The Philosophy and Model of the MFT Programs at Hofstra are balanced
and integrated. Students are exposed to a wide range of theories in
their first year, including Structural, Strategic, Communication,
Object Relations, Solution Focused, and Social Constructionist. This
broad approach familiarizes students not only with the traditional
models of Family Therapy but also exposes them to Leading Edge family
therapy theory and practice, especially toward the end of their studies.
This
integration of theory and practice is further illustrated by the
two year internship that students begin after the first year of
classes. Thus, students are provided with an intense training experience,
both academically and clinically. In total the students experience
900 clinical supervision hours by the time they graduate.
The
approach to training in the Marriage and Family Therapy Programs
is also Interdisciplinary in that we work very closely with Hofstra's
Law School. P.E.A.C.E. (Parent Effectiveness And Custody Education)
is a joint project of Hofstra's Law School and the MFT Programs.
PEACE is a New York State project that provides for three educational
seminars for persons going through the divorce process. Students
participate in this process in terms of training, participation,
and certification. They are trained in divorce theory, research,
including children of divorce. Next, they are trained and certified
as PEACE group facilitators. They attend the PEACE seminars, which
are generally given in the courts and attended by divorcing persons
who were referred by judges, attorneys or mental health professionals.
Students
also may participate in the Family Law Workshops, a collaborative
project of the Law School and Marriage and Family Therapy Programs.
In this project the MFT students role play divorcing couples who
are referred to Learning Attorneys. This culminates on a workshop
day where both groups of students negotiate a divorce process.
Hofstra's
Marriage and Family Therapy Programs also work closely with South
Nassau Communities Hospital. Here students are afforded the opportunity
to work with clients under supervision in an in-patient or outpatient
facility. Many students do their placements at SNCH.
Students
who are interested in working in a school setting are afforded the
opportunity of working many of the schools in the area.
In
this way, because of the multidisciplinary nature of the Marriage
and Family Therapy Program and the liaisons between the program
and the community, students are able to pursue their interests and
deepen their knowledge in areas that is meaningful to them.
There
are many additional projects that are available for student participation,
such as Couple Research, Working with Elders, Children of Divorce,
and Program Development and Implementation.
The
students are very involved in the program and participate in much
research of the faculty. Thus far, five students have published
papers in professional journals with the faculty. Students also
present papers at community meetings and have submitted proposals
for national conferences.
In
addition, the MFT programs sponsor two major conferences a year
and have had such speakers as: Carl Whitaker, Harry Aponte, Steve
and Carol Lankton, Lynn Hoffman, Michael Durrant, Harville Hendrix,
Bill O'Hanlon, Ben Furman, Pat Love, Kenneth Gergen, and Karl Tomm.
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