Marriage and Family Therapy Program Marks 25 Years

Madison, Wis. (June 23, 2022) – The Edgewood College Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy Program is celebrating 25 years of providing compassionate service to the Greater Madison community.

Under the direction of Peter Fabian, the program enrolled its first students in 1996 and began offering education and training that embodied the Dominican values of truth, justice, compassion, partnership, and community. The emphasis was one of teaching therapists how to provide ethically sensitive service to the diverse members of the community—children, adolescents, and adults.

The program continues in the same vein today. “We are honored to continue the vision of teaching advocacy and quality mental health support started by Dr. Fabian”, said Debra Polacek, Program Director. “25 years of training mental health professionals to service our community aligns with the Edgewood College mission of building a just and compassionate world. Today that specialized focus is even more relevant to meet the growing needs of people impacted by multiple community and world events.”

The program opened a designated learning space, The Family Center, in 1998. Today, the Center is one of the largest mental health providers in Dane County.