Courses & Curriculum

The MSMFT Program is a full time program. Northwestern University (NU) operates on the quarter system, so new students join the program for the fall quarter. They arrive two weeks early and begin their orientation to the academic, clinical and administrative requirements and procedures of the program. They move through the program as a cohort.

Over a two-year period, students are required to complete 25 courses in Marriage and Family Therapy (19 academic courses and 6 internship courses).

The program is structured so that 1st year students complete a Pre-Practicum course (while enrolled also in Basic Concepts of Systems Therapy, Systemic Assessment, and Legal and Ethical Issues in Marriage and Family Therapy) during their first quarter in the program and begin seeing their first cases under intensive supervision sometime in November or December. They continue with coursework and clinical training throughout the first year, into the summer and on to the end of May in their 2nd year.

The sequencing of courses in the curriculum is based on six developmental principles that are conceived as roughly sequential and progressive in nature: first, providing a foundational knowledge base and an orientation to a systemic, integrative and empirically informed approach to MFT practice; second, preparing them for beginning therapy early in their training (and learning while doing), third, expanding knowledge of methods, models and modalities that can be integrated into their work while they increase their cultural sensitivity; fourth, expanding their clinical caseload as they deepen their understanding of the role of research in a scientific practitioner's work; fifth, deepening their understanding of human development and psychodynamic issues in clinical practice; six, learning more about working with a variety of presenting concerns and exploring particular clinical interests. Throughout the two year program careful attention is paid to the development of professional identity as a Marriage and Family Therapist. The descriptions, sequencing, and schedule of courses are listed below.

Schedule of Courses

Fall I

MSFT 400-0 Professional Identity Seminar (Spans the two year program and is listed each quarter.)
Instructor: Klow & TBD
This on-going seminar is designed to introduce students to the developmental, personal, and professional issues in becoming and being a Marital and Family Therapist. The seminar will address specific issues facing the MFT as a profession. Students register for the course every academic quarter. They receive a grade, Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory, at the end of their second year. The course is initially comprised of a series of scheduled meetings, including lectures, a panel presentation, workshops, conferences, and develops into monthly discussion sections. Students are expected to attend all scheduled meetings.

MSFT 401-0 Basic Concepts of Systems Therapy
Instructor: Russell
This course is an introduction to the central theoretical underpinnings of systemic family therapy, providing a basic framework for assessment and intervention in family problems. Particular attention is paid to the assumptions basic to a systemic perspective.

MSFT 421-0 Systemic Assessment
Instructor: Solomon
Students will learn how to define the parameters of systemic assessment and how it differs from, and can be integrated with, individual assessment. Students will learn how systemic assessment operates within the current legal and medical context. Students will learn the DSM-IV diagnostic system and how to apply it systematically. Students will learn specific models and measures of systemic assessment, including formal family assessment measures.

MSFT 480-0 Pre Practicum in Marriage and Family Therapy
Instructor: TBD & Kinsman
The purpose of this course is to train the beginning family therapy student in the practical aspects of doing systemic therapy. The course presumes no background as a therapist, and aims to provide skills in conducting interviews with individuals as well as couples and families, making initial assessments, and learning to manage a professional practice. In addition, the course will focus on the role of personal values, beliefs, and interpersonal style in the work of psychotherapy. Students will be encouraged to examine the ways in which their own family background has shaped their perspective, and how to make use of personal experience in their work as a professional marital and family therapist.

MSFT 428-0 Legal, Ethical and Professional Issues in Marriage and Family Therapy
Instructor: TBD
The objectives of this course are (1) competence in handling the most significant legal issues relevant to the practice of marriage and family therapy, including confidentiality, dangerousness, malpractice, and expert testimony; (2) heightened awareness of the requirements for ethical practice, including an understanding of how your own values will impact your work; and (3) development of a professional identity as a family therapist, and an understanding of how to keep that identity current.

