Master of Marriage & Family Therapy | Abilene Christian University

Our Methods

After being carefully selected to embark on this two-year journey, you’ll explore theoretical and clinical methods for creating change with emphasis placed on relational, systemic, interactional, and contextual approaches for helping couples and families. Faculty foster a collaborative, student-centered learning environment for students to develop their knowledge and skills and to push their academic and spiritual boundaries.

Supervised Learning

We offer built-in clinical experience for our students through access to our on-site clinic, the Marriage and Family Institute, the largest health provider for low-income residents in Taylor County. The MFI offers a stair-stepped introduction to therapy that includes:

Observing 50 hours relational therapy
Co-therapy teams your first semester of clinical work
Experienced AAMFT Approved Supervisors
10 therapy room, two-way mirrors, and cameras
Large and small therapy room and a play therapy room
500 hour internship
Diverse populations and presenting issues

About MFI

Co-curricular Training

In addition to coursework and clinical hours, students can pursue additional trainings and certifications. Trainings offered are subject to change and availability.

Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Hypnosis
Gottman Level 1
Gottman Level 2
Technology Assisted Therapy (TAS)

Helpful Resources

PROGRAM HANDBOOK

MMFT Degree Plan

MMFT Questions & Answers

Meet the Program Director

Dr. Lisa Merchant

Chair Department of Marriage and Family Studies
Director Marriage and Family Therapy program

Dr. Merchant is Chair of the Department of Marriage and Family Studies and Director of the Marriage and Family Therapy program at Abilene Christian University. Dr. Merchant graduated from ACU’s Masters of Marriage and Family Therapy program (’04) and earned her Doctorate of Marriage and Family Therapy at Texas Tech (’15). Dr. Merchant has worked in private practice, community mental health, and with justice-involved persons in a variety of contexts. Her primary research interest is domestic violence, and she facilitated a Batterer Intervention and Prevention Program for ten years where she taught classes for men who have been arrested for domestic violence. Dr. Merchant also has a heart for marginalized communities and aspires to make mental and relationship health care accessible to all. Her vision for the M.MFT program is to create a collaborative learning environment that fosters student growth and wellness on their journey to becoming an excellent therapist. She loves international food, enjoys gardening, anime and C-dramas, and Taekwondo, and takes theology classes for fun.

Student Spotlight - Becca Trujillo

I love the community in the MFT program. We are a group of students that are working towards a common goal of learning the necessary information to be amazing therapists. As a Latina student, I was reading the literature and realized that a lot of the cultural considerations in the literature were not as applicable as I wanted them to be. So I set out to add to the literature and learn more about what makes therapy helpful for Latino clients.

After graduation, I plan to serve my community as a bilingual therapist in Abilene for a few years and eventually go back to school to get my PhD and become a professor.

I am currently the TAMFT student association secretary, I am also the secretary for Delta Kappa, and I was selected to present at IFTA in Spain this next year.

Becca Trujillo

Fall 1 Spring 1 Summer 1 Fall 2 Spring 2 Summer 2

Family Therapy Diagnosis and Assessment Family Life Cycle
(1 week) Therapy Across Life Span Diversity Integration of Theology
(1 week)

Family Theory Research Methods Ethics (1 week) Family Therapy II Couples Therapy II Internship IV
(seeing clients)

Couples Therapy I Electives Cultural Diversity Contemporary Issues

Pre-Internship Internship I Internship II
(seeing clients) Internship III
(seeing clients)

Observe 50 therapy hours Start Co-therapy

Fall 1	Spring 1	Summer 1	Fall 2	Spring 2	Summer 2
Family Therapy	Diagnosis and Assessment	Family Life Cycle (1 week)	Therapy Across Life Span	Diversity	Integration of Theology (1 week)
Family Theory	Research Methods	Ethics (1 week)	Family Therapy II	Couples Therapy II	Internship IV (seeing clients)
Couples Therapy I	Electives		Cultural Diversity	Contemporary Issues
Pre-Internship	Internship I		Internship II (seeing clients)	Internship III (seeing clients)
Observe 50 therapy hours	Start Co-therapy

Students take Research Methods in Spring of their first year and produce a research proposal. Over the next year, students then complete either an individual research project (thesis) or a group research project. The thesis track requires enrolling in 6 hours of thesis credits. In the Spring of the second year, students present their research at the Texas Association of Marriage and Family Therapy conference. Some students opt to present at other conferences, such as the International Family Therapy Association conference. Students select their own research topics and can choose a qualitative or quantitative project. Past projects have related to a wide variety of topics including Spanish-language therapy, therapeutic process, intimate partner violence, divorce, military families, adoption, “ring by spring,” and diverse families and experiences.

Five of the last six cohorts have a 100% licensure exam pass rate.

Graduate Achievement Data

Take the Next Step

Where Students Connect

From the classroom to the clinic, our students are lighting the way for a new generation of marriage and family therapists. With access to clientele within our local community, our students move beyond theoretical study into face-to-face practice with real couples, individuals, and families with complex issues. Fuel your passion for serving others and burn brighter by earning your Master of Marriage and Family Therapy (MMFT) degree.

Reflecting current and future demand, the Bureau of Labor Statistics identifies a 22% increase for the number of marriage and family therapists needed through 2029.

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Dual Language Opportunity

The need for Spanish-speaking therapists in Abilene is ever growing. Multilingual students will conduct therapy in our onsite clinic and serve our diverse population. Increase your employment marketability and earn a scholarship towards your degree by participating in our on-campus MMFT program.

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