Home > Professional Programs > Post Graduate Program in Couple & Family Therapy

REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPLETION

Core Curriculum

Our Core Curriculum is 100% in compliance with AAMFT's model curriculum, covering the major areas of theory, practice, development, research and ethics. We have additional courses for clergy interns to help them integrate systems training into their pastoral settings.

All interns complete the following courses:

1. Systems Theory and Couples Therapy
2. Foundations in Systemic Theory
3. Contemporary Systemic Models and Relationship Education
4. Theory and Practice of Family Therapy
5. Adult Psychopathology from a Systems Perspective
6. Adult Development from a Family Systems Perspective
7. Professional, Ethical, and Legal Issues in Couple/Family Therapy
8. Child/Adolescent Development and Psychopathology
9. Mindfulness in the Therapeutic Encounter
10. Racial and Gender Issues in Couple Therapy
11. Research in Couple and Family Therapy: Therapeutic Alliance
12. Supervision
13. Live Supervision

In addition, the following Intensive Workshops are open to all interns:

1. Diversity
2. Affairs
3. Families in Transition: Part I & II
4. Psychopharmacology
5. Intimate Family Violence
6. Spirituality
7. Trauma
8. Mindful Therapy: Clinical and Ethical Challenges
9. Sexual Attitude Reassessment: Part I & II
10. Bonding: Part I & II
11. Sex Addiction
12. Brain Based Therapy
13. Substance Abuse
14. Military Families in Resiliency, Deployment and Reintegration
15. The Disability Experience

Supervision

The goals of supervision are to help each intern develop his or her own therapeutic voice, while learning the skills and competencies of couple and family therapy. In this process, person of the therapist issues are given significant attention.

Supervision is primarily provided through videotape and live supervision modalities. Subsidies are given to all interns for the purchase of video cameras for taping therapy sessions. A one-way mirror office, with videotaping capability is available at the main office for live supervision. Supervision is provided throughout the year.

Supervision provided by the program exceeds the 100 hours AAMFT requires for graduation. Full-time interns receive four hours of supervision per week and part-time interns receive two hours per week.

Training Options: Full-Time and Part-Time

Full-time option: Interns complete all course work, supervision, and clinical requirements in one year. In addition to the four days of classes per week, participants in the full-time program must work at least two nights a week to reach the 500 AAMFT-required clinical hours for graduation.

Part-time option: Interns who opt for a less rigorous schedule, may choose to complete the program in two to four years. This typically involves one day of classes and one evening of clinical work each week, and fulfills AAMFT's specification of eight program contact hours per week.

Clinical Practice

Five hundred clinical hours are required for graduation and certification. It is expected that each intern carry an appropriate number of cases per week in order to graduate on schedule. Cases include individuals, couples, and families.

At least half of all hours must be done with couples or families. Most clients are available in the late afternoon or early evening. An intern may also be supervised on clients from their agency of employment or private practice with the signed approval of the Director of their agency of employment.