Concordia Nebraska hosts on-campus residencies for Marriage and Family Therapy, Family Life Education graduate students

Seward, NE (08/12/2026) — At Concordia University, Nebraska, the Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) and Family Life Education (FLE) graduate programs primarily take place online, but both programs do require short, on-campus residencies in Seward, Nebraska to allow students to build cohort connections, meet faculty and complete hands-on training.

The most recent MFT and FLE residency took place in late July in conjunction with the university's Rooted & Restored symposium, an event thoughtfully designed to equip faith-based helping professionals with meaningful professional development, practical tools for their work and an opportunity to feel supported and strengthened in their ministry settings.

"The cohort model has so many benefits - one of them being that you will become very close with the other students who progress through the degree program with you. Coming to the residency felt like getting together with a group of old friends, and, of course, meeting new ones."

"The MFT residency is such a wonderful chance for those of us going into our second year of the program, to really connect with our cohort," explained MFT graduate student Hope Nelson '25 of Rochester, Minnesota. "The cohort model has so many benefits - one of them being that you will become very close with the other students who progress through the degree program with you. Coming to the residency felt like getting together with a group of old friends, and, of course, meeting new ones."

The event was presented by Concordia Nebraska's Abundant Life Wellness Initiative, which is co-directed by Concordia Nebraska Director of Counseling Kathy L'Heureux and Kathleen von Kampen, program director for the university's Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) and Family Life Education (FLE) graduate programs.

"I loved being able to hear from Dr. Rick Marrs in person through the Rooted & Restored event. Marrs wrote the book Making Christian Counseling More Christ-Centered, which was one that we've had the opportunity to read in our studies in the university's MFT/FLE program," said Nelson. "Being able to gain even more knowledge from the real-life individual behind that incredible work was truly rewarding. I know that I took away so many new ideas from his presentation, which I will implement in my daily life and therapeutic practice."

Concordia University, Nebraska requires two short, on-campus residencies for its hybrid master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. This program combines online synchronous and asynchronous coursework with face-to-face intensives. The in-person residencies take place at the beginning and middle of the program. The program also includes a 300-hour practicum. Spanning 24 months, Concordia Nebraska's Marriage and Family Therapy program allows students to discover a Scripture-infused view of modern psychology and therapy that transforms marriages, families and communities by focusing on faith and family perspectives.

Concordia's Family Life Education program also includes live, synchronous online classes as well as asynchronous assignments and discussions to apply the course learning. Spanning 12 to 24 months, the Family Life Education program allows participants to enhance church work using Scripture to emphasize faith and family perspectives. One short, on-campus residency is required for this hybrid master's program.

"Seeing all the new faces at the residency this year brought me so much joy," added Nelson. "[The new] cohort, I believe, is bigger than my own, which goes to show all the wonderful work that Concordia is doing to recruit new students and train the next generation of Christ-centered people-helpers. I look forward to working alongside these amazing people in the professional realm one day as we profess Christ's love for His creation together."

Media Attachments

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Larry Keiter, coach, facilitator and speaker from Larry Keiter Coaching, speaks to MFT and FLE graduate students during their on-campus residency