Meridian University MFT Program: Comprehensive Profile and Student Fit Analysis

Sentio University believes in program transparency and that all prospective students should have access to detailed, objective information about MFT programs to make the best possible decision for their education and career.

Program data collected April 2026 from publicly available sources including the Meridian University MA in Counseling Psychology program page, the Meridian University hybrid programs page, the Meridian University accreditation page, California MFT program directories, and BBS records. A program specific student handbook was not publicly downloadable at the time of data collection; some handbook level details are drawn from the program page and secondary directory sources and should be verified directly with the program. Prospective students should verify all details directly with the program before applying.

Schedule and Format Details

Hybrid Format: Students complete asynchronous coursework on Meridian's Pivot social learning platform, attend live video course sessions with faculty, and participate in synchronous cohort community engagement. Students also attend week long onsite residencies at the Petaluma or Los Angeles center, with a fixed total of four residencies required across the program to qualify for graduation.

Online Format: A fully online pathway is available with optional online labs, for students who cannot travel to an onsite lab.

Pacing: The program can be completed in 24 to 36 months depending on course load. Students enroll on a quarter system with flexible full time and part time pacing.

Start Terms: Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer. Meridian uses rolling admissions across quarterly entry points.

Clinical Training and Fieldwork

Clinical Hours: Students complete a minimum of 340 hours of supervised traineeship, which must include a minimum of 280 direct service hours of face to face counseling, per the Meridian University MA Counseling Psychology curriculum. Relational hour and supervision hour breakdowns are not detailed on the program page and should be verified directly with the program.

Training Clinic: A freestanding in house training clinic is not publicly listed. Students complete fieldwork hours at community clinical placement sites, which can be arranged in the student's local region.

Practicum Arrangement: Students identify and secure placement at an approved site in their local region that meets California BBS requirements, with program support and oversight.

Personal Psychotherapy Requirement: Per publicly available program materials, students are required to complete 40 hours of personal therapy in individual, couple, family, or group settings, which may be completed prior to or during the program.

Curriculum Structure

The 103 quarter credit curriculum (92 credits of coursework plus 11 credits of fieldwork) integrates systemic and relational clinical theory, Meridian's transformative learning model, and supervised fieldwork. Core coursework covers counseling theories, human development, psychopathology, systems and family therapy, multicultural counseling, law and ethics, research methods, assessment, addictions, trauma, and a sequenced clinical practicum. The hybrid format integrates asynchronous online modules with week long onsite labs that emphasize experiential and somatic learning.

Culminating Requirements

A specific named culminating requirement such as a thesis, comprehensive examination, or capstone project is not publicly detailed on the program page. Meridian's transformative learning model integrates clinical skill demonstration throughout the program. Prospective students should confirm the current culminating structure directly with Meridian University.

Application Process

Application Deadlines: Rolling admissions across quarterly entry points (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer). Applicants are encouraged to apply early within each cycle.

Start Terms: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer.

GPA Requirement: Minimum 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA on a 4.0 scale.

Prerequisites: No specific undergraduate course prerequisites are required. A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution is required.

Application Components: Online application, official transcripts, three letters of recommendation using Meridian's recommendation forms, resume or curriculum vitae, and a 5 to 7 page personal statement addressing formative experiences and motivations for pursuing the program. Attendance at a Meridian information session is expected prior to application.

Interview: Required. Admissions interviews are conducted via Zoom after initial application review.

What This Program Says About Itself

✓ Per the MA in Counseling Psychology program page, the program prepares students for educational eligibility toward LMFT and LPCC licensure while integrating Meridian's transformative learning model.

✓ Per the Meridian hybrid programs page, the hybrid format combines asynchronous online coursework on the Pivot platform, live video course sessions, synchronous community engagement, and four week long onsite residencies at the Petaluma or Los Angeles center.

✓ Meridian describes the program as supporting educational eligibility for licensure across multiple states, broadening career mobility for graduates who may practice outside California.

✓ The program emphasizes experiential and somatic learning within its onsite labs, reflecting Meridian's integral and transformative pedagogical approach.

✓ Meridian offers fieldwork placement support that allows students to complete practicum hours in their local region, enabling students to remain rooted in their home community.

This Program May Be a Good Fit For

✓ Students interested in a primarily online or hybrid format: Meridian combines asynchronous online coursework with four required week long onsite residencies across the program, with a fully online pathway also available for students who cannot travel to onsite labs.

✓ Students interested in dual licensure (MFT and LPCC): The curriculum is designed to meet California BBS educational requirements for both LMFT and LPCC licensure.

✓ Working professionals seeking schedule flexibility: Quarterly start dates, rolling admissions, and the combination of asynchronous online coursework with periodic onsite labs accommodate students with work or family obligations.

✓ Career changers entering the field: No undergraduate psychology prerequisites are required and the GRE is not required, supporting applicants from diverse academic backgrounds.

✓ Students who value personal therapy as part of training: The program requires 40 hours of personal therapy in individual, couple, family, or group settings.

✓ Students drawn to experiential, somatic, and integral approaches: Meridian's transformative learning model and its somatic and depth psychology offerings provide a distinctive orientation for students who value embodied and experiential clinical training.

Making Your Decision: What to Do Before You Apply

Salary data and job market projections are useful inputs to your program search, but they cannot tell you what a school is actually like to attend. Marketing materials, program websites, and admissions presentations are designed to present a program favorably. The most reliable way to cut through that and understand what a program actually delivers in the classroom is to ask to sit in on a live class session, whether in person or online, before you commit. Every program that is confident in the quality of its instruction should not only allow this but actively welcome it. If a program is reluctant to let prospective students observe a class, that reluctance is itself informative. The California MFT job market rewards clinical skill, and the training environment you choose over the next two to three years will shape the kind of therapist you become. Take the time to see it for yourself before you decide.

For a detailed comparison of every MFT program in the state, explore The Absurdly Complete Guide to MFT Programs in California.

To learn more about the Meridian University MA in Counseling Psychology program, visit the MA in Counseling Psychology program page. If you are comparing MFT programs in California, you can explore Sentio University's MFT program to see how our Deliberate Practice training model compares.

Disclaimer: This profile was prepared by Sentio University for informational purposes only. Sentio University is an MFT program in California and a peer institution to the program profiled above. All information was drawn from publicly available sources and the program's own published materials as of April 2026. Sentio University makes no guarantee regarding the accuracy or completeness of this information. Prospective students should contact the program directly to verify all details, including admissions requirements, tuition, accreditation status, and clinical training structure. This profile does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation. For a full list of California MFT programs, visit our California MFT Program Directory.

About the Authors

Tony Rousmaniere, PsyD is the President of Sentio University and Executive Director of the Sentio Counseling Center. He is Past President of the psychotherapy division of the American Psychological Association and the author of over 20 books on deliberate practice and psychotherapy training, including The Essentials of Deliberate Practice book series (APA Books). He is a licensed psychologist in California and Washington. Learn more

Alexandre Vaz, PhD is the Chief Academic Officer of Sentio University and cofounder of the Deliberate Practice Institute. He is co-editor of The Essentials of Deliberate Practice book series (APA Books) and the author of over a dozen books on deliberate practice and psychotherapy training. Dr. Vaz is the founder and host of Psychotherapy Expert Talks. He is a licensed clinical psychologist in Portugal. Learn more