About the Program
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 Foundations of Family Therapy course is grounded in the Ackerman Relational Approach (ARA). The ARA is a unique integrative approach that incorporates principles and techniques from various models of couple and family therapy that are consistent with Ackerman’s values, research, and innovative practices.
In the Foundations of Family Therapy course, Trainees will learn the following:
- History of the field of family therapy, as critiqued through a postmodern lens, with an emphasis on contemporary practices.
- Development of systemic thinking, and how it informs interviewing, hypothesizing, and conducting clinical interventions.
- Interplay between the interior life of individual family members, the relational interactions of the family, and influences of the larger social context.
- Impact of social identities/locations (e.g., race, racism, gender identity, class, sexual orientation, etc.) on families and family therapy.
This course is offered in-person and online. It includes didactic presentations, discussions of reading materials, case presentations, experiential exercises as well as observation and discussion of videotaped therapy sessions conducted by experienced practitioners of couple and family therapy.
Did you Know? You can accelerate your learning by enrolling in both Foundations of Family Therapy and Live Clinical Supervision at the same time. This is called our Dual Program. Learn More.
Learn more about Foundations of Family Therapy by watching this video:
What you Need to Apply:
- Read our Admissions Policies
- Completed Online Application Form
- Copy of graduate degree or transcript as proof of degree pending.
- Resume
- $100 Application Fee
- Personal Statement – Answer the Following:
- Q1: Please describe your interest (new or ongoing) in family therapy training, and why you wish to train at the Ackerman Institute for the Family?
- Q2: How do you understand the intersection of family therapy and social justice?
- Q3: How do you understand the importance of your social locations/identities in your role as a therapist?
- Q4: How do you envision your training in family therapy influencing your future work?
Personal statements may be a maximum length of two typed pages, uploaded as a single PDF or Word document.
Foundations of Family Therapy Course Dates
30-week term, beginning September 2025.
Mondays | 9:30 am–12:30 pm (in-person)
Mondays | 5:00 pm–8:00 pm (online)
Wednesdays | 5:00 pm–8:00 pm (in-person)
Saturdays | 9:30 am–12:30 pm (online)
All sections meet in Eastern Time (ET)
Foundations of Family Therapy Tuition
Tuition: $4,975.00
Continuing education contact hours are not offered for this course.
About Tuition Fees:
The Ackerman Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies on donors and earned revenue to work toward our mission. The full expense of training an Ackerman therapist is subsidized by the generosity of our donors. Your tuition fees cover only a small portion of this expense. We thank you for investing in your professional future and for supporting the Ackerman Institute for the Family.
Advertised tuition rates are for the current academic year and are subject to change annually.
View our Financial Policies.
The application for financial aid will be open until June 30, 2025.
Foundations of Family Therapy Eligibility
Applicants must hold a graduate or medical degree in social work, psychology, psychiatry, or other counseling/mental/ behavioral health discipline as well as education, divinity and law.* Applicants with a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy are eligible to apply directly to Live Clinical Supervision.
Recent graduates with pending degrees may submit transcripts as proof of completion.
A professional license is not required for this course.
*If you have a question about your qualifications, you are welcome to inquire.
Foundations of Family Therapy FAQ
Visit our Core Curriculum FAQ Page.
Read the Core Curriculum Admissions Policies