Curriculum

This course is a week-long intensive designed to introduce students to the foundations of Medical Family Therapy through didactic presentations, small group learning and skills development. Presentations are focused on medical family therapy, models of collaboration, and specific illnesses and their effect on families. Additionally, students take part in 12 hours of small group learning, focusing on family of origin experiences with illness and healthcare, as well as case and systems consultation. Students also engage in 3 hours of Skills Workshops that employ simulated family role plays to focus on executive and professional skills development.

This course provides an overview of the major theories and clinical approaches in Marriage and Family Therapy, and complements the Foundations of Clinical Practice in Family Therapy (PSI 541) and Human Development Across the Family Life Cycle (PSI 545) courses. Students explore primary source materials as well as independently engage with current literature in the MFT field to find recent applications of the major theories.

This course is an introduction to the thoughtful clinical interview and the artful use of the therapeutic system to promote change in individuals, families, and other systems. This course is a preparation for the basic skills and concepts in clinical interviewing and the practice of family therapy.

This course prepares students for working with families through advanced readings in family therapy interviewing, role play, and videotape review of faculty and others. The course will also provide students with their first experience with supervised clinical work. Initially cases will be seen conjointly by the student and faculty and then seen in live supervision.

This course reviews comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment and diagnosis of mental illness within a relational and systemic context. Students become familiar with DSM-5 and ICD10 as well as common screening measures. Students role-play clinical interviewing skills with individuals, couples and families to learn the differences in individual and relationally-informed assessment as well as the importance of cultural and contextual factors.

This course is designed as an introduction to key concepts in human development paradigms; family life cycle theory and clinical applications; lifespan development issues within one's own family of origin experience; and relevant transgenerational theories, including Bowen, Boszormenyi-Nagy and Framo.

In Ethics students will learn the AAMFT Ethical code expectations dealing with such issues as confidentiality, dual relationships, individuals and family welfare, etc. Relevant legal guidelines and professional practice standards are also reviewed. Students will also address personal issues related to the impact of values, beliefs, race, and ethnicity on the practice of family therapy.

This course focuses on the use of language, storytelling, metaphor and the construction of meaning in the family and in the lives of individuals. Students review literature and study perspectives on how language, lived experiences and storytelling shape people’s lives. The course concludes with a comparative review of major theories and approaches to family therapy.

This course prepares students for beginning clinical practice by increasing their practical knowledge, skills, and clinical judgment. Throughout the semester students demonstrate competencies in: clinical practice administration including informed consent and how to communicate with patients outside of session; family therapy interventions across a number of common presenting problems, including depression and anxiety; clinical documentation in the electronic health record; and how to transfer and terminate patients.

Marriage and Family Therapy trainees (MFTT's) demonstrate their ability to work collaboratively and in an informed manner with legal professionals practicing in civil and criminal justice settings (Family Law Practice Attorneys, Judges, Public Defenders, Assistant District Attorneys, Private Bar Defense Attorneys, and Police Officers). Instruction is provided through readings about court structures, legal statutes, appropriate professional conduct and collaboration when MFTT's interface with the systems mentioned above, including a review of proper chart documentation. Role-plays, simulated court appearances, field experiences (Ride-A-Long with the police, observation of court in session, interviews), report writing and live supervision, as available, constitute the content of the course. The course attends to the scopes of practice, strengths, frustrations and barriers to helping families as experienced by these various professional groups—all of which affects clinical practice.

This course is an introduction to couples therapy. The course reviews principal approaches to couples therapy for common presenting problems. Assessment, relational and systemic formulations, and treatment planning are addressed. Additionally, case discussions invite self-of-the-therapist reflection and awareness of the influence of multiple understandings of culture in the lives of the couple.

In this course students will learn the role that gender, race, ethnicity, class, sexual preference and cultural beliefs play in family development across the life cycle and in clinical practice.

This course is an introduction to quantitative and qualitative methods in family therapy research, where students learn to critically examine and utilize research findings in clinical practice. Students also review measurement techniques and treatment evaluation methods. Opportunities to build professional research writing skills and poster presentation skills are also provided.

In this course students will learn about child development including an overview of both normal and abnormal development. Students will also learn how to work with children clinically in the context of family therapy.

Students must complete a Masters project as part of the requirements towards graduation, and are required to submit a paper upon completion of the project. The paper should be based on an approved Masters project proposal and should reflect a high level of scholarly work. The project may include, but is not limited to, the following: a case study consisting of an appropriate literature review, an extensive case report and a case presentation; a review essay on a relevant area of research (i.e., a comparison of partner violence in families with and without children in the home); or an essay on aspects of collaboration with faculty research (i.e., designing instruments, analyzing data sets, developing research protocols, program development). Students who plan to pursue doctoral studies are encouraged to work with mentors and program directors in the Spring of their 1st year to prepare for a masters project that will demonstrate readiness for doctoral level scholarship.

Clinical Practicum provides students with the opportunity to grow in clinical competence and professionalism as an MFT trainee. All students practice in the onsite Office of Mental Health regulated community mental health clinic, Strong Family Therapy Services, in addition to a community placement. Practicum students provide full episodes of care (engagement, assessment, treatment, and discharge planning) that are biopsychosocial, collaborative and culturally-appropriate. In addition, students receive weekly individual and group supervision in accordance with COAMFTE standards.

 Clinical Practicum provides students with the opportunity to grow in clinical competence and professionalism as an MFT trainee. All students practice in the onsite Office of Mental Health regulated community mental health clinic, Strong Family Therapy Services, in addition to a community placement. Practicum students provide full episodes of care (engagement, assessment, treatment, and discharge planning) that are biopsychosocial, collaborative and culturally-appropriate. In addition, students receive weekly individual and group supervision in accordance with COAMFTE standards.