Marriage and Family Therapy Program in California
The Sentio 20-month hybrid online Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy Program (MFT) provides a fast-track to becoming licensed as a LMFT in California.
The non-profit Sentio MFT program takes a new approach to therapist training with small cohorts and low student-to-faculty ratio that permits individualized, rigorous mentorship from day one. The program is fully approved by the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) to meet all the requirements for LMFT licensure in California. Classes are held online, with one intensive in-person residency in Los Angeles each semester.
Quick Facts
Format: Hybrid, online & in person
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Length: 20 months / 60 units
Tuition: $1,120 per unit
Student-to-faculty ratio: 4:1
Cohort size: maximum 16 students
Guaranteed Practicum Site
Guaranteed 400 hours towards licensure
Organization: Non-profit 501(c)(3)
Sentio Marriage and Family Therapy Program in California
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Upcoming Deadlines
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This video has a description of the Sentio Counseling Center by a student. The entire video is presented without editing. We encourage people who are considering applying to Sentio to attend and observe one of our weekly classes, so you can see if Sentio is a good fit for you. Applicants should ask to visit a class for every graduate program they are considering applying to. This is best way to cut through the marketing and see what a graduate program is really like!
“SCC is completely different in the amount of supervision you receive and how vulnerable you become at identifying what you need to improve. You become more self-aware and improve your practice.”
Curriculum Overview
Sentio University's coursework is hybrid, combining online instruction with in-person residencies. Weekly Zoom classes include lectures, discussions, video demos, and skill rehearsal. Homework involves reading, writing, and practice. The program has 12-week courses, except for 17-week Practicum classes ensuring compliance with California law and uninterrupted client sessions in semesters two to five.
Guaranteed Practicum Placement
Students will have a guaranteed practicum placement at the Sentio Counseling Center, where they can expect to gain over 400 clinical hours toward licensure. Students will see a range of diverse low income clients, and provide financially-accessible online therapy.
Jeremy Safran Scholarship
Sentio University offers a need-based scholarship for Marriage and Family Therapy students, honoring Safran’s legacy and providing support and ranging from $1,000-$50,400. The scholarship operates in three tiers based on demonstrated financial need, with limited scholarships available per tier per cohort. The scholarship application is included in the application for the MFT Program.
K. Anders Ericsson Memorial Scholarship
The K. Anders Ericsson Memorial Scholarship is a merit basedscholarship that provides financial assistance ranging from $1,000 to $50,400 with three tiers of financial support. This scholarship is aimed to help alleviate the financial strain of tuition and costs for Marriage and Family Therapy students. The scholarship application is included in the application for the MFT Program.
Intensive In-Person Residencies
Intensive In-Person Residencies at Sentio University are immersive experiences aimed at accelerating clinical skill development through concentrated Deliberate Practice and academic study. These residencies include supervised rehearsal of therapy models, lectures, student presentations, and individual advising. The university hosts three residencies per year in Los Angeles.
Contact Us
Mikaela Abundez
Director of Student Services
310-916-9378
Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm
Sentio MFT Program Faculty have published many books on psychotherapy training, peer-reviewed research on deliberate practice, and been featured in:
2024 Annual Report from BPPE website
Statement required by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education:
“Notice to Prospective Degree Program Students
This institution is provisionally approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education to offer degree programs. To continue to offer this degree program, this institution must meet the following requirements:
• Become institutionally accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education, with the scope of the accreditation covering at least one degree program.
• Achieve accreditation candidacy or pre-accreditation, as defined in regulations, by 7/25/2025, and full accreditation by 7/25/2028.
If this institution stops pursuing accreditation, it must:
• Stop all enrollment in its degree programs, and
• Provide a teach-out to finish the educational program or provide a refund.
An institution that fails to comply with accreditation requirements by the required dates shall have its approval to offer degree programs automatically suspended."
The California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education can be reached at https://www.bppe.ca.gov/
(CEC §94913 and 5, CCR §74117)