Core Curriculum in Couple and Family Therapy
Core Curriculum in Couple and Family Therapy
Our core curriculum training program provides top-tier clinical experience and offers in-person and online classroom learning opportunities to give you the skills you need for practice in couple and family therapy.
Our Core Curriculum in Couple and Family Therapy training program provides theoretical knowledge and top-tier clinical experience. Classes are offered in-person and online to give you the awareness and skills needed to succeed in the practice of couple and family therapy. The Core Curriculum in Couple and Family Therapy progresses from the Foundations of Family Therapy course to Live Clinical Supervision to the Clinical Externship in Family Therapy. However, you may take Foundations of Family Therapy and/or Live Clinical Supervision as stand-alone courses.
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Ackerman Core Courses
Foundations of Family Therapy
This 30-week introductory course prepares mental health professionals with the knowledge base for systemic thinking and practice in couple and family therapy. The Foundations of Family Therapy course is a precursor to more advanced training in couple and family therapy at Ackerman.
The Dual Program
This program includes Foundations of Family Therapy and Live Clinical Supervision taken in the same year. The Dual Program is the fastest way to become eligible for our Clinical Externship.
Live Clinical Supervision
This 30-week Live Clinical Supervision course consists of four (4) weekly hours of group supervision, integrating the theoretical knowledge gained in the Foundations of Family Therapy course with direct face-to-face practice with couples and families. Prerequisite: Foundations of Family Therapy
Clinical Externship in Family Therapy
The Clinical Externship in Family Therapy is the most advanced training offered at the Ackerman Institute for the Family. This two-year (2) externship requires 250 clinical hours in order to graduate. Prerequisite: Foundations of Family Therapy and Live Clinical Supervision
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FAQs: Core Curriculum Training Program
Applications are for 2025–2026 are now open!
Financial Aid is available to those who qualify and who submit the financial aid application. The application for financial aid will be open until June 30, 2025.
Notice of admission will be provided within 10 business days of submitting a complete application. If you are applying to the Dual program or Live Clinical, your application is considered complete following your group interview.
You will receive a confirmation email after submitting the online application and required supporting documents. Check your spam folder for this message. To ensure delivery, add admissions@ackerman.org to your email contacts.
Yes, Ackerman’s Live Clinical Supervision program offers up to 10 contact hours toward licensure. The Clinical Externship in Family Therapy offers a minimum of 250 hours toward licensure.
We understand that some of our applicants will be completing their master’s program during Ackerman’s admissions season. We will consider applications with proof of a pending master’s degree.
If you have not yet received your master’s degree, you may upload one of the following to the Core Curriculum online application:
- A copy of your official transcript
OR - A certificate of graduation letter from your master’s program.
A master’s degree is required to enroll in the Core Curriculum program and must be provided at the time of enrollment.
Each Core Curriculum instructor sets class attendance policies. Trainees are responsible for coursework missed due to absence, and must speak with their course instructor regarding class material. Ackerman does not offer make up classes or refunds for absences.
The Ackerman Institute is closed in observance of several federal holidays. View the Academic Calendar.
Accepted applicants may defer their enrollment for two years only. A request for deferral must be submitted in writing to the Director of Admissions prior to the specified tuition deadline. Deferred applicants must notify the Director of Admissions in writing of their intent to enroll prior to the enrollment period of the following or subsequent year. Any deferred applicant who does not enroll the two years following deferral will be required to submit a new application. Please note that financial aid awards cannot be deferred. A new financial aid application must be submitted each year to be considered for financial aid.
If trainees select an online instructional format, they are required to attend online classes from a Mac or PC computer in good working condition with a strong WiFi connection. Headphones must be worn in all remote meetings.
Therapists in Live Clinical and the Clinical Externship Program will hold clinical teletherapy sessions with the Microsoft Teams desktop application. Review the system requirements for Microsoft Teams.
Most questions can be answered by referring to our Core Curriculum Admissions Policies Page.
We host online informational sessions throughout the year. View our calendar of upcoming events.
If you have more questions about applying to the Core Curriculum, contact the Ackerman Admissions Department: admissions@ackerman.org.
