ADVANCED FAMILY & MARRIAGE THERAPY & SUPERVISION

PSY 858- 3 CREDIT HOURS

Prof. Dr. George Gonzalez, Ph.D.

SYLLABUS

 

COURSE OVERVIEW: 

 

This course is designed to introduce students to the major theoretical approaches to family counseling, and to strengthen students’ theoretical understanding and application of family therapy. A broad theoretical and practical foundation for counseling couples and families is emphasized. A core emphasis is placed on the development of personal theory, professional development and therapeutic change / outcome (Common Factors in Family Therapy); with a focus on the interventive aspects of therapy with couples and families, emphasizing and encourage student’s development of a conceptual understanding of family therapy practice, an expanding toolkit of specific treatment skills and interventions, and utilization of self‐as‐therapist that influences the therapeutic system. It provides a survey of current approaches to family and marital counseling with an emphasis on various systemic models of family functioning and therapeutic intervention. A significant focus of this course will be on the practical counseling skills and techniques that have emerged from each theory. Additional focus will be on interviewing, assessment, and clinical practice issues central to a systemic approach to family counseling. The development of a conceptual understanding of family therapy practice and theoretical integration will be emphasized, along with the acquisition of specific treatment skills within the context of live supervision. A systems perspective that provides an understanding of family and other systems theories and major models of family and related interventions. Students will be exposed to a rationale for selecting family and other systems theories as appropriate modalities for family assessment and counseling. This course will challenge students to look closely at their own family of origin. Students will be expected to draw on their previous experiences, coursework, and knowledge to integrate and apply course material to their counseling work.