COUPLE AND FAMILY THERAPY
PROGRAM
TheCertificate Programis accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
(A.A.M.F.T.)
TheContinuing Education Programis not accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education of the American Association for Marriage and Family
Therapy (A.A.M.F.T.)
Held Under the Auspices of the Department of Psychiatry The Sir Mortimer B. Davis - Jewish General Hospital
COUPLE AND FAMILY THERAPY TRAINING PROGRAM
Faculty
Sharon Bond, Ph.D., Director* Huguette Batshaw, M.S.W. Joseph Cassell, P.S.W.* Darrell R. Johnson, Ph.D. ** Sylvia Kirstein, M.Ed.* François, Lefebvre, M.Ps. **
Sherrie Poplack, M.S.W., Coordinator* Rita Schulman, M.Ed., *
Guylaine Séguin, Ph.D. Coordinator * Diana Shannon, M.S.W., *
Liliane Spector, Ph.D. *
Janet Sutherland, M.S.W., Coordinator*
* Approved supervisors of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy ** Supervisor in training
COUPLE AND FAMILY THERAPY TRAINING PROGRAM
Faculty Lecturers
Mark Adams, M.D. Françoise Aubert, Ph.D. Philip Beck, M.D. Michael Bond, M.D. Tom Brown, Ph.D. Herta Guttman, M.D. Jaswant Guzder, M.D. Karine Igartua, M.D. Darrell R. Johnson, Ph.D. Mark Laporta, M.D. Barbara Lis, M.S.W. Richard Montoro, M.D. Margorie Rabiau, Ph.D. Bill Ryan, M.S.W. Ingrid Thompson, Ph.D. Claude Villeneuve, M.D. John Wright, Ph.D. Phyllis Zelkowitz, Ph.D.Past Directors
Dr. Ronald B. Feldman Dr. Herta Guttman Dr. Liliane SpectorABOUT THE COUPLE AND FAMILY THERAPY PROGRAM
The Department of Psychiatry of The Sir Mortimer B. Davis - Jewish General Hospital has been a leading North American centre for family therapy practice, training and research for 40 years. The early theoretical focus was dynamic, interpersonal, communication theory. Later, however, the orientation of the programme has become mostly systemic.
The objectives of the Couple and Family Program are to provide experience and increase the competence of mental health professionals working with families and couples. It is preferable, although no longer mandatory, for candidates to be working in the public sector - private practitioners are also eligible.
The Couple and Family Therapy Program is offered in English and French for duration of 3 years.
The next English-language program will start in September 2010. The next French-language program will start in September 2009.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
This three year Couple and Family Therapy Program is designed for mental health and health professionals who wish to acquire practical and theoretical training in family and couple therapy. The program includes curriculum courses, supervision and direct therapy of couples and families. The program is offered to social workers, psychologists, nurses, counsellors, physicians and other health care workers.
Although there is one unified program two tracks are offered:
(1) Track I Certificate Program (only this program is A.A.M.F.T. accredited) and, (2) Track II Continuing Education Program.
Candidates are accepted on the basis of their university degree (for the Certificate track), professional clinical experience, professional and/or academic references and a personal interview with a staff member. The decision is based on a firm policy of non-discrimination. Decisions are arrived at without discrimination regarding the candidate’s age, race, culture, ethnicity, nationality, gender, religious or sexual orientation, or physical ability.
Faculty, supervisors and adjunct staff are selected based on the same policy of non-discrimination.
Efforts are actively made to provide our students with a selection of highly trained teachers and supervisors. Prospective students are welcome to ask information concerning the composition of faculty and supervisors provided it respects the Canadian Charter of Human Rights and the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedom.
The Certificate Program
This is a post-graduate program leading towards partial fulfilment of the requirements for clinical membership in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). Only the Certificate Programme is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). Graduates of the Certificate Programme are eligible to obtain their permit as a
“couple and family therapist” through the Ordre professionnel des travailleurs sociaux du Québec (OPTSQ).
Entry Requirements:
1. Candidates must hold a post-graduate degree.* 2. A completed application form must be submitted.
3. A personal interview will be arranged with a faculty member upon receipt of the application form and the stipulated documents.
