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M.S. in Family Therapy
SFTM 5036 – Infant Mental Health
This course is designed to provide students with an introduction to the growing field of
infant mental health. Emphasis will be placed on clinical assessment, and treatment of
mental health issues among infants and their caregivers within the contexts of social,
cultural, and family systems. This course is a preparation for those who may wish to
become certified in the area of infant mental health. It will also be useful for those who
wish to practice general marriage and family therapy and gain more knowledge of the
early parenting years of the family life cycle. Offered winter term.
SFTM 5037 – Suicide Prevention and Crisis Intervention
Suicide is one of the most dangerous actions in which depressed people engage that
may, in fact, be preventable. This is true for those with suicidal ideation at all ages. This
course will help the student learn how to identify the potential for suicide and how to
respond and refer. Since suicide is often precipitated by situational crises, early
intervention techniques, particularly the identification of suicide potential, is crucial.
Suicide ideation is frequently seen in criminal defendants, especially those who make
suicide attempts when first admitted to jail or prison. Suicide-by-cop and highly
publicized intentional and random multiple shooting events will be studied to better
understand the shooter’s motivations and early identification. Effective suicide prevention
and crisis intervention strategies will be explored. Offered winter term. Offered winter
term.
SFTM 5038 – Military Families
This course will prepare the student to work with active military and veterans and their
families. The course will cover the military culture as it interacts with the dominant
culture, and trace the history of cultural conflict between these different ethics. In
addition, course material will be presented on PTSD and Acute Stress Disorder as they
particularly apply to military situations. The stresses of deployment and reintegration on
the spouses and children of military and veterans will also be discussed. The student will
become prepared to work in Veterans Administration and Department of Defense
settings, after appropriate experience and licensure requirements are met. Offered fall
term.
SFTM 5039 – Collaborative Divorce
This course will provide information regarding career opportunities for marriage and
family therapists working with families transitioning into divorce. The course will cover
collaboration with other professionals such as attorneys and mediators. The student will
be guided as to how to become certified as a Mediator, Parent Coordinator, Guardian ad
litem, or Collaborative Practitioner. In addition, the course will be useful to those wishing
to practice general marriage and family therapy, and learn more about the experience of
divorce in order to assist their clients. Offered fall term.
SFTM 5050 – Family Play Therapy
This course will explore creative means of expression in therapy, including but not limited
to art, music, sand tray, puppets and other play related materials. The use of these
techniques with children, adolescents, and families will be discussed and practiced. This
course is a preparation for those who may wish to focus on working with young children
and/or on pursuing certification as a registered play therapist. It will also be useful to the
general marriage and family therapist, to add creative techniques to his or her repertoire.
Offered summer term.
