Students in the Medical Family Therapy certificate program learn to work with patients and their families in many different situations through course work and practicum experience.
Medical Family Therapy
UNL ContactDr. Richard Bischoff
135 Mabel Lee Hall
Lincoln NE 68588-0236
402-472-7787
UNMC Contact
Dr. Layne A. Prest
MSB 2511
983075 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha NE 68198-3075
402-559-5393
On the Web
UNL: CYAF policies
UNMC: About MedFT
Description
What it is
The Medical Family Therapy certificate program offers intensive training in medical family therapy and collaborative health care. Trainees will learn how to work with patients and their families who are experiencing physical, emotional, relational and spiritual difficulties related to acute and chronic illnesses. The training, which focuses on collaborative, multidisciplinary and multidimensional approaches to treatment, includes a practicum experience for all participants.Who it's for
The Medical Family Therapy certificate program is open to health and mental health professionals or graduate students, nurses, physicians, and allied health professionals. Interns may also take advantage of the on-site post-degree training certificate program in medical family therapy.Delivery
The Medical Family Therapy certificate program is a joint effort between the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and University of Nebraska Medical Center to provide quality education for students interested in expanding their training to include Medical Family Therapy. Students may be admitted to either the Lincoln campus or the Medical Center campus.How to apply
If you are already admitted to a degree program, please see your advisor to set up a plan of study for the certificate program.
Otherwise, you will first need to be admitted as a non-degree student.
Required by Office of Graduate Studies
- Application for Graduate Admission as a non-degree student
- $45 non-refundable application processing fee
- One set of official transcripts showing conferral of a bachelor's or higher degree
Submit the following materials to:
Department of Graduate Support Services
College of Education and Human Sciences
135 Mabel Lee Hall
University of Nebraska
Lincoln NE 68588-0236
College of Education and Human Sciences
135 Mabel Lee Hall
University of Nebraska
Lincoln NE 68588-0236
- Statement of professional goals (previous education and professional experience, plans after completing the degree)
- Intent form
- Brief resume
- Three letters of recommendation
January 15th or open until all slots are filled
UNMC Admission
The instructions above pertain to UNL admission. Alternatively, you may seek admission to UNMC.
Courses
There are two designated approaches to completing the Medical Family Therapy certificate program:
Approach A
Those who hold a qualifying degree will be able to complete the certificate program within one year by taking the following four core courses and practicum. For information on qualifying degrees and fulfillment of prerequisites, contact the department.
Core Courses and Practicum
CYAF 951 Theoretical Foundations of Family TherapyPrerequisites: 12 hrs in Child, Youth and Family Studies and/or social sciences.
Offered at UNL, 3 credit hours
General systems theory, its derivations and application in family therapy. Family therapy's history, contributions, current theorists, and approaches.Offered at UNL, 3 credit hours
FMED 741 Theory and Practice of Medical Family Therapy
Offered at UNMC, 3 credit hours
Students will be introduced to the basic theories underlying the practice of medical family therapy. Drawing general systems theory and cybernetics, biopsychosocial and family systems models will be delineated and explored.FMED 742 Families, Health, and Illness
Offered at UNMC, 3 credit hours
The distinctions between acute and chronic illnesses will be explored in depth. A variety of specific illnesses will be the focus of the study. This course will cover specific information related to the basic biological, psychological, family, and social sequelae of common illnesses.FMED 743 Applied Medical Family Therapy
Offered at UNMC, 3 credit hours
Students will have the opportunity to "rotate" through a variety of settings in which medical family therapy is applied currently or could potentially be applied. A focus of this course will be educating students regarding the collaborative care model, with specific attention paid to the skills and understanding necessary to develop effective working relationships with a variety of health care professionals.FMED 744 Clinical Practicum
Offered at UNMC, 9 credit hours
Students will provide clinical services (individual, couple, family, and group therapy) under the supervision of the program faculty. These services will be provided in the clinics associated with the Department of Family Medicine, on the Family Practice Inpatient Service, and at other sites where clinical services are currently provided. Individual and group supervision will be used to provide feedback on live and videotaped sessions. A total of 500 clinical contact hours are required. Since trainees enter the program with varying amounts of clinical and specifically medical family therapy experience, the number of hours to accomplish within the program itself is negotiable.Approach B
Those who do not hold a qualifying degree may complete the certificate as a non-degree post-baccalaureate student or as part of the Child, Youth and Family Studies master's degree with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy. Requirements:
- The four core courses and practicum listed for option A
- The seven "other required courses" listed below
- Nine credit hours in individual development and family relations. Courses offered through UNL, UNMC, UNO, and other institutions will be considered on an individual basis. Courses from the UNL Marriage and Family Therapy Program which fulfill this include: CYAF 872, 881, 882, 883, 888, 980, 984.