Winter I

MSFT 400-0 Professional Identity Seminar
Instructor: Klow & TBD
*Please see 400 in Fall I

MSFT 402-0 Methods of Systems Therapy
Instructor: Breunlin
This course introduces students to a range of methods used in systems therapy. The methods will be drawn from the integrative traditions emphasized in The Family Institute Model and will prepare students to engage, work with and terminate cases.

MSFT 430-0 Working in Community Settings with Culturally Diverse and Underresourced Populations
Instructor: Hampton
Effective community-based work requires a focus on strengths and a valuing of diverse perspectives and talents. The course will review strategies for understanding how culture and context influence the therapeutic alliance individual functioning, how to gather information regarding context and how to use this information to intervene with diverse clients and settings. This course covers the implementation of The Family Institute model with underresourced clients and community settings.

MSFT 436-0 Family Therapy Treatment Models
Instructor: Foy
This course will explore the various approaches to family therapy as they are actually practiced. Important trends and controversies in the field will be examined, including the influence of race, culture, ethnicity and gender in the assessment and treatment processes. Finally, approaches will be measured against each other. Treatment Models is a foundation course offered concurrently with the clinical internship. It stresses the progressive integration of class and practice experiences.

MSFT 481-0 Internship in Marriage and Family Therapy
Instructor: Goldstein
Students begin the clinical internship in the winter quarter of the first year in the program. They do 10-15 hours/week under the supervision of clinical supervising faculty. Clinical faculty provide group and individual supervision on a weekly basis through case discussion as well as direct observation and videotape/audiotape recordings of students' therapy sessions. University regulations require that all students doing internship be registered. Students earn a total of three (3) units of credit for this series.

Spring I

MSFT 400-0 Professional Identity Seminar
Instructor: Klow & TBD
*Please see 400 in Fall I

MSFT 403-0 Self and Systems: Theory and Interventions
Instructor: Burgoyne
This course's purpose is to deepen students' understanding of self and systems. Particular emphasis will be given to aspects of self-development and the therapist's understanding of self when working with systems.

MSFT 411-0 Intimate Relations
Instructor: Solomon
This course will elaborate on The Family Institute Model for working with couples, which involves great affective intensity and subtlety of communication. The most common problems that couples present, such as intense conflict, depression, sexual difficulties, separation and divorce, will be addressed.

MSFT 437-0 Working with Children in the Context of the Family
Instructor: Eovaldi
This course is designed for the student-clinician who has had a fundamental background in developmental psychology and human development. This course will provide theoretical and practical knowledge in working clinically with children individually and in the contexts of their families. A systemic framework will be employed as the basis for developing assessments and therapeutic objectives. Specific clinical issues will be covered, such as abuse, divorce, and mood disorders, with the focus on assessment and interventions.

MSFT 481-0 Internship in Marriage and Family Therapy
Instructor: Goldstein
*Please see 481 in Winter I

Summer I

MSFT 422-0 Family Research
Instructors: Chambers
The aim of this course is to help students become critical consumers of research. That is, by the end of the course, you should become more comfortable picking up a journal like JMFT, critically reading it and being able to evaluate whether or not you should incorporate the research into your practice. Thus, this course will walk you through the various elements of reading a journal article and will have activities aimed at demonstrating your critical thinking skills. Finally, as this course aims to be as useful as possible, it will also help you to develop and embrace an identity as an expert in your specialty area. This includes a secondary goal of improving your presentation skills by using research to sell your practice.

MSFT 424-0 Group Therapy
Instructor: Klow
This course is comprised of three components: a didactic, an experiential, and a clinical part. Its overall purpose is to facilitate effective group work. The didactic component familiarizes students with the theoretical underpinnings of group therapy and assists them in developing a consistent framework for their group work. Participating in a group experience deepens understanding of the workings of a group. Both of these components prepare students for actually conducting a group. Students will be assigned to co-lead a group with Institute faculty or paired with another student to begin a new group. The clinical component will also address the more practical, business aspect of setting up and marketing a group.

