An ecosystemic case conceptualization both describes the interactional patterns creating and maintaining presenting symptoms and also provides an explanation of why family members are so vulnerable to falling into these patterns. It creates a story that humanizes family members and evokes empathy for all the key players. The webinars in this course introduce a critical thinking clinical tool designed to assist therapists in developing a meaningful ecosystemic case conceptualization, the EcoSystemic Assessment Worksheet. A step-by-step guide is provided on how to use it to understand the vulnerabilities and strengths of the child, the caregivers, and the family system. When used together, the NIP (Negative Interactional Pattern) and the EcoSystemic Assessment Worksheet result in a  case conceptualization.  A webinar is devoted to describing what an NIP is and how to map the different steps comprising it.

This is a Beginning Level course. The target audience is all behavioral health professionals working with children and adolescents.

Course Objectives
As a result of completing this course, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the nature of an ecosystemic case conceptualization.

2. Describe how to complete the three sections of the Eco-Systemic Assessment Worksheet.

3. Describe the nature of a Negative Interactional Pattern (NIP) and how to map patterns onto the NIP Case Conceptualization Worksheet

Frequently Asked Questions
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This course focuses on one of the most critical components of treatment success, creating meaningful, measureable goals and action steps that are systemically informed.   A case is made for restricting the number of long term goals in order to achieve “laser focus,” which is important to engagement and motivation in the change process.  Guidance is provided on how to choose the best focus for the overarching treatment goal and how to structure it so it is most effective.  This course demonstrates how to apply the SMART approach to the development of clinical goals in intensive, in-home programs.   For development of more achievable action steps, the power of incremental, tiny habits is described and demonstrated.  Concrete examples of both clinically sound and unsound goals and action steps are provided.   

This is a Beginning Level course. The target audience is all behavioral health professionals working with children and adolescents.

Course Objectives
At the end of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Explain the rationale for a one-goal treatment plan that flows directly from the case conceptualization
2. Demonstrate how to use the SMART format as a rubric for writing and evaluating clinical goals
3. Describe the principle of “tiny habits” and show how to use it in developing achievable action steps

This course uses an online distance-learning self-paced format.  It includes recorded audio, recorded video-based webinars, and selected readings.  There are post-tests to ensure comprehension of the material. Participants can communicate with the instructors via the online moodle interface. Real-time communication with the instructor in our online, self-paced distance learning courses is not possible. However, participants can send an email to the instructor via the online moodle interface within the course and expect to receive a response within 48 hours. All course content, including post-tests, should take approximately two hours to complete.

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

Treatment planning in ESFT is more than pro forma paperwork separated from the actual on-the-ground treatment.  It is, in fact, an  intervention that can be a major determinant of treatment outcomes.  If done well, the treatment planning process shifts the viewing of problems and their solutions to a more relational perspective, setting the stage for highly focused, meaningful, productive work with motivated family members. This course describes procedures for making this happen.  Basic principles related to relational treatment planning are described.

This is a Beginning Level course. The target audience is all behavioral health professionals working with children and adolescents.

Learning Objectives 

1. Conceptualize the treatment planning process as an interventional “process”
2. Identify the cornerstones of effective treatment planning with children and families
3. Describe the elements of a family friendly and clinically relevant treatment plan 

This course uses an online distance-learning self-paced format.  It includes recorded audio, recorded video-based webinars, and selected readings.  There are post-tests to ensure comprehension of the material. Participants can communicate with the instructors via the online moodle interface. Real-time communication with the instructor in our online, self-paced distance learning courses is not possible. However, participants can send an email to the instructor via the online moodle interface within the course and expect to receive a response within 48 hours. All course content, including post-tests, should take approximately 1.5 hours to complete.

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