Great teacher. Thoroughly enjoyed his class when I took it.

I love this class!!!! It's not very easy, but you'll learn a lot. I highly recommend him as a teacher.

This is one of the most difficult and time consuming classes you will ever have. Butler is not very organized, don't expect clear instructions, but you will learn more than you ever have in a short amount of time.

Butler is such an awesome teacher!!! Tough class, but you really learn a lot from it. He teaches how to apply the things that you learn to your life. Study hard!!

Unbelievable perspective and applies things to life, yet still provides a great theoretical background. Helps expand your mind and knowledge.

I have Butler for BOM and loved it! I was a freshman in a RM class but he was still nice. Could tell he was a family teacher but I learned so much about applying the BOM to your life. He is a very intelligent guy. Sometimes big words but loved the class and teacher!!!

Br. Butler has wonderful insight to how we can apply the Book of Mormon into everyday family life. I was a freshman in an RM class, but his lessons can be applied to anyone. And the assignments are ones you can keep to use with your family. Not an easy class of course, but amazing. My favorite class this semester! =)

A lot of unnecessary busy work, For a 2 credit class - I spent way more time than I needed to writing papers. We didn't spend nearly as much time on the scriptures than I wanted to in class. It was overall confusing and difficult to figure out what topic we were discussing in each class.

Dr. Butler is the best teacher I've ever had at BYU. I had zero interest in his class when I started out, but it quickly became my favorite-not necessarily because of the material (although I did grow to enjoy it) but because of him. I forgot to do my student ratings and I regret it because I would have loved to have given him high marks.

I liked this class. Dr. Butler has a lot of real-world experience because he is also a therapist, and so he had a lot of great stories. The tests were pretty easy if you go to class. He even lets you challenge questions you missed. Most of the test questions come from the lecture. Some of the readings were pretty dense. Very fair on grading.

Dr. Butler really cares about his students. I thought I would dread this class, but came to love it! It applies to real life. He drops one of your midterms and if you're lucky you can opt out of the final if midterms avg. above 93%. There's a test and short paper after each theory (apx. 5-6). Not an easy A, but worth your education. Skim readings.

Professor Butler is an outstanding communicator and nice personality. Don't expect to be entertained, although at times he is kind of hilarious with little jokes on the side. This is a serious class so take it that way with readings and writings. Very experienced. He's knowledgeable from all levels and background experience.

Dr. Butler is like an angel. He is so sweet and funny. Huge class, but he learns everyone's name. He tells funny and applicable stories. Content can be redundant, but never gets boring. Learned a lot, and got an A. The class is easy if you just do what is asked and make sure to do test corrections! He is greatness I recommend his class!

I LOVE Professor Butler! I took both SFL336 and SFL395 from him and they were both classes that changed my life. Although this class does require a lot out of you, it was worth every minute! Every reading was important and I have even referred to the papers I wrote in my every day life after the course was over. I am so grateful to have had Dr. B!

Dr. Butler is AWESOME! I took SLF 400 from him and loved it. He does require a lot of reading, but I was able to skim some of the chapters and pick up on what I missed in class. He's a funny guy who is really knowledgeable and passionate on the subject. Overall his class impacted not just my education, but my life!

Dr. Butler is my favorite professor. He's compassionate and personable. His class have had the most impact on me personally. This class does require a lot of reading, but I was able to skim chapters. There's also no tests which is nice! The homework in the class is mostly in the second half of the semester so be prepared for that! Overall, GREAT!

This was a great course! I felt this prepared me for humanitarian service and raised my confidence for future graduate work (I'm headed into MFT) more than any other course. Butler is passionate about your experience AND the material he has to offer. Its a good mix of lecture and engagement. The readings can be dense but the class is small and fun.

I loved his family theories class much more than I expected! He tells really applicable stories from his own family life as examples for each theory. The tests are rough, BUT you can earn back 10% of your test grade by meeting with the TA in a post test review. There are 4 midterms, but you get to opt out of the final if you do well on the midterms

Caring loving professor! He learned my name, and made personal connections with me (and all the other students) from the beginning of class. His class structure (learning suite schedule, syllabus, paper rubrics, etc.) can be a little confusing, but it's totally worth it. Learning from Dr. Butler has been a spiritually strengthening, wonderful exp.

Dr. Butler is a professor who truly cares about both his students and the subject that he teaches. He is passionate about his lectures, and is able to apply the material in an exciting and realistic manner. There are a lot of readings, but the readings are interesting and applicable to the class.

Dr. Butler is a caring professor who takes the time to learn more about and understand his students. He strives to connect with his students, and helps both with academic and personal concerns, to his best ability. SFL 401 is an interactive class that gives an oppournity for great discussion. I highly recoommend this class for future therapists.

Doctor Butler provided opportunity for me to see how the course material related to and applied in my hopeful career as a therapist. He seemed committed to preparing us to adequately understand and effectively treat family systems.