4. Upon acceptance into the program, all candidates must undergo a test to determine
whether their clinical experience will allow them to work with couples and families at the onset of the program. Should this not be the case, recommendations will be made in order for the candidates to prepare themselves for clinical work.
5. Professional Liability Insurance must be obtained prior to commencing the course. * Note: preference will be given to candidates with some experience in couple and family
therapy.
Course Study:
1. The Certificate Program is a 3-year course. Seminars and supervision are held Friday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Please note that one additional course, 204 can be followed either during the three year period or on a fourth year. Additional sessions concerning special topics or required extended time periods, will be integrated into the basic program and will vary from year to year.
2. Students are expected to conduct a minimum of 500 direct client contact hours of supervised couple or family therapy over the duration of the program.
3. Generally, direct contact hours will be conducted by the students at his/her place of employment. If an adequate number or variety of cases is not available at the work site, then the program will undertake to provide cases to students.
4. The ratio of supervised direct client clinical hours to supervision hours cannot exceed 5.1. 5. Students must obtain authorization from their workplace administration to permit the
sharing of case information for the purpose of training and supervision. (Form: Agreement with institutions).
6. Graduation from the program will occur after the students have satisfactorily fulfilled both the academic and clinical requirements of the training.
Academic requirements:
- Successful completion of 8 course requirements. - 101-102-201-202-203-204-301-401
- Attainment of a passing grade (65%) on the bi-annual exams conducted over the three year program.
- Attainment of equivalence standing for the four courses not offered by the program (refer to page 8, Courses) or having successfully followed these courses in a
recognized university level institution.
- Total fulfilment of 12 courses required for certificate attainment. - Oral presentation and written final paper at the end of the third year. Clinical requirements:
- A minimum of 500 hours of direct client contact.
- Supervision according to the standards described in this document (refer to page 8, 9). - Recognition of clinical success is based on supervisors’ and the director’s
recommendations.
The Certificate Program Will Provide:
1. Courses
The program will provide 8 out of the 12 required courses in Couple and Family Therapy as follows:
- 100. Theoretical Foundations of Marital and Family Therapy: 2 courses (60 hours). Courses 101, 102
- 200. Assessment and Treatment in Marital and Family Therapy: 4 courses (120 hours). Courses 201, 202, 203, 204
- A minimum of 50 per cent of the supervisory sessions must include live observation, video or audio recordings of therapy.
- The program basically offers 2 types of supervision:
A. individual supervision (maximum of 2 students in a group), for 12 months, from September to September.
B. group supervision (maximum of 6 students).
Group supervision will take place once a month, from January to June, the second and third year of the program. More group supervision could be added if faculty decides it could benefit the students.
All students will be exposed to both types of supervision in the course of their training.
- All supervision will be provided by A.A.M.F.T. approved supervisors, or equivalent AAMFT approved supervisors.
Due to the nature of our mature student population, who for the majority, are professionally active, an extension of two years is automatically granted if required, in order to fulfil the requirement of 500 hours of direct clinical contact. During this period students are personally financially responsible for their supervision. Supervision has to respect the program’s standards.
THE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS
1. Courses
Participants must have completed, prior to graduation, a minimum of 12 courses in the couple and family therapy area:
- Theoretical Foundations of Marital and Family Therapy: 2 or 3 courses (60 or 90 hours). - Assessment and Treatment in Marital and Family Therapy: 4 or 5 courses (120 or 150
hours).
- Human Development and Family Studies: 2 courses (60 hours). - Ethics and Professional Studies: 1 course (30 hours).
- Research: 1 course (30 hours).
- Additional learning: 1 course (30 hours).
Eight of these courses (240 hours) are provided by the Couple and Family Therapy Training Program:
- Theoretical Foundations of Marital and Family Therapy: 2 courses (60 hours). - Assessment and Treatment in Marital and Family Therapy: 4 courses (120 hours). - Human Development and Family Studies: 1 course (30 hours).
- Ethics and Professional Studies: 1 course (30 hours). Additional courses required but not offered by the programme are:
- Human Development and Family Studies: 1 course (30 hours).
