Family Systems Theory and Practice
CLI FX701 - Family Systems Theory and Practice
Credits: 3
This three-credit course offers an integrated psychotherapy framework by examining various modalities of treatment based on a family systems conceptualization. The course covers in depth the rich traditions and historical foundations of family therapy in systems and cybernetic theory, more recent post-modern approaches, and contemporary evidence-based treatment models for a variety of diagnostic conditions and family problems. Lectures and class discussions will be supplemented by video recordings, instructor demonstrations, and focused practice exercises to help students acquire empirically supported assessment and intervention skills. The cultural, class, and spiritual context of family life will be emphasized throughout the semester with critical reflection on how socially embedded factors including race, class, gender, and sexual orientation impact family functioning, resilience, and development.