Other Required Courses
CYAF 952 Psychopathology and Dysfunctional InteractionsOffered at UNL, 3 credit hours
Psychological, behavioral and emotional disorders identified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual and various interpersonal dysfunctions. Interpersonal antecedents and consequences of these disorders. Integration of individual and family diagnosis. Research supporting treatment from a family systems approach.CYAF 954 Assessment in Marriage and Family Therapy
Offered at UNL, 3 credit hours
Prerequisites: 12 hrs in Child, Youth and Family Studies and/or social sciences; CYAF 951 and 952, or equivalent or permission.
Assessment of family systems using objective and subjective measures for the purpose of clinical intervention and research.Prerequisites: 12 hrs in Child, Youth and Family Studies and/or social sciences; CYAF 951 and 952, or equivalent or permission.
CYAF 955A Clinical Family Therapy I
Offered at UNL, 3 credit hours
Prerequisites: 12 hrs in Child, Youth and Family Studies and/or social sciences; Admission to a masters program in Child, Youth and Family Studies; CYAF 951, and permission.
Didactic training and supervised laboratory/clinic-based experiences in marriage and family therapy.Prerequisites: 12 hrs in Child, Youth and Family Studies and/or social sciences; Admission to a masters program in Child, Youth and Family Studies; CYAF 951, and permission.
CYAF 955B Clinical Family Therapy II
Offered at UNL, 3 credit hours
Prerequisites: 12 hrs in Child, Youth and Family Studies and/or social sciences, Admission to a masters program in Child, Youth and Family Studies, CYAF 955A and permission.
Continuation of didactic training and supervised laboratory/clinic-based experiences in marriage and family therapy.Prerequisites: 12 hrs in Child, Youth and Family Studies and/or social sciences, Admission to a masters program in Child, Youth and Family Studies, CYAF 955A and permission.
CYAF 956 Human Sexual Dysfunction
Offered at UNL, 3 credit hours
Prerequisites: Permission; this course is only open to those students involved in clinical training.
Investigation of the literature, research, and theories of typical and atypical sexual behavior and expression. Assessment and treatments of sexual dysfunctions and other problematic sexual behavior will be examined from a theoretical and applied perspective.Prerequisites: Permission; this course is only open to those students involved in clinical training.
CYAF 953 Issues and Ethics for Family Professionals
Offered at UNL, 3 credit hours
Equivalent course from students' graduate program may also be accepted
Prerequisites: 12 hrs in Child, Youth and Family Studies and/or social sciences
Ethical and professional issues that family professionals confront as they assist families to cope with problems and strengthen family systems.Equivalent course from students' graduate program may also be accepted
Prerequisites: 12 hrs in Child, Youth and Family Studies and/or social sciences
CYAF 865 Research Design and Methodology
Offered at UNL, 3 credit hours
Equivalent course from students' graduate program may also be accepted
Qualitative and quantitative research designs and methods used in conducting research. Students develop a research proposal.Equivalent course from students' graduate program may also be accepted
