I got back from Vermont and Not Back to School Camp last night and spent today scurrying to get ready for the start of my term. I’m doing a masters in Couples and Family Therapy, starting tomorrow. I’ll do a year of theory (lots of lectures, reading, and writing) and then a year of practice. I’ll be taking clients next summer. Here’s the list of classes for the first term, with the descriptions provided by the program:

Research Methods Research strategies, statistics, and techniques relevant to the field of family therapy provide evaluative skills for interpretation of statistical data, qualitative and quantitative research methods and the bi-directional continuum for research design.

Introduction to Family Therapy Overview of the major models and methods of systemic counseling as they have evolved in the field of family therapy. Application of systemic therapy models to assessment and treatment protocol for common presenting problems.

Family Theory A study of the major theoretical orientation and general theories relevant to the study of the family including exchange theory, symbolic interaction, general systems approach, conflict and phenomenology.

Gender and Ethnicity Introduction to thinking critically about clients’ and therapist’s group memberships and identifications, and the effects of these on the therapeutic relationship and interventions. Particular emphasis is placed on understanding both enduring and changing human diversity contexts through the use of Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Model and genograms as both assessment and intervention techniques.

[First published as “I’m Back from NBTSC and About to Start Grad School” on Nathen’s Miraculous Escape, SEptember 28, 2009.]