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SFTD 5120 - Thinking Systems
The study of systemic theory, particularly the ideas of relationship, difference, and
context is the focus of this course, which emphasizes the ideas of Gregory Bateson.
Prerequisites: SFTD 5006, SFTD 5110. Offered fall term.
SFTD 5300 - Legal, Ethical, and Professional Issues in Marriage and Family
Therapy
This course offers an in depth explanation of accreditation and licensure organizations,
along with the ethical codes they promote in family therapy and related fields. This
includes a review of the therapist’s legal responsibilities and liabilities in mental health
and family law, insurance claims, and private practice management with inclusion of an
overview of professional opportunities in public service and training programs. Offered
fall term.
SFTD 5301 Agency Practice and Organizational Consulting
This course examines applications of family therapy methods and ideas in community
and agency settings including in-home, residential, outpatient and inpatient settings. The
course will prepare students to work in the community and learn and refine their skills as
related to completing clinical documentation, learning and meeting requirement of
different funding sources, preparing safe aftercare and discharge plans and working
collaboratively with clients, family and representatives of larger systems involved with
such clients. Students will learn about managed care, Medicaid, Medicare, Private
Insurance Systems. Students will also learn rules and regulations related to working with
different funding sources and Federal and State Funding systems. Students will learn
techniques of agency administration and organizational consultation. This course will be
useful to those seeking careers in agencies, hospitals, and managed care settings, and
for the general marriage and family therapist. Offered summer term.
SFTD 5311 - Substance Abuse/Addictions and Critical Issues in Systems
Theories
This course addresses the application of modern and postmodern ideas to substance
abuse, addictions, and critical issues in the practice of therapy. Emphasis is placed on the
application of modern and postmodern ideas to substance abuse, additions, and critical
issues based on research, theories, practice, and treatment. Also included are other
critical issues of culture, ethnicity, gender, race, religion, violence and other areas of
critical concern in social systems. Prerequisite: SFTD 6200. Offered summer term.
SFTD 5355 – Introduction to Equine Assisted Family Therapy
This course will provide students with an introduction to all aspects of equine assisted
mental health approaches. Beginning with an overview of the rapidly growing Animal
Assisted Therapy field, the course will cover in greater depth equine assisted
psychotherapy, team building, and therapeutic riding programs. Through hands-on
experience working with horses, students will be introduced to the Equine Assisted
Family Therapy model being developed as a collaborative effort between the NSU Family
Therapy program and Stable Foundations, an independent equine-assisted therapy
program in the community. Offered fall and winter terms.
SFTD 5356 – Religious and Spiritual Diversity
The Religious and Spiritual Diversity course is a basic course on religious/spiritual
difference that uses systemic and relational family therapy theory to train mental health
professionals in the art and skill of acceptance and respect of other human being’s deeply
held faith/non-faith beliefs. The instructor will use basic therapeutic skill in creating a
class community that is inviting, open, and honoring. Students will be challenged
