Our undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs provide unparalleled opportunities for students to learn and excel in the exciting fields of behavioral health counseling and family therapy. Students leave prepared to enter the workforce immediately upon graduation or go on to continue their advanced degrees. We train students to integrate theory and practice, as well as to be people-centered, just clinicians and researchers.

Internationally recognized and clinically experienced faculty train students to become successful clinicians and researchers. Our graduates go on to meet the national demand for competent mental health and addictions treatment professionals in a varied marketplace.

We are located in the dynamic Health Sciences Building on the University City Campus, in historic west Philadelphia. Our innovative courses, clinical training and co-op opportunities offer an unparalleled education for those interested in the helping professions.

Our Commitment:

The Department of Counseling and Family Therapy (COFT) recognizes health disparities and inequities are historic, ongoing and embedded in every institution; institutions and health services systems which you enter as a graduate of a COFT program. The systemic nature of health disparities and inequities has and continues to impact health outcomes partially. COFT is dedicated to improving health access, reducing barriers to care and promoting fair health practices to combat health disparities and inequities.

COFT incorporates curricular attention to people of varied backgrounds and perspectives in order to bridge any adversity gaps and to educate students prepared to be successful in the multiplicity of roles and environments upon graduation.

Health disparities and inequities impact every human interaction, are perpetuated by individuals, groups, organizations and governments, and are directly responsible for:

• Individual and Collective Stress
• Trauma
• Negative Health Outcomes
• Premature Mortality and Death, Including Murder

Commitments to combatting health disparities and inequities without action are hollow. COFT will ensure discussion/evaluation space in each course to address moving thoughts into actions. Inaction is complicity. As future mental health professionals, you will adhere to fundamental principles rooted in do no harm across a variety of disciplines:

• AAMFT Code of Ethics
• APA Code of Ethics
• Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association

COFT will not be complicit in perpetuating structural health disparities and inequities, individually, collectively or institutionally. We apologize for any appearance of complicity in courses or communications and affirm the following commitment to action moving forward:

Short Term

• Calling out partiality and bias via university, community and professional publications and presentations.
• Equitable recruitment, retention and development of faculty, professional staff, students and applicants of varied backgrounds and abilities.

We the faculty, supervisors and students of the Department of Counseling and Family Therapy are committed to dismantling health disparities and inequities. Our commitment is intrinsic to our identity as people and vital to all aspects of our work as mental health practitioners, including education, practice and research. We recognize that ongoing self-interrogation is paramount to the process of individuals, communities and societies moving from inaction to action, from ally to activist, to create a truly just, equitable world. Our graduates will be equipped to engage continually in this self-work in their personal and professional lives and to effectively support and advocate for individuals, couples and families of varied backgrounds and lived experiences.

PROGRAMS

UNDERGRADUATE

Human Development and Counseling
Program is currently paused for admissions

GRADUATE

Master of Family Therapy

DOCTORAL

PhD in Couple and Family Therapy
Doctor of Couple and Family Therapy (online)