Master of Relational and Family Therapy
Become a relational and family therapist and graduate job-ready
Mental health professionals are in demand in your community. Make a difference with the Master of Relational and Family Therapy (MRFT) program at the University of Guelph.
The Master of Relational and Family Therapy is a two-year immersive clinical training program that integrates theory into the practice of relational and systemic psychotherapy, where therapists work with a client in the context of their many relationships and broader social systems.
The MRFT is a recognized education, training and clinical experience program with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) and is accredited by the Canadian Association for Couple and Family Therapy (CACFT) and prepares you to practice psychotherapy upon graduation.
The Master of Relational and Family Therapy is part of the Relational and Psychotherapy Training Program (RPTP) at the University of Guelph.
- One of a Kind
- The only secular, systemic relational education and training program in Ontario
- Systemic-Relational Focus
- Learn relationship therapy with a foundation in systemic relational training
- Career-Ready Training
- Clinical experience and supervision through an EDI lens to prepare you for your career
The Master of Relational and Family Therapy Program Timeline
The Master of Relational and Family Therapy program is a two-year full-time only immersive course of study beginning in May each year.
The first academic summer semester prepares you to begin your five-semester internship placement in the fall. In the final semester of the program, you'll be registered with the CRPO as a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) and you'll be on track to be become a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist (RMFT) with the CACFT.
As an MRFT student, you will complete seven courses in a combination of in-person and remote synchronous formats throughout the program:
- Resiliency and Trauma Informed Practice
- Sociocultural Attunement and Humility
- Foundations of Relational and Family Therapy
- Professional Ethics and Issues in Relational and Family Therapy
- Research in Relational Family Therapy
- Perspectives on Health and Well-being
- Gender, Sexuality and Clinical Interventions
Visit the Graduate Calendar for more information on the program courses.
Training Facilities
All practicum classes, clinical work, and supervision in the MRFT program take place in the Maplewoods Centre for Family Therapy and Child Psychology.
Maplewoods is a newly-built and innovative centre on the University of Guelph campus that provides a range of clinical therapy services for youth, adults, and families in the community.
Maplewoods is equipped with a state-of-the-art video capture system, allowing for digital recording and real-time observation of clinical work.
Meet the Faculty
Dr. John Beaton has been training graduate students to be therapists for over 15 years. His research and clinical interests focus on men's health and fatherhood, and families with children with disabilities and chronic health conditions.
Rana Khan specializes in how cultural differences impact individuals, relationships and families. He teaches and mentors students as a clinical instructor and supervisor at the Maplewoods Centre for Family Therapy and Child Psychology.
Dr. Tuuli M. Kukkonen is an expert in the field of sexual psychophysiology. Her research focuses on the interaction between biological and psychosocial factors involved in sexual health, and aging and sexual health.
Dr. Robin R. Milhausen has appeared extensively in the media as an expert in sexual and relationship satisfaction. More recently, she has been studying the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on long-term couple relationships.
Dr. Orion Neustifter is a researcher, intimacy coach, and anti-oppression trainer. They use decolonizing approaches to study relational mental health, diverse genders and sexualities, and relational impacts of trauma.
Emma Turner has extensive experience working with clients of all ages as a Registered Psychotherapist. She teaches and mentors graduate students as the Manager of Clinical Supervision in couple and family therapy at Maplewoods.
Kevin VanDerZwet Stafford has over 30 years of experience as a practicing clinician, educator, and advocate for the profession of psychotherapy. Today, he is the Co-Director of the Maplewoods Centre for Family Therapy and Child Psychology.
Applying to the Master of Relational and Family Therapy
Program Webinar | Spring 2026 Entry
Interested in applying to the Relational and Psychotherapy Training Program?
Check out our recent webinar, in which we review the details of each program, go over what to expect during the application process, and answer your questions! Recorded July 28, 2025.
Other Programs
Master of Psychotherapy
The Master of Psychotherapy program has a more traditional psychotherapy focus. Students complete two in-person practica at the Maplewoods Centre and a one-year externship, gaining direct clinical experience in a placement with a community-based service provider.
Master of Arts in Mental Health
The Master of Arts in Mental Health is an online course-based program designed for professionals who want non-clinical mental health training infused with systemic thinking and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).
Get in Touch
Questions about the Master of Relational and Family Therapy program? Contact:
Shauna Porter
Graduate Program Assistant
Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition
Email: rptp@uoguelph.ca