Owner, Therapist, Supervisor | Prism Therapy Group
Jessica Pladsen '08, '12 MA-MFT, ’24 PhD-MFT, found psychology to be the frontier for learning in her life and enjoyed the depth of understanding and innovation that followed.
COAMFTE-Accredited
Accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education
Graduate Achievement Data
License Portability Guide
Program Handbook
What can you do with a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy?
Through our Master of Arts in Marriage & Family Therapy, you’ll gain the necessary skills to be an effective therapist or consultant in a variety of settings. After completing your post-graduate supervised hours, you’ll be eligible for state licensure as a marriage and family therapist.
Haillie Vanderlinden ’22, ’24 MA-MFT
Student Therapist | Olson Marriage & Family Therapy Clinic
Haillie Vanderlinden ’22, ’24 MA-MFT knew she wanted to be a therapist early on, which made Mount Mercy University’s MMU Plus program the perfect fit for her.
Frankline B. Tshombe ’20, ’22 MA-MFT
Kinship Specialist | Families First Counseling
Discovering a helping profession isn’t limited to just nursing, Frankline changed majors and enrolled in the MA-MFT program.
Elizabeth Burgin '21 MA-MFT
Master of Arts in Marriage & Family Therapy
Elizabeth Burgin has learned throughout her life to just roll with the punches. Now, after an 8-year career as a photographer, she's going back to school to pursue MFT.
Stephanie Keiper '20 MA-MFT
Therapy
After finding a passion for communication, Stephanie Keiper knew that therapy was the right path for her.
Avary Brinker '21 MA-MFT
Therapy
Building strong relationships is one of the most important facets of Avary Brinker's career. At MMU, she learned from faculty who implemented this in every class.
Olson Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic (2:00)
Find out more about Mount Mercy University's Olson Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic.
Earn your marriage and family therapy master’s degree on your schedule
Enjoy the flexibility to earn your master’s degree in marriage and family therapy with a format that helps you balance work, school, and all your other responsibilities.
- No GRE required
- Enjoy manageable 5- and 10-week blocks
- Evening classes each week
- Complete your marriage and family therapy master’s degree in just 24 months
What can you do in our Master of Arts in Marriage & Family Therapy program?
Our marriage and family therapy master’s degree combines classroom learning with hands-on clinical experience. Work alongside professors who are practicing professionals. Gain beyond-the-classroom learning in our Olson Marriage & Family Therapy Clinic.
Our MA-MFT provides individualized and student-driven learning, allowing you to work alongside faculty within a highly personalized environment.
A lot of people I work with have gone through this program. I see the way they work with others and just appreciate the energy and thoughtfulness they bring when working with people.
What will you learn in our Master of Arts in Marriage & Family Therapy program?
The marriage and family therapy master’s program merges two years of research-informed classes with a one-year clinical in your second year. Required classes include Family Systems, Ethics, Microcounseling, and Models of Marriage and Family Therapy, among others.
Take distinctive elective classes—including Neuroscience, Spirituality, and Trauma, Addiction & Violence.
Graduate with your master’s in marriage and family therapy prepared to help individuals, couples, families, and children.
Meet our faculty
Douglas McPhee
Assistant Professor and Marriage and Family Therapy Programs Clinical Director
Dr. Douglas McPhee is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, AAMFT Supervisor Candidate, and Clinical Member of AAMFT. His area of research is primarily targeted towards improving healthcare for marginalized and underserved individuals, couples, and families.
Kait Hutson
Assistant Professor of Practice
Dr. Kait Hutson joined Mount Mercy University as a full-time professor in 2023. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist practicing in Iowa City, Iowa.
Heather Morgan-Sowada
Associate Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy
Heather Morgan-Sowada is a licensed marriage and family therapist in the state of Iowa. Previously, she has worked in a psychiatric medical institution for children and a community mental health agency performing in-home behavioral health counseling services.
Anthony Mielke
Assistant Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy
Anthony Mielke is a licensed marriage and family therapist and an AAMFT approved supervisor candidate. Clinically, he has provided in-home mental health and family therapy services to at-risk youth, families, and adults, as well as couples and family therapy in an outpatient setting. Mielke’s academic work is focused on integrating existential and systemic theory to develop a systemic approach to masculinity studies.
Andrew Beer
Adjunct MFT Professor
In addition to his teaching position, Andrew Beer also provides play therapy and general clinical supervision for individuals in Iowa. Notably, he was elected into the Iowa Board for Play Therapy and hopes to impact the play therapy community in many ways. He has specialized training in working with families and children, though his passions extend to a number of areas in the field.
Get started on your marriage and family therapy master’s degree
Applications are accepted and reviewed by the first week of February for our August start. Our graduate admissions team is here to help you reach your educational goals and answer your questions.
If you have any questions about applying or if you want to schedule a tour of the Olson MFT Clinic, please contact Ciji Fox.
- Complete your application
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Applications are closed for the 2024 MA-MFT cohort. Interested students are welcomed to apply in September for the 2025 cohort.
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We encourage you to complete your application as soon as possible once they open in September. Applicants will be considered until the cohort is full.
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- Request official transcripts from all institutions previously attended. Email to gradprograms@mtmercy.edu or mail to:
Graduate Programs
Mount Mercy University
1330 Elmhurst Drive NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402-4797
- Personal interview with program faculty
- Interviews will be held starting in February and will continue through April or May.
- Your resume, documenting volunteer or professional experience in a human service area
- Submit the names and contact information for two individuals that can speak to your ability to succeed in the Marriage and Family Therapy Program. (See the application for further instruction). No GRE required.