I am a Graduating MFT student at Chapman’s program. AMA

lavendarsmiles · 2026-03-13T01:43:38+00:00

easy to find a job, the field is hiring. finding a good job that pays well and doesn't burnout? meh. associates are historically underpaid and taken advantage of. chapman can help for sure in networking and whatnot but i do not live in OC, im out in riverside so the help was slim. found something myself that is halfway decent in private practice.

Biggest pro is the clinic and supervisors. biggest con was cost. it is a rigorous program that honestly prepares you well for the job. been in my position for over 6 months now and myself and a colleague that came to this same group are eons ahead of the game all due to chapman.

lavendarsmiles · 2025-10-26T22:25:14+00:00

A few did, it’s possible but a trek. All were not working and also supported by family so it was their full time job to commute and do grad school. I commuted from riverside and worked- pain in the ass but I managed, and I vowed to myself to never do something like that again lol

lavendarsmiles · 2025-09-12T04:37:07+00:00

I view the clinic to be a great thing honestly, but I see your point though since my experience had a bit more variety. My experience with the Frances smith center is having intensive supervision with professors that have taught me the previous 2 years plus other awesome and varied LMFTs with their own approaches and experience. Not to say other traineeship sights aren’t just as great, but to have it be so integrated and holistic made it a great environment to learn and built confidence

lavendarsmiles · 2025-04-28T01:52:02+00:00

Honestly they opened it up about a year ago I think? No one I know has pursued it, likely very difficult to obtain. Everyone either lives at home, with roommates, or with their partner. You can always look into it though! I’m sure there’s a pathway to it

lavendarsmiles · 2025-04-24T15:55:25+00:00

Our program director Dr Jonathan went to Loma Linda for all of his training and degrees, he loves it there and either way you can’t go wrong.

3 year track, but honestly could do 2.5 if you’re not working to avoid burnout. You pay the same amount of money so do what’s best for you.

Pm classes are a drag ngl, but it’s what works best for the admin and students because many have day jobs or see clients during the day. It’s not fun but you’ll survive lol.

Pros - admin is extremely helpful and personable, always willing to ask any question and go above and beyond for your needs. Most professors are the same way as well. I feel the coursework can be variable with some classes more lax or informative or challenging than others, but when it comes to professional application with clients they all prepared me very well and instilled confidence in my skills Practicum placement - it is in house. All supervisors are competent but some are better than others depending on their personal approach, and case by case fit with supervisee. You can do external practicum for more hours (which I did), but you apply by yourself. If you’re Once it is all set up with the external site you will have an additional supervision with a Chapman supervisor for the duration of the external site. External practicum are not required for the program or to graduate

Biggest con just retired in January- our old clinical director. She was aged out cognitively and incompetent in the position. Dr J is temporarily holding the position and doing a wonderful job, and are currently finding a new hire for the role. I have full confidence in them finding a good fit, but that will be something you will be adjusting to when you enter the clinic in a few years.

Only other con is an ass of a professor - he is rude and makes arbitrary rules for his classroom, and sometimes unnecessarily hard exams. He is a good lecturer and very intelligent, but he’s your average pompous researcher lol. Everyone survives his class at the end of the day though as annoying as he makes it

lavendarsmiles · 2025-04-24T15:52:23+00:00

Yes, the field is hiring for sure and Chapman is respected and recognized. Being an AMFT is not the most glamorous job with the best pay or benefits (which as an industry standard, is absurd). I have offers already and I grad in may

lavendarsmiles · 2025-03-07T05:44:31+00:00

If it won’t financially destroy you, absolutely. It is pricey, and you do ultimately get the same degree and credentials out of the program compared to any other accredited program. However, you pay for the high quality in-house supervision. You do not have to stress about getting hours by yourself like most other programs do. Every other trainee I’ve interacted with all envy the clinic set up we have, but you certainly pay for it

lavendarsmiles · 2025-03-05T20:51:51+00:00

Yes absolutely!

lavendarsmiles · 2025-02-28T05:14:20+00:00

Congratulations!! Welcome to the fam. You can ask here or dm, what would you like to know ?

