Target Audience:

Child and youth workers, community workers, counselors, family physicians, mental health workers, nurses, psychologists, psychotherapists, psychometrists, rehabilitation workers, social service workers, social workers, speech and language specialists.

Overview:

This Studies Area will provide you with a conceptual frame of reference for understanding and formulating the family as a system, and will provide you with intervention skills based on sound formulation.

Levels I & II is based on a systems theory conceptualization of assessment for families.

Level IIIA emphasizes consolidation of conceptual, perceptual and formulation skills for understanding the family as a dynamic system and to acquire skills to intervene in the treatment of troubled families.

Although not required, it would be an asset for students entering Family Assessment and Formulation Levels I and II to have completed Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Level I or to have some exposure to developmental and system theories.

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911 I - Family Assessment and Formulation Level I & II (20 weeks)

Content:

Tutorials are based on selective readings integrated with clinical presentations and role-play. The areas covered in this course are the following: Concept of Family, Understanding Families in their Context, Systems Theory, Family Development, Structure of the Family, Family Relationships, Transactional Patterns and Process and Formulation.

Objectives:

1. To develop Perceptual and Conceptual Skills.
2. To complete an assessment and formulation of the family.
3. To understand the family as a system in their context.
4. To recognize the family’s impact on the individual and other family members.
5. To identify the processes and transactional patterns within the family system. 
6. To know when family therapy is appropriate.
7. To know when to make a referral.

Format:

Small group discussion of assigned readings and clinical material and role-playing.

Evaluation:

1. Student participation
2. Written assignments
3. Mid term and final exam

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911 IIIA - Family Therapy Treatment – Level IIIA (20 weeks)

Criteria for Admission:

Successful completion of Family Assessment and Formulation Level I and II is a prerequisite.  Only those students who are treating at least three families in their own setting will be eligible for Level IIIA.

Content:

Assessment, formulation and family therapy skills.

Objectives:

1. To improve skills in recognizing and describing:  interactions and transactions, the impact of the family on the therapist, the experience of being drawn into the family system, and the therapist’s reactions to family members.
2. To formulate family dynamics and describe it using systems theory.
3. To develop skills to intervene in family transactional patterns; i.e. to establish a contract with a family, clarify communications, help the family identify effects of interactions, be a facilitator of change and integrate key theoretical concepts into clinical work.

Format:

Small group supervision.  Presentation of student’s clinical material using audio-visual tapes

Evaluation:

Supervisor’s rating based on performance in small group and written assignments.

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911 IIIB- Family Therapy Treatment – Level IIIB (20 weeks)

Criteria for Admission:

Successful completion of 20 weeks of Level IIIA is a prerequisite. Students may, if they wish, register for two 20-week series provided faculty are available.

Content:

Intermediate family therapy skills.

Objectives:

1. To advance the executive skills of the student.
2. To handle countertransference issues, personal and family limitations, and ending of therapy situations.
3. To identify evidence-based practice in family therapy.

Format:

Small group supervision.  Presentation of student’s clinical material using audio-visual tapes

Evaluation:

Supervisor’s rating based on performance in small group and written assignments.

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911 IV- Family Therapy Supervision – Level IV, (20 weeks)

Criteria for Admission:

Level III is a prerequisite.  Students must be supervising other professionals in their own work setting.
Before undertaking Level IV, it is preferable that students have extensive clinic hours practicing family therapy on their own. 

Content:

Problems and techniques of becoming a Family Therapy supervisor.

Objectives:

To enhance student’s supervision skills by identifying their strengths and learning needs.

Format:

Small group discussion using videotaped or audio taped supervision sessions. Live supervision or verbal account of the supervision process.

Evaluation:

Supervisor’s rating based on student’s performance in supervising others.