Intensive training for clinicians in the theory and practice of Ecosystemic Structural Family Therapy. Clinical cases provided. Leading to MFT state licensure requirements for knowledge base and supervision, and possibly, AAMFT clinical membership. Trainees who meet specific designated criteria described in this brochure are eligible for an intensive program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).
The program's mission is to intensively mentor and graduate competent, culturally sensitive, ethical clinicians who recognize their strengths and limitations in the practice of individual, couple, and family therapy. The learning objectives for trainees include the ability to: 1) Demonstrate proficiency of required knowledge in the couple and family therapy field, 2) Engage in competent relational family therapy practice with individuals, couples, and families having diverse backgrounds, 3) Practice within legal and ethical guidelines, 4) Demonstrate cultural competence within clinical practice (i.e., sensitivity to issues of age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, spirituality, health/ability, ethnicity, culture, national origin, race, and socioeconomic status).
Three components comprise the Intensive Program
- Classroom/Self-study Courses (4 required; up to 8 if needed to remediate knowledge deficiencies)
- Area I: Theoretical and Historical Development of Family Therapy, Part I and Part II
- Area II: Ecosystemic Structural Family Therapy
- Developmental and Clinical Issues.
- Training group (5-6 participants) with outpatient cases provided; individual and group supervision using one-way mirror/videotape/case discussion for twenty Mondays over an eight month period from October to April.
- Individual supervision on a minimum of 500 (250 relational) client contact hours that may be completed at a trainee's agency with supervision of these hours conducted by our supervisors if agency site meets COA standards. If not, client contact hours will be accrued at our Center.
On average, program completion is a minimum of three years and a maximum of six years. A certificate is awarded upon successful completion of the program.
A master's, doctoral, or medical degree in a field appropriate to clinical work with families and/or couples is required. The degree must be awarded by a regionally-recognized institution. Applicants must have completed at least four of the required AAMFT standard curriculum courses during their graduate programs. Exceptions to this requirement may be made based on the application interview and faculty review. If such an exception is made, the trainee will be required to complete a minimum of four AAMFT standard curriculum self-studies within the program before program graduation.
