I had originally thought i was going to get my MFT, but after reading so much information on LCSW it really sounds like it offers more potential. I was looking into Webster Universities program, mostly because i am currently in Florida, but moving to California in a year. This program offers a BA in Counseling MFT that i could finish once i got there (they have campuses in both places). If i do LCSW what can i do about starting a program in FL then moving? Is it worth it just to wait a year to start? Is there anything i can do to start now? What are good programs are good for LCSW in LA/OC area?
Thanks so much for your help,
Sarah
Thanks so much for your help,
Sarah
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Re: MFT vs. LCSW California
Sun, June 3, 2007 - 4:39 PMYou can get into most MSW programs with a bachelor degree in psychology or human services. Actually many people, like myself had degrees in unassociated fields. I had a MFA in theater before starting my MSW.
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Re: MFT vs. LCSW California
Mon, June 4, 2007 - 11:24 AMIf you are thinking about moving to California then look at the Board of Behavioral Sciences (www.bbs.ca.gov) website. It has all the education and licensing requirements for CA. If you get your bachelor's from an accredited college then you should have no problem getting into a LCSW or MFT program here. Also, in CA, the MFT license & LCSW are interchangeable in alot of government agencies because there is a real lack of licensed practicioners. I am a MFT student right now, so I've done all the research into licensing and what is needed in an education to get licensed. If you have any questions, send me a personal message and I can find out the answer for you or direct you to someone who would have it. I'm in Orange County and attending Hope International University in Fullerton for my MFT.
Okay, bye!
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Re: MFT vs. LCSW California
Mon, June 4, 2007 - 6:11 PMIf you go to any nationally accredited MSW program throughout the country, you should be able to get your LCSW license in CA. I went to UPenn for my MSW, then moved to CA and eventually got my LCSW license after a few years of supervised work, taking the required coursework, and passing the exams. Good luck!
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Re: MFT vs. LCSW California
Tue, June 5, 2007 - 10:43 AMVery important for CA that the school you get your degree from is Accredited rather than Approved. Also, the licensing requirements are getting stricter here (like that is even possible). And remember, if you are transferring into a graduate program, make sure that all your units will transfer in. Most programs will only accept 9 units of graduate work for transfer. -
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Re: MFT vs. LCSW California
Wed, June 13, 2007 - 9:42 PMMy 2 cents is that a MSW program tends to be more boring than a MA in psychology, but that you will have an advantage if you are moving to another state if you have the MSW or LCSW. The MSW "translates" across states better than the MFT or MFCC.
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Re: MFT vs. LCSW California
Thu, June 14, 2007 - 1:08 AMPersonally, I think you get much better clinical training, especially in terms of couples/families, with an MFT, but then I am one, so I'm biased.
From looking at licensure and even degree requirements, it just seems like there is more emphasis on face time with clients. The definition of a "clinical hour" is much tighter for MFT programs accredited by COAMFTE than for an MSW, at least in New York, Indiana, and Colorado (states I have any insight into) and the requirement for "relational hours" is, as far as I know, unique. There are also much tighter requirements for who can supervise you. Supervisees I've worked with coming out of MSW programs often seem to have really struggled to get much quality supervision, and sometimes it seems down to the fact that their supervisors haven't really been given the chance to learn how to supervise - it's a separate skill from clinical work, and a lot of good folks seem to just get thrown in to sink or swim. At least with the AAMFT Approved Supervisor process, you know the person overseeing your work has had to at least pretend to learn something about the process... -
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Re: MFT vs. LCSW California
Sat, September 1, 2007 - 1:51 PMFINALLY!!! someone says it like it is!!! I am so tired of people NOT acknowledging the MASSIVE amount of clinical face to face counseling hours needed to become an MFT. Social workers have it so very different. Their focus is on ADMINISTRATIVE duties and yet they make DECISIONS on whether or not a child should be removed or reunited with a family. This scares me. Also, MFT's simply have more clinical back ground in their Graduate program. Yes we are psychotherapist, counselor's or simply mental health professionals, however; we deal with the REAL issues in mental health. I am very confiedent in LCSW's as well, they have the same training as we do, however they have more administrative training than we do. I must say that you end up learning the administrative stuff when you take on Medi-cal anyway, so whatever!! In California, LCSW's are valued in the same light as MFT's. In fact the State hires both for the same jobs such as Cal-works programs and much more. Thanks Sheila for setting it straight!!!! By the way, California has the strictest licensing requirements. I know a gal that came from another state with her full degree and accopmlished hours. The BBS required she re-take the Master program here and complete the mandated 3,000 clinical hours required to take the state board licensing exam. So, there ya have it.
