CAHSS Graduate Catalog 2018 - 2019

95 AAMFT Membership Student membership in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy is strongly suggested. Students gain additional educational information and familiarity in the MFT field. American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) 112 South Alfred Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-3061 http://www.aamft.org Concentration in Family Systems Health Care Students in the M.S. in Family Therapy program may choose to pursue a concentration in Family Systems Health Care. The concentration focuses on the relationships between psychosocial medicine and biomedicine in the treatment and prevention of illness and disease. Students learn the basics of biopsychosocial theory, practice, and collaboration. The program prepares professionals to offer therapeutic services in a variety of medical settings, including private medical practices, hospitals, community clinics, primary care/specialists' offices, and agencies. Students in the Family Systems Health Care concentration program have ample opportunities to gain practical expertise through classroom learning and hands-on clinical, research, teaching, and service experiences. Specific areas of study include: adjustment patterns of clients and their families to chronic and acute illnesses; models of collaboration between medical family therapists and other health care professionals; the role of medical family therapists in the continuum of medical services; the politics and economics of health care; understanding human systems in health care; and brief interventions and systemic assessments useful in the treatment and care of patients and their families. Additionally, the program emphasizes professional development by assisting students in strengthening their professional and personal qualities necessary for successful participation in the medical milieu. The student's growth as a reflective practitioner is encouraged through clinical research in physician, patient, therapist, family communications, adjustments to acute, chronic, or terminal illness, social effects and ethical dilemmas of new medical technologies, and other issues that transcend historical distinctions between physical treatment and psychosocial interventions. Program faculty and students cooperate to publish research findings and clinical experiences. In addition to degree requirements, students must complete the following coursework to receive a Concentration in Family Systems Health Care (24 credit hours): FSHC 5000: Family Systems Health Care I FSHC 5010: Family Systems Health Care II FSHC 5100: Practicum I in Family Systems Health Care* FSHC 5110: Practicum II in Family Systems Health Care* FSHC 5300: Integration and Collaboration Among Health Care Systems FSHC 5500: Politics and Economics of Health Care FSHC 6400: Understanding Human Systems in Health Care Settings One Elective * Students may choose to do part of all of their external practicums in a medical setting to obtain their required clinical hours for the M.S. program. At least 200 clinical hours are required for this concentration.