MSFT 481-0 Internship in Marriage and Family Therapy
Instructor: Goldstein
*Please see 481 in Winter I

Fall II

MSFT 400-0 Professional Identity Seminar
Instructor: Klow & TBD
*Please see 400 in Fall I

MSFT 410-0 Human Development
Instructor: TBD
This course utilizes a developmental framework to understand individual human functioning across the life span and the dynamic interactions of individuals within families. Physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development will be presented at each age level, including issues regarding culture, gender and sexual orientation. Commonly presented problems and therapeutic interventions will be discussed for each age group.

MSFT 427-0 Family of Origin and Intrapsychic Work from a Systemic Perspective
Instructor: TBD
Course objectives are (1) to familiarize students with a systemic perspective on the development of intrapsychic structure and function; and (2) to expose students to therapeutic approaches for individuals, couples, and families that emanate from this perspective, including family of origin and transgenerational approaches.

MSFT 482-0 Advanced Internship in Marriage and Family Therapy
Instructor: Taussig
In their second year, students continue their supervised clinical training in the Advanced Internship with a deeper emphasis on the model in couple and family work, as well as developmental self-of-the-therapist issues. Newly assigned clinical faculty provide group and individual supervision on a weekly basis. Focus remains on clinical cases, direct observation and videotape/audiotape recordings of students' therapy sessions. University regulations require that all students doing internship be registered. Students earn a total of three (3) units of credit for this series of Advanced Internship in MFT. Additional units may be required to meet the program's clinical requirements and to comply with clinical competency standards.

Winter II

MSFT 400-0 Professional Identity Seminar
Instructor: Klow & TBD
*Please see 400 in Fall I

MSFT 413-0 Intimate Relations II
Instructor: Rampage
Intimate Relations Part II will cover alternate therapeutic approaches to dealing with a number of common presenting problems in couple therapy, including sex, money, child management, behavioral & chemical addiction, verbal & physical violence, and mood disorders in one or both partners. This course follows Intimate Relations I, and focuses on the acquisition of therapeutic tools to address these most frequently occurring couple problems.

MSFT 440-0 Systemic Perspectives in the Treatment for Chemical Dependency and Substance Abuse
Instructor: TBD
This course will examine disease model as well as systemic conceptions of addiction and treatment. Developing a working understanding of the strengths of both models of abuse and addiction is emphasized. A variety of therapeutic approaches will be reviewed with specific attention to strategies of motivational interviewing and stages of change in clinical practice. A review of outcome research is highlighted demonstrating the efficacy of family therapy approaches. Specific attention to issues of gender, race, ethnicity, disability, and other critical historic, socio-cultural contexts and influences in the problems of addiction are appreciatively considered and viewed as essential to any effective approach to treatment.

MSFT 482-0 Advanced Internship in Marriage and Family Therapy
Instructor: Taussig
*Please see 482 in Fall II

Spring II

MSFT 400-0 Professional Identity Seminar
Instructor: Klow & TBD
*Please see 400 in Fall I

MSFT 412-0 Special Problems and Populations
Instructor: Russell
This course provides concepts and skills necessary for working with particular kinds of clients and problems. Unique challenges and special considerations exist when working with families suffering from particularly challenging problems, such as addictions, violence (both sexual and physical), poverty, divorce/remarriage and illness.

MSFT 482-0 Advanced Internship in Marriage and Family Therapy
Instructor: Taussig
*Please see 482 in Fall II

ELECTIVE
See Below

MSMFT Program Electives:

Students must choose at least one (1) elective.

429 Sex Therapy (Spring quarter, second year)
Instructor: Sheehan
A multidimensional, biophysical approach to the diagnosis and treatment of sexual difficulty in individuals and couples. Sexual problems discussed include disorders of desire, aversion, arousal, orgasm, and pain.

MSMFT Program Special Topics Courses may be offered as well. Students will be informed of the availability of those courses during the fall quarter of the academic year.

Some alternative elective options may include:

The Family Institute at Northwestern University reserves the right to modify this curriculum, including courses offered, time of offering and instructors.