October 10, 2019
Wheaton College’s M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy will be Illinois’ first and only faith-based, accredited program to have its own training clinic open to the public. The Center for Family and Relational Health, scheduled to open in October 2020, will enable graduate students to receive their required training and provide counseling services at competitive rates.
Wheaton College announced that its M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy program plans to open the Center for Family and Relational Health in October 2020. The center will be the first and only faith-based Marriage & Family Therapy clinic in the state operated by an MFT program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE).
“Wheaton’s MFT program emphasizes current relational science to attend to the needs of diverse clients in our communities through a faith-based approach,” said MFT Program Director David Van Dyke. “We are unique in Illinois in that we are both Christ-centered and recognized nationally through our COAMFTE accreditation.”
Offering counseling services to the public at competitive rates, the new Center will provide students required clinical experience, in addition to practicum partnerships with local practices and community agencies.
“Wheaton College continues to be committed to excellence in clinical training of MFT students and meeting the needs of our local community members who may be seeking help for couples, parenting, and family issues,” Van Dyke said. “We look forward to partnering with local churches to provide services to couples, parents, and families.”
The announcement of the new Center comes at a time of growing need for marriage and family practitioners. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a projected percentage growth of 22 percent for practitioners from 2018 to 2028.
“The Center will further support the MFT program’s mission to form skilled clinicians who provide mental health to develop healthy and flourishing relationships, with an emphasis on serving those on the margins of society,” Van Dyke said. “Specifically, the Center will offer students a greater diversity of clinical training experiences and more direct supervision from faculty members, which will enhance trainees’ clinical development.”
The Center for Family and Relational Health will open in October 2020 at 209 N. Washington Street in Wheaton. More information will be forthcoming about center and its services.--Emily Bratcher
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