Institute for the Family

Every family needs help sometimes

When Medicine Alone Is Not Enough

Health affects relationships. Relationships affect health. A simple, powerful idea—integrating family therapy and the biopsychosocial model—drives all the research, training, and clinical practice at the University of Rochester Institute for the Family. The Institute for the Family provides a connecting framework for research, clinical services, and training, all with the goal of helping families cope with illness and loss, reduce family violence, and improve outcomes for children.

The Institute for the Family is comprised of three key services:

1. The Wynne Center for Family Research conducts clinical studies to advance knowledge that will help families cope with illness and loss, reduce family violence, and improve outcomes for children.
2. The Family Therapy Training Program offers both masters and post-degree certificate programs in couples and family therapy. Students enrolled in the program make significant contributions to the field as well as to the Rochester community.
3. Family Therapy Services serves more than 6,000 clients each year for problems ranging from infertility and family relationship stress to partner violence, mental health, and medical crises. Clinics are located at both Strong Memorial Hospital and the Highland Family Medicine Center.