Medical family therapy: Charting a course in competencies

Abstract

The first text on medical family therapy (MedFT) appeared in 1992 (McDaniel, Doherty, & Hepworth, 1992). Since that time there has been an increasing interest in MedFT as evidenced in the growing body of literature and in the increasing numbers of training and academic programs (Tyndall, Hodgson, Lamson, White, & Knight, 2012). Initially, MedFTs were trained through post-degree programs such as the pioneering MedFT intensive course offered at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC, 2013). Since then, this has expanded to include MedFT internships, workshops, and concentrations offered within already existing degree programs. Given the growth of MedFT and consequent increase in training opportunities, the researchers recognized a need for consensus among MedFT experts regarding academic courses and competencies that reflected requisite MedFT knowledge and skills.