Core Curriculum
Our core curriculum training program provides top-tier clinical experience and classroom learning to give you the skills you need to succeed as a couple and family therapist.
Core Curriculum
Our core curriculum training program provides top-tier clinical experience and classroom learning to give you the skills you need to succeed as a couple and family therapist.
Ackerman’s most comprehensive family therapy training program is the Core Curriculum sequence, involving a progression from the Foundations of Family Therapy course to the Live Clinical Supervision, to the Clinical Externship in Family Therapy. Trainees move sequentially through this curriculum. However, some trainees may wish to take the Foundations and/or Live Clinical Supervision courses only.
Our core curriculum training program provides top-tier clinical experience and classroom learning to give you the skills you need to succeed as a couple and family therapist today.
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- Questions? Contact us: admissions@ackerman.org
Ackerman Core Courses
Foundations of Family Therapy
This 30-class introductory course is for those who wish to learn about family systems theory and technique. This course provides the foundation for more advanced training in family therapy.
The Dual Program
This 12-month program includes Foundations of Family Therapy and Live Clinical Supervision taken in the same year. The Dual Program is the fastest way to become eligible for our Clinical Externship.
Live Clinical Supervision
This 30-class course offers the opportunity for hands-on supervision. Trainees work with families with live observation and collaborate as a consultation team to evaluate and plan clinical treatment. Prerequisite: Foundations of Family Therapy
Clinical Externship in Family Therapy
A rigorous clinical and supervisory experience for trainees interested in attaining broad-based expertise in relational family therapy as it applies to couples and families. We offer a day program and an evening program. Prerequisite: Foundations of Family Therapy and Live Clinical Supervision
For More Information:
FAQs: Core Curriculum Training Program
Applications for the 2024-2025 academic year are now open.
Person of the Therapist Seminar and Clinical Seminar will be online. Based on cohort size, Foundations of Family Therapy, Live Clinical Supervision, and Clinical Externship in Family Therapy will have an in-person option.
Live Clinical and Clinical Externship supervision groups are comprised of six trainees.
Financial Aid is available to those who qualify and who submit the application by June 30th of the application year.
Upon submitting your deposit, you will also be opted into the payment plan unless you specify that you prefer to pay in full.
Notice of admission will be provided within 10 business days of submitting a complete application. If you are applying to the Dual program or Live Clinical, your application is considered complete following your group interview.
You will receive a confirmation email after submitting the online application with fee and supporting documents. Check your spam folder for this message. To ensure delivery, add admissions@ackerman.org to your email contacts.
Yes, Ackerman’s Live Clinical Supervision program offers up to 10 contact hours toward licensure. The Clinical Externship in Family Therapy offers a minimum of 250 hours toward licensure.
We understand that some of our applicants will be completing their master’s program during Ackerman’s admissions season. We will consider applications with proof of a pending master’s degree.
If you have not yet received your master’s degree, you may upload one of the following to the Core Curriculum online application:
- A copy of your official transcript
OR - A certificate of graduation letter from your master’s program.
A master’s degree is required to enroll in the Core Curriculum program and must be provided at the time of enrollment.
Each Core Curriculum instructor sets class attendance policies. Trainees are responsible for coursework missed due to absence, and must speak with their course instructor regarding class material. Ackerman does not offer make up classes or refunds for absences.
The Ackerman Institute is closed in observance of several federal holidays. View the Academic Calendar.
Trainees are required to attend online classes from a Mac or PC computer in good working condition with a strong WiFi connection. Headphones must be worn in all remote meetings.
Therapists in Live Clinical and the Clinical Externship Program will hold clinical teletherapy sessions with the Microsoft Teams desktop application. Review the system requirements for Microsoft Teams.
Most questions can be answered by referring to our Core Curriculum Admissions Policies Page.
We host online informational sessions throughout the year. View our calendar of upcoming events.
If you have more questions about applying to the Core Curriculum, contact the Ackerman Admissions Department: admissions@ackerman.org.