I was amazed by how much I loved learning about theories. Dr. Butler's lectures are really engaging and full of lots of relevant material. I feel that this was a class about life, and although I took this class a couple of years ago, I still use concepts from his class in my own life. The tests require quite a bit of preparation, but so worth it.

Out of any course I took in the school of family life this was the most practical and readily applicable class. I felt confident in preparing to apply for a masters in any mental health because Doctor Butler gave us an opportunity to practice real therapeutic skills. My favorite course in the entire undergrad.

This class was one of the most influential classes I took at BYU. It helped me solidify my career plans and also gave me tools that I use in my own relationships. Dr. Butler is really caring and works hard to help all of his students really learn skills that will be helpful regardless of what career path you take. I highly recommend this class!

A course that provides real opportunity to apply knowledge from lectures. Practice in using motivational interviewing prepared me to better help patients at future jobs in mental health. This class requires participation and the return on time spent in lecture still benefits my current work in mental health.

Course focus: practical application of therapeutic behavior. Lots of interactive application in class with immediate feedback--very helpful! Writing assignments are relevant and increase understanding of concepts and theories. Video group projects to demonstrate understanding of course material. Course is well designed. Dr. Butler is approachable.

Dr. Butler has an amazing understanding of the material he teaches and loves to teach it! He is typically quite accessible outside of class and he truly cares for each individual student. His tests are difficult and require a deeper understanding of the material than most professors I've taken classes from. He is fair and loves helpful feedback.

This class was decently tough--tons of reading. I learned so much, though! Dr. Butler is a professional and even an expert in his field and that becomes obvious when he is lecturing. Participation is essential to this class! Everything that we discuss in class becomes a big part of your foundation for the midterm and final projects.

Instead of written tests there are proficiency exams and papers. So, coming to class is essential because you get a lot of help from in-class work. This class really helped me see how things used in therapy can be utilized in order to help our everyday relationships. Top-notch class. Lots of reading. Dr. Butler cares about his students!

Dr. Butler makes his classes interesting and applicable. He uses videos and stories to give example of the principles, which makes it stick to your mind. I hated having to miss his classes. If you go to class and study the slides you will do well on the tests. He also offers post test reviews in which you can gain up to 10 pts back in your test.

This class helped me to decide to do MFT. The classes were mainly discussion and practice based, which made them go by fast. Dr. Butler is very encouraging and helps us to learn from our mistakes. The tests were videos we recorded applying the principles of helping people. Dr. Butler is usually available outside of class to help out the students.

One of the best professors I've ever had! The concepts learned in his class are fascinating and have actually stuck with me after the class was over. There are lots of opportunities to succeed as well--he allows students to make up missed questions after each midterm, up to a 10% increase in grade. Engaging lectures and material. Highly recommend!

Dr Butler has a great heart, good knowledge, and you can tell he loves what he does. The class helped me really establish a solid foundation of systems theory. You'll need to take a pace that is comfortable for you with the readings, as there are a lot of readings. I didn't read everything, as I am a slow reader, but I stayed up still with class.

His classes changed my life. They were difficult, but worth it- they gave me the skills that made the difference between getting a really amazing job out of college. But beyond that, I feel like I apply what I learned in SFL 336 and 401 in my every day personal life. Take it! You won't regret it!

This is a necessary class for SFL majors, and the required content is not the most interesting, but Professor Butler was so engaging! His passion really made all the difference in this class.

Taking Professor Butler's SFL 401 (Helping Relationships) class was one of the best decisions I made in college! It prepared me so, so much for grad school. Professor Butler facilitated an engaging, challenging, and inspiring class. I am in grad school now, and I am a much better student and therapy intern because of this class.

I absolutely love Dr. Butler. He is a phenomenal teacher. I took his addiction class, and it was the most eye-opening class. The things I learned have helped me and I have shared them with so many other people. Being a therapist gives him unique insights most professors don't have. He could be more clear regarding expectations for assignments.

One of my fav classes. This class is not an easy A but you learn SO much valuable information-and an A is doable as long as you do the work and take advantage of the resources. There's a lot of reading but it's interesting. You have the option to write 3 short papers or 1 long. 5 tests with the ability to earn up to 10% back. Great class & Prof.

I love Dr. Butler. Although there were many readings, this class left me with an open mind towards how to take on life and relationships. Dr. Butler truly cares.

Dr. Butler knows his stuff. Addiction is such a prevalent issue these days and Dr. Butler creates a simple methodic way for his students to learn and grow. He, not only teaches, but gives you plenty of opportunities to practice in role plays. He sincerely loves his students and the subjects he teaches.

If you want to both understand people and be a better person, then this class will change your life. Part of this process is because of the goodness of Dr. Butler, the other part is because of the material covered. This class requires a lot of reading and group work, but it will prepare you for grad school. It changed me.