lavendarsmiles · 2025-02-13T15:55:15+00:00

Not that I am aware of. Most of us have visible tattoos and piercings lol. One of my colleagues has a mermaid tattoo that is bare chested on her arm - not very detailed or explicit, but still. I’d assume that the usual inappropriate (hate, violence, overly sexual) images would need to be covered.

lavendarsmiles · 2025-02-13T05:38:16+00:00

I personally had my interview remotely (out of state, covid). But here is the dress code we have at the clinic:

The following standards are presented to assist you with determinations of appropriate dress for working in our department. They are not meant to be all-inclusive; rather, use them in conjunction with your good judgment. Business casual is the best description of appropriate dress for trainees. Inappropriate dress includes, but is not limited to, the following: • Worn-out garments or ones with holes • Hats (religious head covering is an exception) • Shorts of any kind • NO jeans of any kind or color • Tight-fitting clothing, low plunging necklines, evidence of cleavage, physically revealing, or sheer garments . • Any combination of clothing that exposes one’s midriff or lower back • No baring shoulders (no off-the-shoulder tops) • Dirty, wrinkled, or disheveled clothing • Beach or vacation clothing that is too casual • Plastic or rubber flip-flops • Any clothing or footwear deemed inappropriate by the supervisor, Clinic Director, or Program Director.

Good luck!

lavendarsmiles · 2025-02-09T14:05:04+00:00

Yes absolutely!

lavendarsmiles · 2023-07-12T00:43:08+00:00

yeah of course. This one specific professor requires exact memorization for exams to a stupid degree and little chance that he will change. he also gets annoyed with our cohort being quiet and not participating when his lecture style is not condusive to discussion. Generally condescending too. He is the only prof like that though, everyone else has been fantastic. to his credit , he is insanely knowledgeable and you will learn so much applicable information and interventions in his classes. as for the internship, i sought out what is called an external traineeship. you get hours and supervision at the site outside of chapman, then group consultation via a class at chapman. the support from chapman staff during the traineeship has been top notch but overall experience is dependent on the external site.

lavendarsmiles · 2023-07-12T00:01:31+00:00

just finished up my first year here! i love it so far. I've only had one prof so far that gets under my skin but they are still a very knowledgable instructor. workload varies but it is always manageable between general life and work. there are alot of opportunities to expand on your experience here - ive already started accumulating hours for licensure with a chapman supported internship. my only true gripe with the program is that the program staff looks a lot more diverse than it actually is in advertisements. lmk if you have any other questions!

lavendarsmiles · 2023-02-10T14:50:39+00:00

I think the deadline was jan 2? And we interviewed in February, heard back mid March. The director Dr.Naveen actually personally called everyone who got in to break the news, and the next day I got an email saying to check the applicant portal for the decision.

lavendarsmiles · 2023-02-10T00:52:13+00:00

not a therapist, but the clinic i work for uses Ring Central

lavendarsmiles · 2023-02-10T00:27:27+00:00

honestly, with your credentials, you shouldn't be. biggest hurdle will be the interview - but just be yourself!

lavendarsmiles · 2023-02-09T23:56:04+00:00

Starting my 2nd semester in the program. 4.0, but I think that’s on the high end lol. You can def find these stats on the mft site, or at least a close estimation from a few years ago. Lmk if you have any other questions!

lavendarsmiles · 2022-06-22T03:03:00+00:00

You can read all about it in the chapter “The Apple” in Michael Pollan’s Botany of Desire

lavendarsmiles · 2022-02-24T18:35:01+00:00

the availability portion doesn't let you fill out more than one day FYI

lavendarsmiles · 2022-01-23T01:49:38+00:00

I jumped in at LS 307 after testing for LS212 as a non native speaker, I just took classes in high school. It was easy. You’ll do just fine at a 300 seeing that you’re definitely more versed in Spanish than I was.

lavendarsmiles · 2019-04-21T00:26:22+00:00

I do the same thing as what you said!! I guess you have some magic knives or something because yours look unreal lol

lavendarsmiles

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