

“Hawai'i has a dearth of experts in this field,” Hawkins said. “This program is about helping the next generation of marriage and family therapy clinicians build their skills. We think with the family in mind all the time and that’s really what sets us apart. Our prime purpose is to strengthen those connections, to honor families, to look at those areas of hurt and pain, and to help people build resilience.”

The DMFT program will be delivered fully online, with both synchronous and asynchronous classes. With 10-week terms, students can complete their degree in as few as 36 months.

The degree, the only one of its kind in Hawai'i, is also practice-focused and designed for working professionals. The cohort system allows participants to make progress toward their degree as a team, Hawkins said, supporting one another and building strong relationships along the way.

As part of the degree, participants will complete a dissertation and be encouraged to select an action research project focused on hands-on learning and maximizing their