Course Descriptions

This course reviews the art therapy literature and explores the integration of this modality in the current delivery of mental health services, focusing on cultural issues, marital and family theory, and recovery-oriented care. The course includes an introduction to research design, ethics, and philosophy from a variety of research paradigms and approaches to support students with art/therapy focused research and literary explorations adding the foundations of research.

This course is designed to engage students in a hands-on tutorial of various art techniques and directives. By exploring materials, directives, and their own relationship to the art process, students will begin to recognize art’s clinical properties, further increase cultural awareness, and develop creative problem-solving skills to deal with common workplace challenges.

This course introduces systems theory as a foundation to therapeutic intervention in marital and family therapy and clinical art therapy. This groundwork and art focus provides the conceptual view for the exploration of theoretical perspectives in the family therapy literature. This course also introduces beginning concepts of law and ethics in the marital and family art therapy field and their implications on the clinical setting. 

This course critically reviews child development theories, introduces models of psychotherapy and clinic art therapy with children. Additionally, discussion around issues of culture prepares the student for work with children. A major component of this course includes an in-depth community-based learning project that facilitates the student in creating, implementing, and assessing two consecutive art activities with children in a K-8 school. 

Continuation of MFTH 604. Within a family context, this course coordinates normal adolescent development, psychopathology, and techniques of psychotherapy. It includes an in-depth community-based learning project that facilitates increased awareness of adolescents marginalized by poverty and incarceration. The course integrates and applies psychological and art therapy theories of adolescence in planning and facilitating creative interactions with teens. 

Within a conceptual framework of systems theory in marital and family treatment as well as clinical art therapy, major theories are surveyed including psychodynamic, structural, strategic, communications, experiential, and post-modern. To demonstrate these theories, videotape of live supervision of cases is utilized where possible. Verbal and nonverbal treatment approaches are explored.

 Corequisite: MFTH 680.

This course introduces the network of mental health services in Los Angeles County and principles of mental health recovery-oriented care, including case management, treatment plans, referral procedures, communication and coordination skills, documentation and the systems of care for the severely mentally ill and victims of abuse. It explores the social and psychological implications of socio-economic position; the impact of poverty, culture, sexual orientation, gender, age, language, and immigration status on the delivery of mental health services; and the consumer’s recovery. Additionally, it identifies professional responsibilities, experiential treatment implications, mandated reporting requirements and introduces consumer and family member perspectives on the experience of mental illness, treatment, and recovery.

This course helps students to recognize, assess, and treat substance abuse and addiction. It respects the complexity of the subject matter’s physiological, sociological, psychological, economic, political, and international facets. Students will recognize the impact of oppression, prejudice, discrimination, and privilege on access to mental health care, and develop responsive practices that include collaboration, empowerment, advocacy, and social justice action. Student will learn how to incorporate art- based interventions with substance treatment theories

This course reviews various models of psychotherapy through didactic and experiential methods. It includes effective approaches to communications as well as resolution of problematic issues of the treatment process. Considerations of culture, socioeconomics, and stress are addressed and effective practice strategies are emphasized. Integrate and analyze didactic and experiential learning of art psychotherapy techniques and Facilitates inclusion of art processes as resource and support. It assists in recognizing and displaying a professional commitment to art therapist characteristics that promote therapeutic process.

This course reviews the phenomenon of domestic violence, looking at distinguishing criteria, types, prevalence, lethality, the theory of dynamics and its causes, risk factors, patterns, escalation, and cultural factors. It supports students’ abilities to recognize and assess the signs and patterns of domestic violence using the art.

This course reviews the theory and practice of group psychotherapy. It emphasizes the link between cultural diversity, group process and group outcomes. Particular attention in paid to the utilization of groups in work with the severely mentally ill, children and adolescents as well as mental health consumers and their family members. The course will evaluate the experience of artmaking on group development and effectiveness.

This course explores human sexuality from a bio-psychosocial perspective, including the effects of physiology, genetics, environmental, individual and relationship problems on sexuality and to know how to address these problems therapeutically. The course supports the learning of appropriate interventions, art therapy techniques, and relevant referrals. This course focuses on psychotherapeutic treatment of adults in all levels of community mental health, (outpatient, inpatient), and private practice. Family, marital, individual, couples, and group treatment strategies are addressed exploring both verbal and nonverbal art therapy treatment interventions, integrating Attachment theory, Psychodynamic and systems’ approaches. Emphasis will be placed on the impact of culture and context, understanding relevance of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic class, and disability as they pertain to treatment goals and interventions. Emphasis is placed on the differential approach between psychiatric hospital, day treatment, and out-patient settings.

The main objective of this course is supervised application of marital and family theory and psychotherapeutic techniques, including the application of art therapy, in field placement. Students will have opportunities to work with clients and consumers in the community mental health system and demonstrate a beginning understanding of systemic dynamics, applied art therapy interventions, and marital and family therapy theory applications. Practicum sites have been specifically selected so students will encounter racial, cultural, linguistic, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity. Successful completion of this course is a prerequisite for enrollment in MFTH 618.