Lori in the San Francisco Bay area -
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Re: MFT vs. LCSW California
Mon, September 3, 2007 - 10:38 AMI am a PsyD and have done internships with several lcsws. I have been really impressed with those who went to Smith for their msw training. they received excellent clinical trainings, which has always impressed me. if anyone is considering msw programs, i highly suggest Smith in Massachusetts.
Sara in Cali
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Re: MFT vs. LCSW California
Mon, March 10, 2008 - 10:06 PMI take issue with the stance that MSW programs are purely administrative. While accredited MSW programs do not solely focus on the clinical aspect of practice they are far from being exclusively administrative. An accredited MSW should never be purely administrative unless the program wants to risk losing their national accreditation status. Social workers are supposed to be trained to work with individuals in their environment whether it be individually, within organizations, or on the community level, thus we do receive training that has administrative and community components. I want a career in clinical practice yet chose to pursue a degree in social work because I feel that having macro practice knowledge will allow me to better serve the target population I desire to work with on a clinical basis. I also felt that obtaining an MSW would provide more career options than I would have with an MFT, which is important to me because frankly I need to be able to find a job upon graduation. One day I might leave California and my understanding is that an MSW is more transferable state to state than the MFT degree which is another reason I chose the MSW. That being said, I have a friend who is studying to get her MFT and absolutely loves it. She is enrolled in a very good MFT program at Fresno State. I may be a little bias toward the MSW however, I have another friend who was torn between the two degrees and I encouraged him to pursue an MFT. I thought the MFT would be a better fit because I felt that he truly wanted to just be a therapist and would be bored to death with the social policy and community courses that are also a part of the social work curriculum. Although you can do counseling with both degrees the MSW and MFT are very different fields of study. The best way to discover which one is right for you is to do as much research as you can and talk to people who have obtained both. I do not think one degree is better than the other; it’s just a matter of personal preference.
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Re: MFT vs. LCSW California
Fri, July 27, 2007 - 10:59 AMAs far as the portability of the MFT license--there is a new LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) license that will come to be in the next year or two, and my teachers tell us that we will automatically be "grandfathered" in. This license will be recognized nationally. Yay!
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Re: MFT vs. LCSW California
Wed, March 19, 2008 - 2:54 PMI concur with a previous post -- definitely check out www.bbs.ca.gov where you will find lists of accredited universities for LCSW's. if you plan to become licensed (LCSW as opposed to pre-licensed, but post-master's MSW), you will have to learn a lot of the same stuff I learned in my MA clinical Psych (working toward MFT -- I just got licensed last year!) program, but they don't teach you that in school. That's OK, though, because you learn a lot of that in the field, sitting with clients, and while supervised. I strongly urge you to go the LCSW route. Of course, it's really up to you and what you're into, but if I had to do it over again, I would do that. I am a single person, so I support myself financially, and I am in the most heavily/densely saturated therapist market in the universe, the SF Bay Area, so there is a TON of competition for internships, which means most of them don't pay -- because they don't have to, somebody will come along to do it for free. In other geographical areas, with fewer therapists, my guess is it'd be easier. And if you have some other way of supporting yourself financially, the MFT info is very rewarding and interesting and awesome. But finding a job, even as a licensed MFT, is next to impossible (again, maybe this is just the bay area) -- but apparently there is something called article 23 (I think) that makes hospitals and big institutions ONLY hire LCSWs or PhDs. I seriously wish someone had warned me. Sorry, I have no suggestions on programs for MSW. Best of luck!
