Register for Individual Courses!

Courses may be taken individually for Continuing Education (CE) credit for Master’s level (or above) mental health professionals. Participants are awarded 30 CEs per 10-week course for $1,050* and 15 CEs per 5-week courses for $525*, contingent upon 100% class attendance.

*Prices are subject to change from year to year. 

Please email Michelle Serious, Academic Administrator, regarding rates for current CFR students, staff, and alumni.

Systems Theory and Couples Therapy

Instructor: Rabbi Julie Greenberg
Dates: Mondays, September 11, 2023– November 20, 2023
Time: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

The goal of this course is to provide a basic understanding of the main theoretical constructs underlying the major systemic models of couples and family therapy. Discussion will focus on the definition and application of the major concepts of each theory to systemic practice. In addition, the course will provide basic information about intervention strategies specific to couples therapy. The course will focus on three areas of systems therapy. First, the student will learn how to view the couple or family as a system without losing sight of the fact that individuals compose systems. Secondly, ways of engaging clients and performing the clinical interview will be discussed. Thirdly, several approaches to changing systems will be reviewed. This review will examine both general approaches to therapy and specific treatment of some of tthe more common relationship problems. The course will also have an experiential exponent. This component will examine each participant’s style and approach to marital and family therapy, particularly around joining, engaging and establishing the therapeutic alliance. It will concentrate on the use of self to accomplish this goal.

Psychopathology from a Systems Perspective

Instructor: Carol Blum
Dates: Tuesdays, September 12, 2022 – November 14, 2023
Time: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

This course explores relevant theory, research, and practices in the treatment of psychological disorders. Students are encouraged to critically evaluate the place of mental health disorders in understanding how to help individuals, couples, and families to achieve their goals. The course integrates the existing medical model currently set out in the DSM- 5 with the strength-based systemic models that are the primary focus of the CFR training program. This integration helps us to conceptualize and practice a comprehensive approach to understanding disorders in family systems. We will consider the process of assessment and diagnosis as they relate to treatment planning, provision of psychoeducation models, and targeted interventions for clients. We will cover the major groupings of psychiatric disorders in the DSM-5 and some of the available medical and psychosocial treatment interventions. This class will compare and contrast the strengths and challenges of both the medical model and family systems models, and will highlight the importance of evidence-based treatment and leading treatments in our field for the best outcomes for clients. Through a combination of didactic and experiential learning, and case illustrations, students will navigate ways to integrate models for case conceptualization and empirically guided treatment.