Taking this course in addiction studies really changed my life! You can tell Dr. Butler is both passionate about his field and cares deeply about his students. He works hard at getting feedback and teaching more simply. Be prepared to read and it can be quite dense, but if you have an interest in the field it will inspire you.

Professor Butler's class was by far one of my favorite religion courses taken at BYU. He cares deeply about all of his students, the course work is directly applicable to every day life, and was appropriately challenging, not unreasonable by any means. I completed this class a better student and more well prepared for life.

Dr. Butler really seemed to try to help us apply the lesson from class to our own lives. His tests were hard, but I learned so much more in this class because of it. His lectures were very entertaining and informative.

Dr. Butler is a very personable professor that will tell it to you straight. He teaches you what is important for the class but he also makes you work for that knowledge. The motivational interviewing techniques I learned from his class are very useful as an mft student 2 years later. And he taught them in a way I still remember most of the content

Dr. Butler is an exceptional professor and teacher. He sets classes up so you read before class, and then discuss/apply what you've read in class. His classes are structured around activities that help deepen understanding of material. Sometimes the class got a little off schedule, but it was all to meet the students needs.

Dr. Butler is a fantastic lecturer who really cares about his students. He has a great sense of humor and provides helpful insight on assignments. The lack of organization in the course can be a bit tough at times, but he's completely willing to help people through it. Don't be afraid to ask for clarifications.

I felt so pumped walking out of Professor Butler's class on the first day of class! His material is meaningful, gives you a purpose, and is applicable in our every day lives. He is so approachable and genuine and has so much to offer when it comes to learning. This class changed my life and challenged me as a student in the best way possible.

Gospel centered

Dr. Butler is AMAZING. His class was actually my favorite this semester. His lectures are super engaging. You can really tell he cares. He lets you go over test questions you missed with the TA and if you understood the principle you can get points back. 5 tests total, but if you score high enough on average you can opt out of the final. Take this!

Dr. Butler really loves the students and knows us personally. He teaches principles that are inspiring and applicable, involving the students with our thoughts and insights. Our class felt like a family. I learned so much on how to bless my relationships whether as a therapist, a family member, or a friend. His classes are life-changing.

Dr. Butler is easily the most Christlike professor Ive ever had. His class (SFL 401) changed my life. Everything we learned was applicable to my life or family in some way, and I looked forward to coming to this class more than any other class. Do the readings & come to class & youll do well. Highly recommend taking a class from him.

This class was not "easy" so if you just want an "A", don't take it. Dr. Butler really loves what he teaches, and he cares so much about his students. (I don't understand what some of the reviewers meant). You get out of this class what you put into it, and if you communicate with him and the TAs, you will have a more fulfilling experience.

I loved Professor Butler's class and think it is some of the best preparation for grad school if you are planning on going into Marriage & Family therapy. Though the class wasn't easy, it was doable if you attended class and listened closely to the feedback you were given. Professor Butler definitely cares about his students.

I have taken 3 classes from Dr. Butler at this point because I love the way he teaches! His classes are demanding and require a lot of reading, but he really knows what he is talking about and it is worth the work. Dr. Butler has a lot of experience as an MFT that he shares and cares a lot about his classes. He is very responsive to email!

Helping relationships was easily one of the best classes that I have taken at BYU. I learned so much about the skills and ideas that make powerful healing connections. Dr. Butler is an incredible teacher and the assignments are incredibly helpful and supportive. Dr. Butler is fair but he doesn't give an A to everybody so you need to be committed.

I was grateful that Dr. Butler accommodated the couple issues I brought up with him to make things work for me. He exemplifies the idea of having high love, and high expectations. I had a good amount of laughs during his lectures, but I definitely needed to put in the work for readings/tests. For sure it was a class that personally helped me.

Some of the major required courses he taught like 336 were pretty difficult and time consuming. Tests were hard but he gave you opportunities to earn some of the points back. His 401 class was easily the most useful class I took for getting into and doing well in an MFT program. Hes quirky and kinda conservative, but overall a caring prof

I Love Prof. Butler. He is very caring and engaging. His tests are really long but if you use his independent study guide you will get an A. Like other people said he is a stickler on attendance which is annoying. I have taken two classes from him though and he is easily my favorite BYU professor.

Dr. Butler is a fantastic professor, especially with smaller classrooms with whom he can joke and laugh. Lots of readings, but the reading quizzes are not graded. Tests include papers (you can write with a partner) and Proficiency Videos, where you roleplay a therapeutic scenario and using the skills you've learned in class. Insanely helpful class!

Mark is incredible. He is funny, thoughtful, and really cares. He has incredible people and relationship skills and made me feel personally cared about. I actually had a lot of fun in his class and learned a TON. Every class was valuable to me. Response papers due weekly. Projects are therapy videos. I really loved this class and grew a lot.