- One course in Theoretical knowledge (Area I) or in Clinical knowledge (Area II). (30 hours)
- Research in couple and family therapy - Additional learning: 1 course (30 hours)
Note: Confirmation of courses not provided by the Couple and Family Therapy Training Program, will be issued by the university where completed. The Equivalence Committee will establish equivalents for these courses where applicable, and make recommendations for missing courses.
- 50 % of the supervision hours must be based on raw data (videotapes or live supervision) Therapists have to ask for a signed consent from their clients to accept to be videotaped. All members older than 14 years have to sign. Guidelines for transport of video material. Students are requested to “treat” these documents in the same manner as they would with the client’s files, insure the strictest confidentiality and care during transportation.
Certificate Granted
Graduates of the Certificate Program will receive a certificate stating that they have met the requirements for completion of the A.A.M.F.T. standard curriculum, plus documentation of the courses, supervision and supervised direct client contact. These students are eligible for their Quebec provincial permit of “couple and family therapist” delivered by the OPTSQ.
THE CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM
1. Entry Requirements
- Candidates must hold a mental health professional degree (B.A. minimum), or equivalent. A post-graduate degree is not required.
- A completed application form must be submitted. - Personal interview with a faculty member.
- Professional Liability Insurance must be obtained prior to commencement of the program. 2. Course of Study
- The academic and supervisory sessions are shared fully with the students in the Certificate Program. All courses are taken together.
3. Supervision
- Students must carry 3 on-going cases (couples and families) for each of the 3 years for a total of 300 hrs...
- Minimum of 100 hours of individual supervision (groups of 2) and supervision (groups of 3 to 6).
4. Completion Requirements
Students are required to complete the 8 courses provided by the program. The following are: - Theoretical Foundations of Marital and Family Therapy: 2 courses (60 hours). - Assessment and Treatment in Marital and Family Therapy: 4 courses (120 hours). - Human Development and Family Studies: 1 course (30 hours).
- Ethics and Professional Studies: 1 course (30 hours).
- Presentation of an oral and written paper at the end of the third year of the training.
Attestation Granted
Graduates of the Continuing Education Program will receive an attestation stating that they have completed the training program, plus documentation of the course work, supervision and number of supervised direct client contact hours.
Note
The Continuing Education Program is unrelated to AAMFT membership requirements and graduates of this stream are not eligible for their permit through the OPTSQ.
To all students
A clinical readiness test is mandatory for all students before they can start working with couples and families. It is held before the program starts. The goal is to evaluate the candidates’ clinical ability to start working with couples and families.
Tuition Fees
$4,000 First and second year. $4,300 Third year.
- Fees are subject to annual revision.
- The cost of supervision is included in the course fees.
- Students are responsible for the cost of any additional supervision.
- Every academic year, tuition fees must be paid in 2 equal instalments by cheques dated September 1 and January 1.
- Alternative means of payment can be arranged, but must be agreed upon in advance by the Couple and Family Therapy Program Director.
- Course material costs are not included in the tuition fee.
Cancellation Policy
The Couple and Family Therapy Training Program reserves the right to limit enrolment and cancel the program if the minimum enrolment requirement is not met.
Refunds
A portion of the tuition will be refunded if the Director receives from the student before the application deadline, a written notice of withdrawal from the program:
- Withdrawal from the program prior to September 15 of any given academic year, tuition fees will be refunded in full, less $200 administration fee.
- Withdrawal from the program between September 15 and December 31 of any given academic year, a tuition refund of 50 per cent will be granted, less $100 administration fee.
Application Requirements
1. Submission of completed application form. 2. $100 non-refundable deposit.
3. Official university transcripts.
4. Two professional or academic references, commenting on your clinical experience, to be sent directly to the Couple and Family Therapy Program Director.
5. Proof of Professional Liability Insurance must be provided prior to course commencement.
Applications
Application form and course documentation may be obtained from: Dr. Sharon Bond
Director
Couple and Family Therapy Program
Institute of Community and Family Psychiatry 4333 Côte Ste-Catherine Road
Montreal, Quebec H3T 1E4
Telephone: 514-340-8222, local3216.
Cheques
All cheques are payable to the Department of Psychiatry - JGH.
Deadline for Application
End of June of a new program year.
