Oct 23 2015
Jefferson College of Health Professions is now accepting applications for a post-graduate certificate in medical family therapy. This growing field supports families who have been affected by a medical diagnosis or treatment within an interprofessional healthcare environment. The certificate program is a unique collaboration between Jefferson's Department of Couple and Family Therapy and the Council for Relationships and emphasizes hands-on clinical experience.
"More and more, families are being impacted by life-changing diagnoses and treatments, which can have a huge impact on family dynamics and well-being. Psychosocial interventions are an important part of helping patients and families cope more effectively with chronic illnesses and can reduce the negative impacts of these diseases," said Kenneth W. Covelman, Ph.D., founding Chair of the Department of Couple and Family Therapy in Thomas Jefferson University's College of Health Professions and Senior Staff Therapist at Council for Relationships.
The program is designed for practicing clinicians. Dr. Covelman said, "Our goal is to train therapists to meet the specific needs of patients and their families, within a multidisciplinary healthcare team. Opportunities for this type of hands-on training in a cutting-edge medical environment are not readily available and we are very pleased to be able to offer this training to the clinicians in the Philadelphia region."
The certificate program will include 12 credits, 150 hours of clinical training and can be completed in 12 months. Students will train with clinical practicum partners who are experts in their field. Training sites include the Gender and Sexuality Development Clinic at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Jefferson Medical Oncology and Jefferson Family Medicine. Classes start January 2016.
Applicants will have completed a graduate-level degree, including a basic family therapy course and a minimum of 75 hours of clinical experience working with couples or families. The certificate is a good fit for professionals including licensed social workers, clinical psychologists, family therapists, professional counselors, physicians, nurses or clergy with degrees in pastoral care.
Source: Thomas Jefferson University
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