The primary objective of this course is to define and describe the nature of a therapeutic alliance in family therapy and explain why it is critical to successful outcomes. Friedlander, Escudero, and Heatherington’s empirically-based SOFTA model for understanding and assessing the strength of the therapeutic alliance is described as it relates to intensive, in-home services. This model includes four relationship dimensions, which include a sense of safety, an emotional connection or emotional bond, a sense of being contributing partners, and a sense of shared purpose. This course describes how to use individual subsystem work with caregivers and youth to develop balanced therapeutic alliances with all family members.
This is an introductory level course. The target audience is all behavioral health professionals working with children and adolescents.
Objectives:
As a result of participating in this training, participants will be able to:
- Describe four dimensions of the therapeutic alliance and how to recognize them when they are present.
- Describe how to use individual subsystem sessions to develop therapeutic alliances with caregivers and adolescents.
- Describe basic principles for cultivating a therapeutic alliance
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 2 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.