STUDENT
Your Journey
Congratulations on your exciting choice to pursue a career as a licensed Marriage and Family therapist. Although the road is not easy, we are dedicated to your success. At WAMFT, our goal is to provide a one-stop information source to the resources you'll need to accomplish your goals along your journey.
WAMFT is here to help you advance your career through networking, education, and advocacy for the health of our community.
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Welcome to the rewarding profession of Marriage and Family therapy.
What do you need from WAMFT?
We want to know!
The Lifecycle Stages of MFT Grad Students
MFT graduate students experience unique phases on their journey to becoming licensed therapists.
Pre-Internship:
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Adjusting to Grad school
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Work/life balance
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Time Management
Finding an internship:
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Discerning between community mental health agencies & private practice
Life during internship:
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Tips & Tricks for staying sane
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Self-care resources
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How to use best practice research
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Treatment planning resources
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Normalizing the anxiety
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Imposter syndrome
Graduation & Beyond:
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Studying for the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB) exam
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Washington State Licensing information (link?)
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Applying for jobs
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Resume & Cover letter writing
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Finding a niche
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Going for more?
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PHD programs
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The WAMFT student committee is a team of MFT students from various universities in the area. Connecting with the committee brings many opportunities such as leadership skills building, networking, and professional development. As a volunteer, you would help plan the student socials, create resources for other student members, and help at WAMFT events! There are various other committees that could use your help too, learn more about the many opportunities for student involvement with WAMFT.
Make Connections
Get Involved
Standards & Ethics
"What you do makes a difference and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make"
Jane Goodall
WAMFT Annual Student Scholarship
This year, WAMFT is pleased to announce that we will be awarding five $500 scholarships to WAMFT Student Members who demonstrate commitment to and leadership potential in the field of Marriage/Couple and Family Therapy. Three of the scholarships will be specifically reserved for members of equity-deserving groups: communities that face significant collective challenges and have been historically marginalized in the field due to attitudinal, historical, social, and environmental barriers based on race, ethnicity, economic status, nationality, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, ability, or another group.
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You are eligible for this scholarship if you are a student member of WAMFT. These scholarships help ensure that members committed to Marriage and Family Therapy can access learning and networking opportunities to facilitate their professional development as an MFT. ​
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The Scholarship Application linked below provides more details about eligibility qualifications. The deadline for applying is September 9, 2024.
Purpose: To provide financial assistance to WAMFT student members enrolled in a master’s-level program and are preparing for a career as a Marriage/Couple and Family Therapist.
Scholarships Available:
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Five $500 scholarships will be awarded for the WAMFT Student Scholarship.
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Three of the scholarships will be reserved specifically for members who are part of or serve communities that face significant collective challenges and have been historically marginalized in the field due to attitudinal, historical, social, and environmental barriers based on race, ethnicity, economic status, nationality, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, ability, or another status.
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Eligibility Requirements:
1. Be a Student Member of WAMFT.
2. Be currently enrolled in Washington State in a master’s level program leading to licensure as an MFT.
3. Demonstrate commitment to and potential for leadership in the field of Marriage/Couple and Family Therapy
Award Criteria:
Scholarships will be awarded based on the applicant’s overall portfolio presented to the Scholarship Committee. An applicant’s portfolio and accompanying cover letter should make a case for how the applicant demonstrates “commitment to and leadership potential in the field of Marriage/Couple and Family Therapy.” Portfolios may include but are not necessarily limited to evidence of:
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The academic effort, performance, or contributions
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Professional development activities including participation in training beyond school requirements
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Professional publications, presentations, pieces of training, etc.
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School service activities or other school involvement
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Community involvement, including volunteering
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Participation in or contribution to WAMFT activities
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Participation in or contribution to other M/CFT professional organizations (e.g., AAMFT, AAMFT Topical Interest Networks, AFTA, etc.)