The main objective of this course is continued supervised application of marital and family theory and psychotherapeutic techniques, including the application of art therapy, in field placement. Students will continue to have opportunities to work with clients and consumers in the community mental health system and demonstrate a developing understanding of systemic dynamics, applied art therapy interventions, and marital and family therapy theory applications. Practicum sites have been specifically selected so students will encounter racial, cultural, linguistic, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity. Successful completion of this course is a prerequisite for enrollment in MFTH 619.

 Prerequisite: MFTH 617.

The main objective of this course is continued supervised application of marital and family theory and psychotherapeutic techniques, including the application of art therapy, in field placement. Students will have opportunities to work with clients and consumers in the community mental health system and demonstrate a developing understanding of systemic dynamics, applied art therapy interventions, and marital and family therapy theory applications. Practicum sites have been specifically selected so students will encounter racial, cultural, linguistic, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity.

 Prerequisite: MFTH 618.

An exploration of cultural issues including art-based processes in support of expanding multicultural clinical competencies. The course challenges the participants to understand and analyze the basis of their own experiences of culture, explore their encounters with other cultures and understand the complexity of the psychotherapeutic relationship in the context of culture through the concepts of biases, assumptions, and beliefs. This course is facilitated through the intercultural exchange of participants and the arts.  

Multicultural values in psychotherapy and counseling are explored. The class focuses on exploring individual experiences of cultural identity through art responses and class discussion, and a developing a skill set that integrates cultural awareness into the clinical work. Experiences of race, ethnicity, class, spirituality, sexual orientation, gender, and disability are included. The course recognizes clients’ use of imagery, creativity, symbolism, and metaphor as a valuable means for communicating challenges and strengths and support clients’ use of art making for promoting growth and well-being. It includes justifying the role of arts in social justice, advocacy, and conflict resolution. 
 

 Enrollment for 1 semester hour is contingent upon completion of MFTH 620 and MFTH 622; enrollment for 2 semester hours is contingent upon completion of MFTH 620.

Field work in international environments facilitated virtually and in study abroad experiences. The course supports community-based practice with guided supervision amongst populations of varying ages and therapeutic need. 

An integrated exploration of family art therapy within the context of family therapy theory in international settings and with diverse populations.. Experiential learning is facilitated through the art process.

Advanced studies in marriage and family therapy including the exploration of a range of verbal and nonverbal treatment interventions and strategies from a variety of theoretical viewpoints. The class develops an understanding of the experiences of clients and family members of clients who are consumers of mental health services.

This course explores psychopathology as stated in DSM 5 is reviewed. The biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors involved in etiology are discussed and explored in terms of the treatment/clinical interventions. This course includes an overview of the neuroscience and pharmacological treatment of psychiatric disorders. It helps the student acquire necessary vocabulary, knowledge, and skills for effective collaboration with the mental health treatment team. 

This course offers an overview of the neuroscience and pharmacological treatment of psychiatric disorders. It helps the student acquire necessary vocabulary, knowledge and skills for effective collaboration with the mental health treatment team.

This course provides advanced knowledge and training in clinical assessment and psychological testing throughout the treatment process. Students will gain knowledge of formal and informal psychological tests used for assessment. Instruments covered include intelligence tests, as well as objective, subjective, and projective psychological evaluations.  Projective drawings and structured clinical interviews will be covered in detail. Multicultural considerations in testing are integrated in all discussions. 

This course addresses the specific treatment needs and goals of the aging client. Topics include: distinguishing “normal” aging changes in intellectual, cognitive and memory functioning from those which are a consequence of disease, introduction to the bio-psychosocial model of assessment and art therapy treatment of older adults, and issues involved when working with the elderly and their families when confronting long-term care.

This course introduces key definitions and constructs related to trauma. It introduces theories and intervention models and overviews neurological sequences associated with trauma. The course encourages the develop of relevant sensory-based art therapy interventions and identify evidence-based strategies and clinically grounded approaches for the assessment and treatment of trauma. 

This course builds on the foundations of the  MFTH 608 and explores contemporary appraoches to psychotherapy and clincial art therapy with a diverse range of client populations. Included in this course is specific instrution on best practices in art therapy telehealth.

Corequisite: MFTH 608.

Through art directives student will examine their professional identity in relation to social justice and professional laws and ethics. The course will review issues such as licensure, values, legal and ethical responsibilities, malpractice, and confidentiality relevant to marriage and family therapists and clinical art therapists. 

An overview of research design, ethics, and philosophy from a variety of research paradigms and approaches. Critical study of the relevant literature and the development of an in-depth proposal for a research/clinical project or paper to be carried out in the following semester.

This course is an art-based exploration of antiracism, social justice, etc. This course is to connect topics covered in the culture class, clinical work, and capstone project.  It allows time to process the works of authors in advance social justice reform and connect to the CFA plan (Learning for Justice, Inclusion, and Transformation; Integrative and Interdisciplinary Thinking; Personalized Connections; Discovery and Innovation in Graduate and Professional Education; Access LMU). Additionally, reflecting on differently abled and other underrepresented communities.

The student carries out a research project and writes a research report under the direction of a faculty member.

 Consent of instructor required.