Launched in Fall 2006, Antioch University Los Angeles inaugurated the nation’s first LGBT Specialization as part of its Masters of Clinical Psychology program, designed to provide comprehensive theoretical and practical preparation for students who are training to become licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT).

The mission of this new specialization is to help sensitize our community to the endemic problems of homophobia, heterosexism, heteronormativity, biphobia and transphobia in our society, our clients and ourselves while simultaneously encouraging an invigorating environment of affirmation and acceptance, diversity and dialogue, inner exploration and community activism. It is the hope of the program that cultivating a pedagogical relationship to LGBT history, culture, mythology and critical theory in clinical, community and personal settings can contribute to lasting social change and personal transformation.

The LGBT specialization is a 17-unit program that supplements the clinical MFT program. MFT students who chose to be part of the specialization will be required to complete 84 units and 7 quarters of residency.

Learn more about the LGBT curriculum

The LGBT specialization is taken in conjunction with the standard curriculum offered within the Master of Arts in Psychology program and, the LGBT specialization consists of five core classes, along with additional workshops, conferences and learning activities, that will educate students in all key areas of effective psychotherapy with LGBT individuals. Key learning objectives include topics such as clinical awareness of the multiple oppressions of LGBT people of color, effective assessment and treatment of internalized homophobia, and practical therapeutic interventions for addressing the many real-world problems faced by LGBT youth and adults.