Core Training Program

in Individual, Couples and Family Therapy

Core Training Program

The two-year core training program provides an intensive educational and practical immersion into the theoretical and real-world applications of working with individuals, couples and families, including live supervision of therapy sessions, and hands-on clinical experience working with a diverse range of clients. Therapists have access to full clinical resources like consultation rooms for individuals, families and children, a library, and state-of-the-art technology for live and recorded sessions.

The Family Institute is recognized by the Israeli Association for Couples and Family Therapy as a category A institution.

Israel Association for Couples and Family Therapy

What Does The Core Program Include?

  • Education
    Education

    The educational component of the two-year couples and family therapy training program is an intensive immersion in the theoretical and practical applications of working with families. The program provides you with a carefully structured educational and training experience including classes on personal growth, family therapy techniques, couple’s counseling and more.

  • Group Supervision
    Group Supervision

    Group and live supervision is one of the most powerful experiences in training to become a therapist. It includes presenting and observing live therapy sessions behind a one way mirror. Discussion, receiving feedback and peer support with facilitation from an experienced clinical supervisor provide invaluable growth experience.

  • Individual Supervision
    Individual Supervision

    Real-world experience is essential to your clinical skill development as a therapist. Your hands-on training will begin early and build throughout the program. You will learn to practice under the guidance of experienced clinical supervisors utilizing process recordings and intensive live and video-supported supervision.

  • Client Contact
    Client Contact

    The Family Institute provides you with the opportunity to work with diverse populations: adults, couples, individuals and families from various cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds giving you the opportunity to gain a breadth of clinical experiences within a professional setting.

  • Clinical Resources
    Clinical Resources

    You will be given access to a variety of clinical resources including a well-stocked library and staff room. You will have use of our beautifully appointed consultation rooms including large rooms designated for families, child-friendly rooms, supply closet and a designated sandtray room. In addition, you will be able to utilize our state of the art technology to access courses online, record your sessions, generate receipts and more.

  • Community and Family
    Community and Family

    One of the most crucial aspects in the development of our trainees is the continued and frequent opportunities for trainees to meet and exchange ideas with each other, with advanced therapists and with the clinical staff. With a student-faculty ratio of 5:1, you will be able to build relationships with, and learn from, the supervisory team contributing to the development of a more mature and well-rounded professional self.

Educational Component

*Please note, all courses are tentative and subject to change.

This is a basic theory course. Systems are appreciated through the lens of Bowen differentiation theory. Other theories learned are structural, strategic, narrative and paradoxical. The theoretical approach emphasizes the importance of dyadic co-creation among family members and adjusting therapeutic expectations and technique to family level of differentiation.

In this introductory course trainees learn about the dynamics of creating and sustaining couples’ relationships. A detailed account of the theories of John Gottman serves as the anchor for clinical approaches to difficulties among couples.
This is a use-of-self course that takes trainees through the basic challenges of the therapeutic situation and the role of therapist with couples, families and individuals. The course involves many simulations and dynamic exercises.
The course addresses the personal changes and challenges faced by trainees in the process of becoming family therapists. Trainees respond to the kinds of materials clients bring through individual journaling and class discussions. The course stresses the technique of self-growth that makes family therapy dynamic, exciting and personal for the therapist.

This more advanced course addresses the clinical challenges of couples in distress. Techniques for conflict resolution go through maintaining the couple and helping the couple to separate if necessary. Emotional aspects of physical intimacy are explored. Managing divorce conflict and custodial disputes are defined.

The course teaches psychopathology from the extra vantage point of interactional pathology. The relationship between individual and systemic pathology are explored. Diagnoses are taught with an eye to the effect of the individual pathology on transactional processes in the family.
Parallel to the psychopathology course, here we look at the family therapy techniques that have proven helpful with families with low and very low levels of differentiation. Emphasis is given to strategic therapies for symptomatic pathology and paradoxical interventions with families resistant to change.
Therapists integrate the theories and techniques they have learned. The focus is on assisting each trainee in defining his or her own therapeutic identity, choosing areas of pathology and forms of treatment that most suit him or her and learning to refer difficulties that are better suited to other therapists.
Alternating years teach child protection law and divorce and child custody law. The material is presented as relevant to family therapy practitioners.
Ethical dilemmas and challenges facing family therapists are presented and discussed. Trainees are encouraged to define their practice from the point of views of the client and the therapist.

Admission Requirements

Trainees must have the following in order to be considered for admission to the core training program at The Family Institute:

What is the weekly time commitment?

6 hours

Educational Program

The English program takes place on Mondays from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with breaks for lunch and Mincha.

5 hours

Client Contact

A minimum of 5 client contact hours, with some being seen in the evenings.

1 hour

Individual Supervision

With a minimum of 34 hours of individual supervision per year.

2 hours

Group Supervision

Groups will meet on a designated day, determined by the group supervisor.

Next Steps

We look forward to hearing from you.

Get In Touch

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