Clinical Application in Structural Family Therapy Certificate ProgramInstructor: Dr. Sylvia Kemenoff, Ph.D., C.Psych.
Structural family therapy is a model of treatment based on systems theory that was developed by Dr. Salvador Minuchin at the Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic. The model’s distinctive features are its emphasis on structural change in the family organization and interaction as the main goal of therapy (rather than focusing on individual psychological dynamics). The role of the therapist is to be an active agent in the process of restructuring the family. In structural family therapy, the therapist seeks to change maladaptive family interaction patterns by choreographing family interactions using various intervention strategies in session in order to create the opportunity for new, more functional interactions to emerge. Major techniques used in structural family therapy include joining (engaging and entering the family system), diagnosing (identifying maladaptive interactions and family strengths), and restructuring (transforming maladaptive interactions). Structural family therapy is an empirically validated approach.
Course Description:
This certificate program is designed for practitioners to learn the core knowledge and skills of structural family therapy. Participants can choose to enroll in a number of modules (Part 1, 2, 3, & 4) to meet their learning needs. Using didactic presentation and demonstrations, this program will provide participants with essential skills and knowledge to facilitate their own clinical work with families.
The course is organized to address the following learning objectives:
Part 1 (Overview of Basic Concepts and Clinical Applications) – Participants will gain knowledge and understanding of structural family therapy as a treatment model. This will help participants develop a new perspective in their clinical work with clients. Participants will be introduced to an alternate method of formulating cases and conducting intervention with clients.
Part 2 (Essential Skills) – Participants will learn in detail the essential skills in structural family therapy including an understanding of therapeutic processes that are fundamental for conducting sessions with clients.
Part 3 (Case-based Learning) – Participants will learn to apply their core knowledge and essential skills in structural family therapy to working with clients with various clinical presentations.
Part 4 (Clinical Application in Actual Practice) – Participants will further develop clinical competency in applying structural family therapy in their own clinical practice.
This program is designed for practitioners with or without familiarity with structural family therapy who are interested in learning a therapeutic approach that focuses on changing maladaptive family interaction patterns as a method of treating problematic behaviours.
The Structural Family Therapy Certificate Program consists of the successful completion of three of the four courses listed below for a total of 39 hours of instruction. Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 or Part 1, Part 2 and Part 4 will qualify for the Certificate Program. All courses are designed as individual workshops or as a certificate program.
Part 1:
Structural Family Therapy: Overview of basic concepts and clinical applications
This 2-day course will provide an overview of structural family therapy and its clinical applications. Participants will learn the theoretical foundations, core therapeutic components (including case formulation), and clinical applications of structural family therapy.
Date: TBD
Part 2:
Structural Family Therapy: Essential Skills
Prerequisites: Part 1 or equivalent
During this 2-day course, participants will learn the essential skills of structural family therapy. Participants will be asked to apply their basic knowledge of this approach by engaging in didactic discussions and role plays.
Date: TBD
Part 3:
Structural Family Therapy: Case-Based Learning
Prerequisites: Part 1 or equivalent and Part 2
During this 2-day course, participants will learn to apply their core knowledge and essential skills by discussing actual case scenarios and engaging in role plays.
Date: TBD
Part 4:
Structural Family Therapy: Clinical Application in Actual Practice
Prerequisites: Part 1 or equivalent, Part 2 and Part 3
This longitudinal 6-week course (3-hour sessions) will be a practical, hands-on course, providing an opportunity for participants to share cases drawn from their own clinical practice. With client consent, participants will bring in actual data (e.g. audio or videotape of sessions) and use these recordings for consultation in small groups.
Date: TBD
About the Instructor:
Dr. Kemenoff is a seasoned practitioner with extensive experience in family therapy and child clinical psychology. She has comprehensive training in family therapy and received her structural family therapy at the Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic. Her expertise in children’s mental health includes diagnostic assessments of youth with complex needs, individual therapy with children and youth with histories of trauma, neglect, or abuse and family therapy.
Dr. Kemenoff is the Director of Psychological Services at the Youthdale Treatment Centres. She is also the Clinical Coordinator of the York Region Centralized Consultation & Assessment Services and an Adjunct Faculty Member in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. She has taught family therapy courses and continues to train psychiatric residents in both family therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). She received the Paul Steinhauer Award for Best Postgraduate Teacher in Child Psychiatry.
Dr. Kemenoff obtained her Ph.D. from York University. She is a registered psychologist with the College of Psychologists.
|
