PROGRAM SUMMARY

“BSFT™ Training is not about symptom reduction; it’s about restructuring and mobilizing the family. To achieve that, our training engages the agency and the family.” - Joan Muir, Ph.D., BSFT™ Institute Associate Director

Brief Strategic Family Therapy® Program Summary

Brief Strategic Family Therapy® (BSFT™) is a short-term, structured, problem-focused, and practical approach to the treatment of adolescent conduct problems, associations with antisocial peers, drug use and their accompanying maladaptive family interactions. Brief Strategic Family Therapy® is conducted in 12 to 16 weekly sessions, depending on the severity of the problems. BSFT™ does not rely on the family’s abilities to come into the session. Rather, BSFT™ provides specialized outreach strategies for bringing families into therapy.

BSFT™ has been developed by a team of researchers led by Jose Szapocznik, Ph.D. at the Center for Family Studies, University of Miami since 1972. The Center for Family Studies is the nation’s oldest and most prominent center for development and testing of minority family therapy interventions for prevention and treatment of adolescent substance abuse and related behavior problems.

Introductory Workshop in BSFT ™

BSFT™ Introductory workshops are offered to administrative, supervisory staff, case managers, stakeholders and other interested parties whose presence will support the implementation of the model. Because BSFT™ requires rehearsal and coaching under the supervision of a BSFT™ trainer, it is recognized that educational presentations on BSFT™ would not be sufficient to ensure effective delivery of BSFT™. To use this research tested model and achieve desired outcomes, training and supervision under the direction of a BSFT™ trainer is necessary.

Interactive Workshops for Training in BSFT™

• There are three three-day Interactive Workshops (nine days in total).
• Each workshop will be conducted at the agency site by a BSFT™ trainer and consists of three full days that include interactive lectures, taped demonstrations of family therapy sessions, and clinical case consultations.

Weekly Group Supervision Sessions

• The supervision is conducted via telephone or video conference and the BSFT™ trainer will provide feedback on pre-submitted DVDs of therapists’ family sessions.
• It is required that family therapy sessions be recorded on DVDs and a copy of that recording must be sent to the BSFT™ trainer weekly and prior to supervision.

Please contact the BSFT™ Institute at 305-243-7585 (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)) to learn more about supervision to competency, consultations, assessments, outcome evaluations, booster workshops and site licensing.