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.
What can you do with a doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy?
Through our PhD in Marriage & Family Therapy, you’ll gain the necessary skills to be a research-informed, advanced clinician and leader.
Mount Mercy’s PhD in Marriage & family Therapy is one of only a few programs with an underpinning in neuroscience. Here’s why this is important: Neuroscientific discoveries about the brain can lead to greater awareness of how environment and culture shape the individual—a critical foundation for marriage and family therapists.
Julie Lemon '21 PhD-MFT
Marriage and Family Therapy
Licensed mental health counselor Julie Lemon says getting her PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy breathed new life into her career.
Lauren Wood '18 MA-MFT, '22 PhD-MFT
PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy
Lauren Wood uses Mount Mercy’s PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy program as an opportunity to grow as a learner and therapist.
Why a PhD in Marriage & Family Therapy from Mount Mercy?
PhD in marriage and family therapy programs are not all the same.
We provide leadership skills and advanced clinical skills that truly set our students apart. And all mental health provider license types are accepted—not just MFTs—with no GRE required.
Our marriage and family therapy doctorate program is distinguished by three specialization tracks: Neuroscience and Psychophysiology, Leadership and Social Justice, and Advanced Couples Therapy.
- Experience a curriculum that keeps pace with the times
- Learn from practicing professionals
- Join a supportive cohort that reinforces and celebrates belonging and diversity
- Gain critical professional experience in our on-site Olson Marriage & Family Therapy Clinic
As you work toward your doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy, you’ll advance your expertise and grow as a leader in the field.
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 doctorate degree on your schedule
Enjoy the flexibility to earn your doctorate degree in marriage and family therapy with a format that helps you balance work, school, and all your other responsibilities.
- No GRE required
- Flexible and part-time paths
- Evening classes
- 5- and 10-week classes
- On-campus and online (live) classes
- Complete your marriage and family therapy doctoral degree in three years
I’ve been very blessed with the faculty at Mount Mercy because they understand my goals, allow me to establish goals for myself and my practice, and work to support me—as opposed to other university systems that are not student-centered.
What can you do in our PhD in Marriage & Family Therapy program?
Our doctorate degree in marriage and family therapy combines classroom learning with hands-on clinical experience. Collaborate with professors who are practicing professionals. Gain beyond-the-classroom learning in our Olson Marriage & Family Therapy Clinic.
Our PhD-MFT provides individualized and student-driven learning, allowing you to work alongside faculty within a highly personalized environment.
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.
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.
Rebecca Louison
PhD
Dr. Louison began working as faculty in the psychology program at Mount Mercy in 2022. During this time, she also taught several neuroscience-related courses for the MFT program. Dr. Louison deeply enjoyed her time as an assistant professor of psychology.
Caroline Gimarc
PhD
Dr. Caroline Gimarc began working at Mount Mercy University in 2022 as the Director of the university’s Counseling Services. She continued in this role until 2025, when she was offered a position as an assistant professor of marriage and family therapy at MMU.
Customize your doctorate degree in education
Our PhD program is set apart by three specialization tracks:
Neuroscience and Psychophysiology
Learn how neurological and psychophysiological knowledge and skill can make you a stronger mental health care professional in this leading-edge area of comprehensive, integrated care. We integrate EEG and neurofeedback within our curriculum.
Leadership and Social Justice
Develop and enhance your ability to apply systematic principles in the context of mental health leadership and social justice advocacy. As you do, you’ll improve and enrich mental health care services in our communities.
Advanced Couples Therapy
Deliver quality and effective couples therapy in a wide range of challenging situations by cultivating knowledge and skills related to this dynamic area of clinical practice. The program prepares you to provide advanced clinical services for individuals, couples, and families.
Get started on your marriage and family therapy doctoral degree
Applications are accepted and reviewed year-round 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, please contact Makenzie Lueth, graduate program recruiter for Marriage and Family Therapy.
- Complete your application
- Applications for the 2027 MFT PhD cohort are now open!
- Program faculty will begin reviewing applications in January of 2027. We recommend completing your application by January 31. Applications should be submitted no later than March 15.
- 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
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Applicants must hold a master’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university or an equivalent degree from an accredited institution outside the United States. Documentation of degree equivalencies must be submitted by an agency authorized to do so.
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The PhD program does not prepare students for MFT licensure; students hoping to pursue licensure should apply for our masters program.
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Applicants of unique graduate disciplines are welcome to apply; however, doctoral students in our program generally hold master's degrees in MFT, mental health counseling, or social work.
- Students are required to submit the following materials in order for their application to be complete:
- Application
- Official Transcripts
- Personal Statement
- CV or Resume
- Three letters of recommendation
- Students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Program faculty invite qualified applicants to interview in spring. The priority deadline for applications is March 15.