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Practicum Evaluations
Students are enrolled in two Internal Practicums once they complete their core courses.
Within the internal practicums and later the external practicums, the supervisor and
students are able to evaluate their progress in therapeutic skills by reviewing the
following:
Attention to Professional, Ethical and Legal Issues
Systemic Case Conceptualization
Clinical Session Management
Attention to Client/Therapist Position
Effective Use of Supervision
It is recognized that student progress in acquiring and practicing therapeutic skills and
formulating their therapeutic orientation as they move through the program from novice to
professional. As such, students have the opportunity to identify their strengths and needs
for further development throughout their clinical experiences. The evaluation forms can be
viewed under
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. Also, faculty and students of the program contribute to the growth of
Family Systems Health Care and medical family therapy by supporting and participating in
professional groups such as the Collaborative Family Health Care Coalition, the Society of
Teachers of Family Medicine, Bereavement, Gerontology, and others.
In addition to degree requirements, students must complete the following coursework to
receive a Concentration in Family Systems Health Care (24 credit hours):
