FAQ
MFT Program
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The Sentio MFT program and Sentio Counseling Center are based in Los Angeles
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All classes are conducted live and online (the students and the professor meet via videoconference at the same time), with the exception of classes held in person as part of the Intensive In-Person Residencies.
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Intensive In-Person Residencies are immersive, four-day learning experiences designed to accelerate clinical skill development through concentrated Deliberate Practice and academic study. Residencies include supervised rehearsal of major therapy models, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (TEAM-CBT), motivational interviewing, dialectical behavioral therapy, schema therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy, multicultural therapy, emotion-focused therapy, and systemic therapies. Residencies also include a focus on challenging clinical scenarios, lectures on special topics, student presentations, peer discussion, development of the “person of the therapist”, and individual advising. The first residency of each academic year includes an Orientation for new students and has an emphasis on preparing students to see clients in the second semester. Residencies foster community and cohesiveness at Sentio University and provide opportunities to meet students from all cohorts in person. Residencies also feature guest lectures by a select group of prominent mental health experts and offer valuable networking opportunities for career advancement.
See the Academic Calendar for specific dates.
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Students in good standing receive clinical experience at Sentio Counseling Center, a 100% online training clinic. Students can expect to gain over 500 hours of supervised clinical expirence. These hours count towards licensure with the BBS.
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It is not possible to complete the program faster than the predetermined length of time, which is 20 months. There is no partial enrollment, please see the Academic Calendar for more information on the timeline of the program.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
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As a brand new nonprofit university, we will not be able to offer federal financial aid for the first few years of operations. However we do offer the K. Anders Ericsson Memorial Scholarship which ranges from $1,000-$50,400 and is based off of merit and financial need. You can learn more about this opportunity here.
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Yes, Sentio offers the K. Anders Ericsson Memorial Scholarship based of financial need and merit. Information about this scholarship is available here.
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The application for the K. Anders Ericsson Memorial Scholarship, is located in section VIII of the application for the Marriage and Family Therapy Program.
Admissions
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On our Apply Now page you can find a detailed description of what is required for your application. You may also reference our Admissions Checklist or email mabundez@sentiocc.org for application help.
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We limit each cohort to a maximum of sixteen students, with early applications having priority.
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There are no specific undergraduate degrees required for admission.
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The GRE is not required for admission.
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While there is no minimum GPA for admission, undergraduate GPAs are weighted as part of our rubric for application evaluation.
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No prerequisites are required for admission.
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Sentio University uses rigorous training techniques that may not be a good fit for all applicants. We recognize that everyone has a personal learning style, and we want to ensure that our methods will support all students in their success. Our goal is not to make sure you apply to our program, but to help you choose a program that feels right for you. Accordingly, we ask prospective students to try a few Deliberate Practice exercises as part of the application process. We’re excited for you to experience the Deliberate Practice learning that’s part of every class.
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We do not currently accept transfer credits because of the unique nature of our approach to marriage and family therapy education. Students who transfer credit would miss the Deliberate Practice emphasis that is central to the achievement of program outcomes, and due to the full-time cohort based model, transfer credit would negatively impact student schedules and opportunity for student-to-student collaboration.
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Applicants must be residents of California or be willing to relocate to California for the duration of the program, as all students are required to complete clinical training that includes in-person elements within the state.
Additionally, due to accreditation rules and regulations for new universities, Sentio University currently only has government approval to operate in California and does not qualify for federal student loans. For this reason, we currently only admit students who anticipate being residents of California.
Sentio is in the process of applying to operate in all 50 states and qualify for federal student loans. This requires receiving approval from each state as well as national and regional accreditation, which is a lengthy process that is estimated to take at least five years to complete.
Accreditation and Licensure
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Sentio University is a private non-profit institution that is approved to grant degrees by the State of California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE). Graduates of the Sentio University Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) program are eligible for licensure as marriage and family therapists in the state of California upon successful completion of the requirements put forth by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS), including post-degree associate hours and passing of the licensure exam. Candidates for licensure as an MFT in California are required to complete a total of 3,000 hours of supervised professional experience, at least 1,700 of which must be finished after the achievement of the master’s degree. Candidates must then pass written examinations for licensure. Continuing education is required to maintain the license
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Sentio University is a brand-new program. The organization through which we will pursue accreditation requires that universities enroll students for 12 consecutive months prior to application for accreditation. We intend to submit our application for accreditation at the earliest possible date with full expectation of receiving approval.
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In the event that you wish to practice marriage and family therapy with residents of another state, you will need to apply for the MFT license in that state. Most states will not recognize the MFT degree from Sentio University until we obtain national/regional accreditation. However, some states allow therapists who have already been licensed in another state for some years to qualify for licensure regardless of how their graduate program was accredited, which is sometimes termed “licensure by endorsement.” The Association for Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB) has compiled a document where you can compare the requirements for each state. You can also go to the website for the licensing board in each state for complete information.
