Fall Semester MFT541: Assessment & Diagnosis, Day of the week TBD 9am-12pm PST

$1,500.00

Day of the week TBD 9am-Noon Pacific Standard Time, Fall Semester 09/21/2026-12/11/2026 (12 three-hour classes)

Professor: TBD

This course provides a comprehensive and integrative framework for evaluating psychological distress and mental health disorders. Drawing from current research and clinical best practices, the course covers foundational skills such as conducting the initial clinical interview, identifying presenting problems, and assessing client motivation and treatment goals. It emphasizes a trauma-informed, culturally sensitive approach to diagnosing psychopathology while also addressing immediate safety concerns, such as suicidality and substance use. Students are introduced to the DSM-5 diagnostic framework and its limitations, as well as transdiagnostic models that highlight shared emotional regulation challenges across disorders. Specific modules delve into the assessment and clinical presentation of common disorders, including anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, and eating disorders, with a focus on case formulation, symptom patterns, and transdiagnostic maintenance factors. Students are trained through an integration of theoretical lectures, videotape analysis of real therapy sessions, and structured skill-building deliberate practice exercises tailored to the course's topics.

Sentio University is now offering a limited number of spots for licensed therapists and graduate students from other institutions to audit select semester-long courses. This is a unique opportunity to engage with the innovative Sentio Deliberate Practice curriculum, experienced faculty, and dynamic learning environment—without the commitment of full enrollment.

  • Learn cutting-edge methods grounded in Deliberate Practice and experiential training.

  • Observe live clinical demonstrations and receive faculty feedback.

  • Join a community of engaged, forward-thinking therapists.

  • Stay current on theory and technique without the pressure of assignments.

  • Deepen clinical skills in a low-stakes, high-value environment.

“I have really been enjoying the course. It's quite different from my grad program. In my program there were a lot of lectures without rich clinical examples, or certainly without videos. There was little practice. There certainly were occasions where we watched clinical videos, and occasions where we practiced, but that seems like it was a relatively small part of the program. Certainly nothing like Sentio.” - Audit Student at Sentio

Auditing at Sentio

  • Auditors who complete the course will receive a Certificate of Completion.

  • Auditors will have access to all course materials and live class sessions.

  • Auditors will not do homework, receive credit, or grades.

  • Space is limited.

  • All classes are held via secure Zoom. All participants are expected to engage in the full class with their camera on.

  • Auditing is limited to licensed therapists and graduate students from other institutions.

  • Auditing is limited to US residents at this time.

  • LMFTs, LCSWs, and LPCCs in California will earn 36 Continuing Education Credits for completion of a course. Sentio only offers CE credits to therapists licensed in California.

Refund policy: 100% refund is available until 30 days prior to the start date. 50% refund is available until 14 days prior to the start date. No refund is available after 14 days prior to the course start date.

Questions about auditing? Please contact the Sentio Registrar Mikaela Abundez at mabundez@sentio.org.

Day of the week TBD 9am-Noon Pacific Standard Time, Fall Semester 09/21/2026-12/11/2026 (12 three-hour classes)

Professor: TBD

This course provides a comprehensive and integrative framework for evaluating psychological distress and mental health disorders. Drawing from current research and clinical best practices, the course covers foundational skills such as conducting the initial clinical interview, identifying presenting problems, and assessing client motivation and treatment goals. It emphasizes a trauma-informed, culturally sensitive approach to diagnosing psychopathology while also addressing immediate safety concerns, such as suicidality and substance use. Students are introduced to the DSM-5 diagnostic framework and its limitations, as well as transdiagnostic models that highlight shared emotional regulation challenges across disorders. Specific modules delve into the assessment and clinical presentation of common disorders, including anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, and eating disorders, with a focus on case formulation, symptom patterns, and transdiagnostic maintenance factors. Students are trained through an integration of theoretical lectures, videotape analysis of real therapy sessions, and structured skill-building deliberate practice exercises tailored to the course's topics.

Sentio University is now offering a limited number of spots for licensed therapists and graduate students from other institutions to audit select semester-long courses. This is a unique opportunity to engage with the innovative Sentio Deliberate Practice curriculum, experienced faculty, and dynamic learning environment—without the commitment of full enrollment.

  • Learn cutting-edge methods grounded in Deliberate Practice and experiential training.

  • Observe live clinical demonstrations and receive faculty feedback.

  • Join a community of engaged, forward-thinking therapists.

  • Stay current on theory and technique without the pressure of assignments.

  • Deepen clinical skills in a low-stakes, high-value environment.

“I have really been enjoying the course. It's quite different from my grad program. In my program there were a lot of lectures without rich clinical examples, or certainly without videos. There was little practice. There certainly were occasions where we watched clinical videos, and occasions where we practiced, but that seems like it was a relatively small part of the program. Certainly nothing like Sentio.” - Audit Student at Sentio

Auditing at Sentio

  • Auditors who complete the course will receive a Certificate of Completion.

  • Auditors will have access to all course materials and live class sessions.

  • Auditors will not do homework, receive credit, or grades.

  • Space is limited.

  • All classes are held via secure Zoom. All participants are expected to engage in the full class with their camera on.

  • Auditing is limited to licensed therapists and graduate students from other institutions.

  • Auditing is limited to US residents at this time.

  • LMFTs, LCSWs, and LPCCs in California will earn 36 Continuing Education Credits for completion of a course. Sentio only offers CE credits to therapists licensed in California.

Refund policy: 100% refund is available until 30 days prior to the start date. 50% refund is available until 14 days prior to the start date. No refund is available after 14 days prior to the course start date.

Questions about auditing? Please contact the Sentio Registrar Mikaela Abundez at mabundez@sentio.org.