About

Diversity and Inclusion

The Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) program at the University of South Florida believes strongly in supporting, promoting, and protecting diversity and the right everyone has to be treated with dignity and respect. We are focused on fostering a climate of inclusion, equality, and mutual respect where all people are valued. We strive to demonstrate respect for and understanding of race, age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, relationship status, gender identity, socioeconomic status, disability, health status, religious or spiritual belief, religious or spiritual affiliation, national origin and other factors leading to individual or family diversity. We view diversity of backgrounds and experiences as a strength of the program and the profession as a whole.

We support AAMFT’s stance that marriage and family therapists are uniquely positioned to, “understand and recognize the systemic effect that oppression, inequity, and overt and covert racism have on individuals in marginalized communities and have a role in fostering healing and maintaining change.” We take this role of fostering healing and maintaining change seriously in our recruiting, teaching, and training of the next generation of MFTs. We make it a priority to provide program access and successful program completion free of bias. Cultural competency and diversity are embedded throughout the programs curriculum to facilitate a fully integrated perspective of these issues relative to the role of MFT’s. In addition, we are committed to creating opportunities for students to complete their clinical field experience with community partners who serve marginalized and underserved populations in our local community. Through these core values and efforts, we strive to provide a training experience that will promote a transformative process that goes beyond the therapist and impacts the larger systems in our community and society. 

Anti-Discrimination Policy

The MFT Program abides by the University’s Anti-Discrimination Policy, as found in
the current USF Graduate Catalog. In addition, faculty are invested in the personal and
professional growth of students and developing an understanding and appreciation for
diversity and inclusion is an important element of this growth. Diversity and inclusion
includes, but is not limited to, ethnicity, relationship status, gender identity, health status,
national origin, race, color, religion, spiritual values, gender, sexual orientation, SES,
learning abilities, physical limitations, age, veteran status, belief systems, and academic and
professional background. Respect for diversity and inclusion is embedded in the nature of
the MFT Program at USF and the Program is committed to acknowledging and discussing
issues of diversity and inclusion. The importance of diversity and inclusion can be seen in the actual diversity and inclusion of our students, faculty, and supervisors as well as being evident throughout our curriculum, clinical training, agency partnerships, and educational outcomes.

2022 MFT Demographic Data

USF MFT Faculty, Supervisors, and Students Demographic Data 2021-2022

USF Diversity

For more resources and readings please visit AAMFT.org.

https://www.aamft.org/Press_Info/racial_resources_resources_for_mfts.aspx