Family Based Mental Health Training
Family Based Mental Health Training at the YFTI UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital was created in the 1990’s to provide a robust learning curriculum to Pennsylvania’s Family Based Mental Health Services’ (FBMHS) workforce.
Our curriculum is designed to foster systematic, skilled application of Ecosystemic Structural Family Therapy (ESFT) across a wide range of child and adolescent issues, developmental stages, family styles, and cultural backgrounds. The training center seeks to provide the skills and tools needed to therapists, supervisors, and agencies to effectively implement FBMHS in accordance with OMHSAS regulations.
Our supportive training seeks to create a collaborative learning community that assists Family Based Programs as they maintain treatment fidelity and continuously improve their intervention effectiveness and outcomes. Graduation from the training center is the first step for a clinician to become a certified Family Based Mental Health Professional or Worker in the State of Pennsylvania.
Learning opportunities at the training center include:
- New Staff and New Supervisor Start Up Training: Offered in a small group format that provides all newly hired individuals with the essential content and tools needed to begin their Family Based role.
- Lecture Series: Provides conceptual and practice-based knowledge on essential topics relevant to providing ESFT within Family Based Services.
- Clinical Training: Participants present videotaped clinical sessions for support in applying ESFT conceptualization to clinical scenarios. Clinical training supports clinicians in practicing ESFT skills, in order to enhance their effectiveness and professional growth and development.
- Program Director and Supervisory Training: Participants present videotaped supervisory sessions aimed at developing their skill set for supervisory processes in the ESFT model and as a Family Based Program leader.
- Ongoing Graduate Training: Designed to support continued adherence and fidelity to the ESFT model and the principles of Family Based Services. Designed for those Family Based clinicians who have graduated from the core training curriculum.
- Optional Supervisor Consultation: Provided in an individual or small group format and tailored collaboratively to meet the unique needs of a specific agency or program leader.
Contact Information
Tara Byers, EdD, NCC, LPC, ACS
Family Based Training Director
Youth and Family Training Institute
Email: byerstl2@upmc.edu