Owner, Therapist, Supervisor | Prism Therapy Group
Jessica Pladsen '08, '12 MA-MFT, ’24 PhD-MFT, found psychology to be the frontier for learning in her life and enjoyed the depth of understanding and innovation that followed.
COAMFTE-Accredited
Accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education
What can you do with a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy?
Through our Master of Arts in Marriage & Family Therapy, you’ll gain the necessary skills to be an effective therapist or consultant in a variety of settings. After completing your post-graduate supervised hours, you’ll be eligible for state licensure as a marriage and family therapist.
Haillie Vanderlinden ’22, ’24 MA-MFT
Student Therapist | Olson Marriage & Family Therapy Clinic
Haillie Vanderlinden ’22, ’24 MA-MFT knew she wanted to be a therapist early on, which made Mount Mercy University’s MMU Plus program the perfect fit for her.
Frankline B. Tshombe ’20, ’22 MA-MFT
Kinship Specialist | Families First Counseling
Discovering a helping profession isn’t limited to just nursing, Frankline changed majors and enrolled in the MA-MFT program.
Elizabeth Burgin '21 MA-MFT
Master of Arts in Marriage & Family Therapy
Elizabeth Burgin has learned throughout her life to just roll with the punches. Now, after an 8-year career as a photographer, she's going back to school to pursue MFT.
Stephanie Keiper '20 MA-MFT
Therapy
After finding a passion for communication, Stephanie Keiper knew that therapy was the right path for her.
Avary Brinker '21 MA-MFT
Therapy
Building strong relationships is one of the most important facets of Avary Brinker's career. At MMU, she learned from faculty who implemented this in every class.
Olson Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic (2:00)
Find out more about Mount Mercy University's Olson Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic.
Earn your marriage and family therapy master’s degree on your schedule
Enjoy the flexibility to earn your master’s degree in marriage and family therapy with a format that helps you balance work, school, and all your other responsibilities.
- No GRE required
- Enjoy manageable 5- and 10-week blocks
- Evening classes each week
- Complete your marriage and family therapy master’s degree in just 24 months
What can you do in our Master of Arts in Marriage & Family Therapy program?
Our marriage and family therapy master’s degree combines classroom learning with hands-on clinical experience. Work alongside professors who are practicing professionals. Gain beyond-the-classroom learning in our Olson Marriage & Family Therapy Clinic.
Our MA-MFT provides individualized and student-driven learning, allowing you to work alongside faculty within a highly personalized environment.
A lot of people I work with have gone through this program. I see the way they work with others and just appreciate the energy and thoughtfulness they bring when working with people.
What will you learn in our Master of Arts in Marriage & Family Therapy program?
The marriage and family therapy master’s program merges two years of research-informed classes with a one-year clinical in your second year. Required classes include Family Systems, Ethics, Microcounseling, and Models of Marriage and Family Therapy, among others.
Take distinctive elective classes—including Neuroscience, Spirituality, and Trauma, Addiction & Violence.
Graduate with your master’s in marriage and family therapy prepared to help individuals, couples, families, and children.
Meet our faculty
Douglas McPhee
Assistant Professor and Marriage and Family Therapy Programs Clinical Director
Dr. Douglas McPhee is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, AAMFT Supervisor Candidate, and Clinical Member of AAMFT. His area of research is primarily targeted towards improving healthcare for marginalized and underserved individuals, couples, and families.
Heather Morgan-Sowada
Associate Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy
Heather Morgan-Sowada is a licensed marriage and family therapist in the state of Iowa. Previously, she has worked in a psychiatric medical institution for children and a community mental health agency performing in-home behavioral health counseling services.
Anthony Mielke
Assistant Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy
Anthony Mielke is a licensed marriage and family therapist and an AAMFT approved supervisor candidate. Clinically, he has provided in-home mental health and family therapy services to at-risk youth, families, and adults, as well as couples and family therapy in an outpatient setting. Mielke’s academic work is focused on integrating existential and systemic theory to develop a systemic approach to masculinity studies.
Andrew Beer
Adjunct MFT Professor
In addition to his teaching position, Andrew Beer also provides play therapy and general clinical supervision for individuals in Iowa. Notably, he was elected into the Iowa Board for Play Therapy and hopes to impact the play therapy community in many ways. He has specialized training in working with families and children, though his passions extend to a number of areas in the field.
Get started on your marriage and family therapy master’s degree
Applications are accepted and reviewed by the first week of February for our August start. Our graduate admissions team is here to help you reach your educational goals and answer your questions.
If you have any questions about applying or if you want to schedule a tour of the Olson MFT Clinic, please contact Makenzie Lueth
- Complete your application
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Applications for the 2026 MA-MFT cohort open on September 2, 2025.
- We encourage you to complete your application as soon as possible. Interviews will begin in November and will continue through the spring until the cohort is full.
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- The priority deadline for applications is January 31, 2026. So long as you have applied by January 31st, the program faculty will review your application and you will be considered for an interview. The faculty will likely continue reviewing applications and interviewing students past January 31, but the best way to guarantee consideration for the 2026 cohort is to complete your application by the priority deadline.
- Request official transcripts from all institutions previously attended. Email to gradprograms@mtmercy.edu or mail to:
Graduate Programs
Mount Mercy University
1330 Elmhurst Drive NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402-4797
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Students are required to have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university or its equivalent before beginning the program. Documentation of degree equivalencies must be submitted by an agency authorized to do so. Undergraduate students who will earn their bachelor’s degree prior to starting the program are encouraged to apply.
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Applicants of all majors and professions are welcome to apply.
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Students are required to submit the following materials in order for their application to be complete:
- Application
- Official Transcript
- Personal Statement
- Resume or CV
- Two letters of recommendation
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Students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Program faculty invite qualified applicants to interview beginning in November and lasting through the spring. The priority deadline for applications is Saturday, January 31.