Class Organization and Structure:
This course is highly interactive, requiring you to be an active participant in discussions and
activities. The structure includes a combination of lectures, videos, and group work. You are
expected to engage with the material critically and contribute to a collaborative learning
environment.
Course Assignments:
***All assignments are due by 9am Friday mornings BEFORE Class.
1. Class Participation (30 points):
o Participation involves preparedness, thoughtful contributions, and respectful
engagement in class discussions. Your contributions should reflect a deep
understanding of the readings and an ability to integrate different perspectives.
2. Weekly Theory Journal (100 points):
o Each week, submit a journal entry (1-3 pages) focusing on the theory covered in
class. The journal should include:
▪ Fundamental assumptions, key ideas, major concepts, and interventions.
▪ The model’s view on dysfunction, change, goals, and therapy stages.
▪ Strengths, weaknesses, and cultural considerations.
▪ Personal reflections, comparisons with other models, and ideas for
implementation.
o Due by Friday at 11:59 PM via Canvas.
3. Weekly Role Plays (50 points):
o Participate in weekly role plays within your therapy group. You will rotate the
role of therapist and present a 10-minute demonstration of the theory. You will be
evaluated on preparation, knowledge of the theory, and the effectiveness of your
presentation.
4. Family Systems Application & Illustration of Family System Concepts (2 @ 10
Points = 20 points)
The concepts of Family Systems Theory are unique. As you will discover, it is very much
like learning a new language. As in the learning of a new language, learning the
meanings of the symbols of that language often requires a lot of ‘muscle work’. A series
of short papers will focus on your ability to ‘see’ interactional patterns and to ‘think’ in
family systems terms. The Family Systems Application papers will require you to think
and write about your own family and describe interpersonal interactions you have
observed or been a part of that illustrate concepts from Family Systems Theory. The
description will be based on readings and lecture material. Content should demonstrate
mastery of course readings and discussions. The portfolio you construct will represent the
impressions you have developed about your family system over the course of the
semester. In general, these papers should be 1-2 pages each, typed, single-spaced and
include your name and the date (no title page is necessary). Due dates for FSA entries are
indicated on the tentative course schedule. All FSA entries are due at the beginning of
class.
A. Family Commentary: It should include a description of your family system. For
example, who is in your system? How do you relate to one another? When you think
about your system, what thoughts come to mind? What makes your system
interesting, special, or unique? What noteworthy qualities does your system have -
good or bad? If you were asked to describe your system, what would you say? How
do you think of your system in contrast to other families you know? You don’t have
to provide answers to each of these questions. They are included to help stimulate
your thinking. Diversity: What are the ethnic backgrounds, races, social classes,
genders, sexual orientations, and geographic region (in US) and countries of origin of
your family members in your family-of-origin? In what ways does your experience
with these impact your approach to therapy?
B. Personal Epistemology: In this paper, begin by describing and defining the term
“epistemology” by answering the 8 questions listed below. There are no “correct”
answers. Moreover, these questions are designed to develop your critical thinking and
to help clarify your own ideas about “how you know what you know” about human
nature and change.
a. What inherited forces from your family history have influenced your choice of a
career in MFT? What is the criterion for a successful life, according to your
family-of-origin?
b. What is your personal belief about the basic nature of human beings (e.g.,
good/bad? sinful/holy? Basically flawed or basically normal/functional? Etc.
c. How do you determine what counts as knowledge (and/or truth)? If you were to
learn about a new discovery, how would you determine the truthfulness or
validity of the new information?
d. Is permanent change in human behavior possible? Defend your answer with an
example.
e. What are your ideas about some of the important conditions for change in human
behavior and relationships? What factors are most important? What factors are
over or under-appreciated in our current culture?
f. Based on your answer to the previous question, consider the process of change in
human behavior. Specifically, consider whether people change because their
thoughts/feelings/beliefs/values change (intrapsychic) or because their context
and interpersonal relationships change.
g. What are my beliefs about the important characteristics for a therapist to possess
(directive, reflexive, accepting, caring, challenging, dogmatic, neutral etc.). Why
are these important?
h. What are your thoughts about the role of MFTs in society as a whole? Why do we
have therapists and what function do they serve in the big picture?
5. Theoretical Application Papers (100 points):
o Two papers (5-10 pages each) where you apply multiple theories to case
vignettes. Justify your model choices using APA citations and discuss how the
models guide case resolution.
6. Final Exam (100 points):
o A 50-question multiple-choice exam, structured similarly to the National Exam,
covering the therapy models discussed in class. The exam will be administered
via Canvas.