Friday, March 13, 2026
8:30am-1:00pm

This workshop is designed to support participants in utilizing enactments, a core intervention in ESFT. The term enactment will be defined and its role in modifying family patterns will be explored. The workshop will focus on the role of the clinician in facilitating the enactment. Participants will also discuss key reflection questions. The four phases of the enactment will be outlined-focusing on the key tasks of each phase.  

Objectives 

As a result of participating in this workshop, therapists will be able to:  

1. Define Enactment
2. List two beginning strategies for facilitating enactments
3. Describe the connection between Enactment and modifying family patterns

This workshop counts toward required annual training hours in Family Based Mental Health Services but is not currently available for CE credit.

This is a beginner level course. The target audience is behavioral health professionals working within an Ecosystemic Family Therapy Model. This is a live synchronous distance learning activity conducted in real time, allowing for simultaneous participation of participants and instructors from different locations.

Frequently Asked Questions
Visit our FBMHS Policies & FAQs for additional information regarding the CFBT online learning center, accommodations for disabilities, reporting problems with the course, instructions for viewing webinars, etc.

Friday, September 26, 2025
8:30am-1:00pm

This workshop is designed to help therapists introduce and explain the ESFT treatment approach to families.Participants will learn key information to share with families about the ESFT model focusing on both the structure of treatment and the focus on relationships. During the workshop, participants will develop an “elevator pitch” that describes the model quickly and simply, as well as an “orienting script” that provides more information for the family about what to expect during treatment. The workshop discusses systemic thinking, language, and actions that are the cornerstones of ESFT intervention.  .

Objectives:

As a result of participating in this workshop, therapists will be able to:  

1. List 6 core mechanisms of change
2. Develop an “elevator pitch” that simply describes the model; 
3. Recognize differences between systemic and individualistic approaches

This workshop counts toward required annual training hours in Family Based Mental Health Services but is not currently available for CE credit.

This is a beginner level course. The target audience is behavioral health professionals working within an Ecosystemic Family Therapy Model. This is a live synchronous distance learning activity conducted in real time, allowing for simultaneous participation of participants and instructors from different locations.

Frequently Asked Questions
Visit our FBMHS Policies & FAQs for additional information regarding the CFBT online learning center, accommodations for disabilities, reporting problems with the course, instructions for viewing webinars, etc.

Friday, October 17, 2025
8:30am-1:00pm

This workshop is designed to help lay the foundations for building and evaluating the quality of therapeutic alliances. Participants will learn key information about the therapeutic alliance including the definition as it pertains to ESFT, differentiation from rapport and joining, and common barriers. During the workshop, participants will use a combination of group discussions and videotape analysis to identify clues to the quality of a therapeutic alliance. Attention will also be given to the importance of having equal empathy for all family members and strategies to engage peripheral/absent members of the family system.  

Objectives:

As a result of participating in this workshop, therapists will be able to:  

1. Describe the nature of a therapeutic alliance and how it differs from “creating rapport”
2. Utilize clues to assess the strength or quality of the alliance with family members  
3. Define the elements of Equal Empathy

This workshop counts toward required annual training hours in Family Based Mental Health Services but is not currently available for CE credit.

This is a beginner level course. The target audience is behavioral health professionals working within an Ecosystemic Family Therapy Model. This is a live synchronous distance learning activity conducted in real time, allowing for simultaneous participation of participants and instructors from different locations.

Frequently Asked Questions
Visit our FBMHS Policies & FAQs for additional information regarding the CFBT online learning center, accommodations for disabilities, reporting problems with the course, instructions for viewing webinars, etc.

Friday, October 31, 2025
8:30am-1:00pm

This workshop focuses on the challenge of engaging peripheral and reluctant family members in family treatment. One of the core mechanisms of change in ESFT is ensuring that all key family members have been identified and are engaged and participating in the change process. Common reasons that a family member may be reluctant to participate in treatment are identified, along with Motivational Interviewing strategies for addressing these challenges. Resistance is described in terms of the Stages of Change and the relationship interactions between the family member and the ESFT therapist.  Motivational Interviewing techniques such as Rolling with Resistance, Developing Discrepancies and Increasing Self-Efficacy are defined, discussed and then role played for skill development.  

Objectives:

As a result of participating in this workshop, therapists will be able to:  

1. Define treatment resistance from a relationship lens.
2. Identify Motivational Interviewing strategies for increasing family member engagement in sessions. 
3. Practice Motivational Interview strategies, such as rolling with resistance, developing discrepancies and increasing self-efficacy.

This workshop counts toward required annual training hours in Family Based Mental Health Services but is not currently available for CE credit.

This is a beginner level course. The target audience is behavioral health professionals working within an Ecosystemic Family Therapy Model. This is a live synchronous distance learning activity conducted in real time, allowing for simultaneous participation of participants and instructors from different locations.

Frequently Asked Questions
Visit our FBMHS Policies & FAQs for additional information regarding the CFBT online learning center, accommodations for disabilities, reporting problems with the course, instructions for viewing webinars, etc.

Friday, January 9, 2026
8:30am-1:00pm

This workshop is designed to explore the importance of leadership and structure in family therapy, and the clinician’s role in this process.  Participants in this workshop will learn about the benefits of structure and leadership in producing a safe environment for therapy and growth.  Strategies for increasing predictability and structure will be discussed including orienting clients to treatment, facilitation, and debriefing/closure of sessions.  

Objectives:

As a result of participating in this workshop, therapists will be able to:  

1. Describe two ways that structure promotes a positive therapeutic environment
2. Develop protocols for opening and closing therapy sessions
3. Recognize content and process as it relates to facilitating treatment sessions.

This workshop counts toward required annual training hours in Family Based Mental Health Services but is not currently available for CE credit.

This is a beginner level course. The target audience is behavioral health professionals working within an Ecosystemic Family Therapy Model. This is a live synchronous distance learning activity conducted in real time, allowing for simultaneous participation of participants and instructors from different locations.

Frequently Asked Questions
Visit our FBMHS Policies & FAQs for additional information regarding the CFBT online learning center, accommodations for disabilities, reporting problems with the course, instructions for viewing webinars, etc.