Family Therapy Training for Paraprofessionals in a Community Mental Health Center

Abstract

An ecologically oriented family therapy training program is advocated for teaching paraprofessionals to work with high-risk clients in a community mental health setting. The context of training as well as the particular abilities and needs of beginning paraprofessional family therapists are explored in order to design a flexible and effective program in the face of limited resources. This paper describes a variety of educational and supervisory formats such as group supervision, peer supervision, and live supervision. The usefulness of these of different models in facilitating skill development and growth in paraprofessionals is evaluated. Recommendations are made to trainers concerning problems encountered in teaching paraprofessionals and in implementing family systems training in community mental health centers.

Team Family Therapy Training: Conceptual and Pragmatic Considerations

“…Modifying the traditional hierarchy of supervision, a team model is proposed for training purposes. This team‐training model uses the techniques of live supervision, the merits and procedures of which are dealt with elsewhere (3, 15, 17). Because this approach to training requires the supervisor to assume a nontraditional role, supervisory skills are described in detail.…”

The Relative Value of Empirical Evidence

“…Although an experienced practitioner can eventually “explore the history” without hampering the evaluation of current transactions, such an integration is practically impossible for most beginning and intermediate therapists. Meyerstein (12, p. 491), in a related context, has pointed to the constrictions that record standards pose on the training of junior practitioners. Sociocultural factors act here through the implementation of a certain policy regulating the standards to which practice must conform.…”

Live supervision without a one-way screen

“…Montalvo, 1973;Birchler, 1975;Haley, 1976;Hare-Mustin, 1976 ;Meyerstein, 1977 ;Papp, 1977 ;Walters, 1977 ;Gershenson and Cohen, 1978 ;Palazzoli et al, 1978). This form of supervision has obvious advantages over the retrospective self-report which has been the traditional basis of supervision in the helping professions.…”