The Graduate MFT and DMFT programs kicked off the new academic year with a special Alumni and Current Student Networking Event. Alumni from past years and current students gathered on campus for an evening of connection, community, and networking. This event also launched the yearlong celebration of the 40th anniversary of the MFT program at HIU. Guest speakers Samuel Semanda (Class of ’19 and '21), Doug Yost (Class of ’04 and ‘06), and Wes Beavis (Class of '12) inspired attendees with their journeys and words of encouragement for the next generation of MFT professionals.

Since welcoming its first cohort in 1996, the graduate program has expanded to include both an online Master of Science in Counseling with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy and a Doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy. Today, our graduates serve in community mental health agencies, professionalministry, and private practice, making a meaningful impact locally and globally.

HIU’s MFT program also remains a leader in trauma training, with one of the only EMDR Basic Training programs integrated into a graduate program. This commitment ensures our students are well-prepared as trauma-informed therapists, equipped with the knowledge and skills to succeed in diverse professional settings.

Dr. Susan Hastings, Chair of the MFT/DMFT Program - “I am so proud of our MFT alumni and students—each one following a different path bringing healing, resilience, and hope. Their work is the heart of our program and the soul of our mission.”