Assessment in Structural Family Therapy: Identifying Patterns and Strengths [Online]

 Earn 1.5 CE Contact Hours

Understanding the structure and dynamics of families is essential to effective clinical intervention. In this focused 90-minute workshop, participants will explore the foundational assessment techniques of Structural Family Therapy (SFT), with an emphasis on identifying both dysfunctional patterns and untapped strengths within family systems.

Led by the esteemed Jorge Colapinto, this session will demonstrate how to apply core SFT tools such as mapping and tracking to better understand family hierarchies, subsystems, and boundaries. Through a detailed case consultation involving a mother and daughter referred by Child Protective Services, attendees will gain practical insights into recognizing the systemic dynamics underlying presenting problems and uncovering relational resources that support healing and growth.

This training is ideal for clinicians seeking a structured, strength-based approach to family therapy that is rooted in real-world application.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how to apply mapping and tracking to assess family structure and systemic dynamics
• Understand how to identify underutilized family strengths that can facilitate change
• Explore how Structural Family Therapy techniques can support work with families involved in child welfare systems
• Engage with a case study to see theoretical principles translated into clinical action

Who Should Attend:

Mental health professionals, therapists, and social workers are interested in systemic assessment and intervention strategies.

Meet Jorge Colapinto:

Jorge Colapinto, LMFT, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over four decades of experience as a clinician, teacher, and consultant in Structural Family Therapy. Originally from Argentina, he earned his psychology degree from the Universidad Nacional de Buenos Aires and moved to the U.S. in 1976, where he collaborated with Dr. Salvador Minuchin for nearly two decades.

Jorge is a longtime faculty member at the Ackerman Institute for the Family, where he directed the Foster Care Project and trained generations of family therapists. He has written extensively on Structural Family Therapy, family systems in social services, and clinical training. He is co-author of Working with Families of the Poor, now in its second edition and translated into multiple languages. Jorge is an AAMFT Approved Supervisor and a member of both AAMFT and AFTA.

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