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Commitment to serving the needs of equity-deserving groups: communities that face significant collective challenges and have been historically marginalized or under-served due to attitudinal, historical, social, and environmental barriers based on race, ethnicity, economic status, nationality, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, ability, or another group.
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Commitment to advocacy for the profession of Marriage/Couple and Family Therapy and access to the services of M/CFTs.
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General Information:
1. The WAMFT Scholarship Committee will select scholarship recipients. All information will be held in strict confidence.
2. This scholarship is a one-time award. Therefore, past recipients are not eligible to apply in subsequent years, even if they are still eligible under student status.
3. Scholarship recipients will be notified by email.
Questions? Email wamft@wamft.org
Nedra Robertson: Is currently enrolled as a third year student at Saint Martin's University in the Masters of Counseling program. Nedra has worked over 20 years in the field of Human Resources, where she helps to resolve conflicts, encourage employees to find their voice. This life experience has led Nedra to believe that a career in counseling is a natural transition to fulfilling her purpose. Nedra plans to be a Therapist in BIPOC populations with a concentration in couples, woman and adolescents.
“As an African American woman I believe there is a strong need for more diversity to include People of Color in the field of counseling. As the oldest of seven children and a “preacher's kid”, I've witnessed my parents working in public service all of my life. Through this experience I have watched them listen to people without judgement. “Through the information I have been learning in the Masters in Counseling Program as well as WAMFT, I have learned how to better communicate with others and listen to others without judgement." .
Liane Whang: Is a second-generation Korean American born and raised in Seattle. She is completing her final year in the MFT program at Seattle Pacific University (SPU). She currently interns at the SPU Student Counseling Center, providing individual and couples counseling to college students. She is also an intern and workshop leader at the Unity Collective, a new non-profit counseling, training, and educational center focused on the intersections of race, faith, and mental health. Liane’s clinical interests include racial trauma, cultural identity formation, intergenerational trauma and healing, somatic psychology, and embodiment.
2020 Recipients
Rene Bogan: Is a graduate student at Seattle University and clinical intern at Therapeutic Health Services.
"I gravitate to a social constructionist - integrative approach. I believe opportunities for change occur in safe, compassionate environments where individuals and families can share their stories and explore past and current distresses, personal identity, and life's meaning. As a professional woman of color raised in Seattle who has experienced both empowering and systemic oppressive aspects in corporate America. I have particular interest in assisting clients of color to recognize their value and discover ways to be seen and heard. In addition, I am committed to mental wellness by advocating for greater access to care for people of color."
Noemí Correa: Is a graduate student at Seattle University in their Master of Arts in Couples and Family Therapy Program and a clinical intern at Lanthorn Counseling & Forensic Evaluation, Inc., in Yakima, WA, serving children, youth, and families. Previously Noemi was a bilingual (English and Spanish) clinical intern at The Child and Family Mental Health Program of Catholic Community Services of Western Washington (CCSWW).
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Her future plans involve providing continued therapy services in the Yakima Valley, a predominantly Spanish-speaking, Latinx, agricultural and farm working community.
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Simone Ebright: Is a graduate student in the Master of Arts in Couples & Family Therapy at Seattle University and a clinical intern at Next Level Therapy.
"As a first-generation, independent student, I am very passionate about supporting underrepresented and underserved communities and hope to continue to support as many clients as I can through my clinical internship as well as into my career."
Supervision
WAMFT members have access to the AAMFT Approved Supervisor Directory to find supervisors with the very highest qualifications in relational therapy supervision.
Disclaimer: WAMFT does not endorse, represent, or accept responsibility for the content, information, products, advertisements, or other materials contained on, distributed through, or linked, downloaded, or accessed from this page. Links taken to other sites are done so at the user's own risk and WAMFT accepts no liability for any linked sites or their content. WAMFT does not give any representation regarding the quality, safety, suitability, or reliability of any external websites or any of the content or materials contained in them.
