The Wright Institute MFT Program
The Wright Institute has a unique two-year master’s program that remains unknown to many psychology students. Students learn to work in a variety of mental health settings with individuals, families, and groups from different backgrounds.
The Wright Institute Berkeley places students in small cohorts of just 15-20 members to create an intimate learning environment. Students must complete at least 500 hours of supervised clinical experience and 280 direct client hours to graduate. This detailed training helps prepare students to become licensed Professional Clinical Counselors. The Wright Institute’s learning model has evolved over the last 50 years. It helps students develop their talents and build a strong professional network that supports early career success.
MFT Program Snapshot
The Wright Institute’s Master’s in Counseling Psychology program features WASC accreditation and prepares students for both LMFT and LPCC licensure. Students who graduate meet California’s licensure standards for marriage and family therapy and professional clinical counseling, as outlined in Business and Professions Code 4980.36.
Students move through the program in tight-knit cohorts of 15-20 people from beginning to end. This creates strong bonds between classmates in a supportive learning environment. You can choose between weekend-based or daytime-based cohorts based on what works best for your schedule.
Weekend cohort classes meet one weekend monthly (Friday evenings, full Saturdays, and Sundays) with an additional weekly evening session in the first year. Students in daytime cohorts attend classes twice weekly from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Both options provide identical instructional hours, just arranged differently to fit various schedules.
The program combines 60 units of coursework with hands-on experience. While designed as a two-year program, many working professionals choose a three-year path—two years of coursework and a dedicated practicum year. The second year requires 20-24 weekly hours of supervised clinical work.
Graduation requirements include:
- All required coursework (60 units total)
- Minimum of 500 supervised clinical hours (including 280 direct client hours)
- Comprehensive exam with a passing score of 75%
The program costs approximately $67,800 in total tuition. Students focus on four key learning areas: counseling theories and techniques, diversity and social justice perspectives, communication skills, and professional identity development rooted in critical thinking and ethics.
Cultural sensitivity and social context remain central themes throughout the program’s curriculum, preparing graduates to help clients from diverse backgrounds effectively. New classes begin each fall, and students typically take their comprehensive exams near the end of their second year.
Pathways and Specializations
The Wright Institute’s Master’s in Counseling Psychology program features a dual-track pathway that prepares you to become both a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC). This complete approach will give you more career options without needing extra training later.
Your coursework follows California’s Business and Professions Code 4980.36 requirements for marriage and family therapy and professional clinical counseling practice. The program combines classroom learning with hands-on experience to help you gain all the skills needed for California licensure.
The Wright Institute’s program stands out with its flexible timeline. You can complete the entire program in just two years if you handle practicum placement alongside second-year classes. A three-year path might work better if you have a full-time job – two years of classes plus a year dedicated to practicum.
The program goes beyond regular curriculum by helping you prepare for licensure exams and covers the newest requirements. You’ll also learn evidence-based techniques that research has shown to work.
It’s worth mentioning that while the program excels at preparing you for California licensure, the Wright Institute hasn’t determined if its education meets requirements in other states. You should check if this program fulfills your target state’s requirements if you plan to practice outside California after graduating.
Graduates can work in a variety of settings. The program aims to prepare students who can work effectively in mental health environments of all types – helping individuals, families, and groups regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic background.
The program encourages critical thinking and self-reflection. Students learn how culture and systemic oppression affect their clients’ lives and the clinical relationship. This focus on cultural awareness will give you the skills to provide culturally sensitive mental health services that are the life-blood of the institute’s mission.
Learning Options and Flexibility
Students at the Wright Institute experience something special – they start, grow, and graduate with the same group of peers in their cohort. This setup creates a close-knit, supportive space that helps you develop your clinical skills.
The program fits different lifestyles with two main schedule options. Weekend cohorts come to class about one weekend monthly (14 weekends yearly) and attend one evening session weekly in their first year. Weekend classes run Friday evenings (6pm-10pm), Saturdays (9am-6:45pm), and Sundays (9am-5:45pm), with regular breaks built in. Daytime cohorts meet twice weekly from 9am to 4pm with scheduled breaks. Both options provide the same number of teaching hours (15 hours per semester unit), just arranged differently to match your schedule.
Each cohort brings together 15-21 carefully selected students with diverse academic, professional, and cultural backgrounds. This mix of perspectives enriches everyone’s learning as you build lasting relationships that become your professional network.
You can choose how to pace your studies:
- Complete in two years (coursework with concurrent practicum)
- Extend to three years (two years coursework + separate practicum year)
This flexibility works great especially when you have a full-time job. Working full-time is doable during your first year, but the second year needs 20-24 weekly hours of supervised clinical work on top of classes. So many students cut back on work during this time unless they choose the three-year option.
Faculty mentoring plays a key role in your education. The program values relationships as central to both clinical work and learning, which makes mentoring a great way to get the right clinical skills and professional mindset.
The Wright Institute stands out as an independent educational institution that can adapt quickly to student needs. This responsiveness and the cohort model create a learning experience that really prepares you for professional practice.
Admission Requirements
The Wright Institute MFT program welcomes applications through a simplified process with specific deadlines. Students can enroll only in fall, with a priority deadline of February 1 and a standard deadline of May 1. The program might accept applications after these dates if spots remain unfilled.
Qualified candidates need a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and a minimum 3.0 GPA. The institute takes a comprehensive view of each application, so candidates with lower GPAs can submit an appeal through their online application.
The application package should include:
- A completed online application with current resume/CV
- A 4-6 page double-spaced statement of purpose essay
- Two letters of recommendation (any source acceptable)
- Unofficial transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
The Wright Institute makes its program available to qualified candidates from a variety of academic backgrounds. GRE scores and prerequisite courses are not required.
Applicants must pay a non-refundable $500 application fee. Fee waivers exist for cases of financial hardship and service organization alumni. Accepted students can secure their spot with a $500 deposit, which later counts toward first-semester tuition.
The program values professional experience and allows transfers of up to six semester credits or two graduate-level courses. These credits must come from courses taken within five years before applying.
Why Choose This Program
A career in mental health opens doors to a field that’s growing faster than ever. The mental health industry will grow by 25% by 2029, while Marriage and Family Therapy expects 13% growth from 2024-2034. The field rewards professionals well—MFTs earn a national median salary of $63,780, and top earners make $111,610.
The Wright Institute stands out because of its philosophy as a training ground for “clinicians to society”—practitioners who understand cultural and social contexts deeply in psychological practice. This matches today’s mental health needs perfectly.
The Wright Institute Berkeley’s faculty members actively practice as clinicians and blend their clinical work with current research. They mentor students formally and informally to help them become skilled at critical thinking and creative problem-solving—key skills for effective practice.
The program blends Mental Health Services Act values with evidence-based practices by prioritizing shared, comprehensive, and resiliency-oriented treatment approaches. The faculty brings experience from a variety of personal backgrounds and clinical work, which reflects the program’s culturally diverse student body.
This profession creates exceptional job satisfaction. Research shows psychology and education are among all but one of these fields where 90% of workers find meaning in their work. Students learn to help others while discovering valuable lessons about their own lives and relationships.