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Fundamentals of ABFT Online Self-Paced Course

Fundamentals of ABFT Online Self-Paced Course

Questions? - Email CFIS@drexel.edu  

The ABFT Training Program now offers a self-paced online course equivalent to the Day 1/Part One ABFT Introductory Workshop. This course takes approximately 8 hours to complete. 

Co-sponsored by the Center for Family Intervention Science, Counseling and Family Therapy Program at Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions and Drexel University College of Medicine Behavioral Health Education.
ABFT is the only manualized, empirically informed family therapy model specifically designed to target family and individual processes associated with adolescent suicide and depression. ABFT emerges from interpersonal theories that suggest adolescent depression and suicide can be precipitated, exacerbated or buffered against by the quality of interpersonal relationships in families. It is a trust-based, emotion-focused psychotherapy model that aims to repair interpersonal ruptures and rebuild an emotionally protective, secure-based parent-child relationship.
Treatment is characterized by five treatment tasks:

Reframing the therapy to focus on interpersonal development.
Building alliance with the adolescent.
Building alliance with the parents.
Facilitating conversations to resolve attachment ruptures.
Promoting autonomy and competency in the adolescent.
Details about the Course

Course contains 6 interactive pre-recorded lectures where ABFT treatment developers, Dr. Guy Diamond and Dr. Suzanne Levy, provide an overview of the model including theoretical foundation and clinical strategies of ABFT. Faculty review how attachment theory, emotional regulation and trauma resolution inform the delivery of this experiential treatment approach. They also review the goals and structure of the five treatment tasks that provide a road map for delivering this interpersonally focused psychotherapy effectively and rapidly.

Course contains 7 recorded excerpts from ABFT therapy sessions demonstrating each task. Interactive technology is used to highlight essential ABFT principles and strategies demonstrated in the therapy recordings. Course access is provided for 90 days, so participants can flexibly complete at their own speed and convenience. Participants will receive a Trainee Manual including the slides for the 6 lectures, FAQs about ABFT, and an overview of the ABFT training process. Participants who complete this course are eligible to attend Days 2 & 3 / Part Two of the live ABFT Introductory Workshop. Completion of this course along with Part Two of the live workshop equates to the full ABFT Level One training.

A program evaluation process is included with the program. This consists of a simple pre and post evaluation tool to demonstrate increased knowledge, as well as an evaluation of the course. A certificate of completion of the Fundamentals of ABFT Online Self-Paced Course is provided at the end of the course to students (if they pass the post-test at 80%).

CE’s are available for this course at an additional cost.

Target Audience

The target audience for the course is Case Workers, Counselors, Couple and Family Therapists, ER Physicians, Health Care Administrators, Frontline MH staff, Mental Health Professionals, Primary Care Physicians, Psychiatrists, Psychiatric Nurses, Psychologists, Psychotherapists, SAP Team members and Social Workers.

Program Objectives

  • Explain the theoretical foundation of ABFT
  • Discuss the empirical support for ABFT.
  • Describe the five treatment task structure of the model
  • Explain how to organize therapy around interpersonal growth rather than behavioral management
  • Identify the strategies used in the five treatment tasks






Fees

Regular Registration: $199/person

Graduate Student: $110/person
*Student rate only available for students currently enrolled in a program. Proof of student status will be required.

For groups of 3 or more, please contact Rebecca Saionz (rss94@drexel.edu) to discuss pricing options.


CE Certificate Fees:

PA State Board LMFT/LCSW/LSW/LPC - $25 per certificate
Psychologist CE - $35 per certificate

***Many states accept Psychologist CEs for Social Workers, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, and Licensed Professional Counselors. Some states also accept other state board's CEs. Please check with your local licensing board to verify CEs you can use.*** 

 

This program is being offered for 8 hours of continuing education.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

Refunds are available up until course access is granted. Once you have received your login information, your registration can no longer be refunded.

PLEASE NOTE: A $50.00 administrative fee will be charged for any returned checks due to insufficient funds.

 

 

 

Hotel and Travel Info

This course is virtual and on demand.

FAQ

What is ABFT?
Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT) is a manualized, empirically supported family therapy model specifically designed to target family and individual processes associated with adolescent suicide and depression. ABFT emerges from interpersonal theories that suggest adolescent depression and suicide can be precipitated, exacerbated or buffered against by the quality of interpersonal relationships in families. It is a trust-based, emotion-focused psychotherapy model that aims to repair interpersonal ruptures and rebuild an emotionally protective, secure-based parent–child relationship. It is used worldwide in hospitals, clinics, and private practices. ABFT was included in SAMHSA’s National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP) and is on the NREPP Web site. Currently, ABFT is listed in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Evidence-based resource guide for SI, SH, SA. ABFT is also rated as a program with “Promising Research Evidence” for adolescent depression by the California Evidenced-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare (CEBC). Finally, ABFT is listed in the Swedish Guidelines for treatment of depression and is a CYP IAPT recommended evidenced based treatment in England.

What is a self-paced course?
A self-paced course can be accessed at any time from your computer. It is flexible, allowing for you to complete the course at your own speed (rather than meeting at fixed times set by an instructor). Course access is available for 90 days after you receive your login information.

How do I access the course?
Once you have registered for the course AND submitted payment, you will receive an email from the ABFT Training Program within 1-2 business days with login information for the course site (https://learn.dcollege.net/). If you do not receive your login information or have any questions about payment, please email abft@drexel.edu

Are there any technology requirements for the course?
We recommend accessing the course from a computer using the latest version of Firefox, Chrome, Edge, or Safari. It can also be accessed from mobile devices via the Blackboard App (available for iOS and Android), however, a computer is preferable.

Do the course videos have subtitles?
Yes, all course videos contain both audio narration (in English) and optional English subtitles.

How do I obtain CE credit for the course?
In order to obtain CE credit, you must register and pay for CEUs when you register for the course. You also must complete the pre-test, view all course videos, and pass the post-test with a score of 80% or higher. You may repeat the post-test as many times as needed to obtain a passing score. A certificate of completion will be automatically emailed to you upon passing the post-test. The CE certificate will be emailed to you within 1 month.

What type of CEs do you offer?
We offer CEs with APA and the Pennsylvania State Board LMFT/LCSW/LSW/LPC. This course qualifies for 8 hours of continuing education. Many states accept APA CEs for Social Workers, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, and Licensed Professional Counselors. Some states also accept other state board's CEs. Please check with your local licensing board to verify CEs you can use.
For APA CEs, there is a $35 certificate fee. For PA State Board CEs, there is a $25 certificate fee. We do provide a certificate of completion to all participants at no cost that states the number of contact hours. For more information about our accreditation, please read the "Accreditation" section above.

Can I share my login or course materials with my colleagues?
No. Logins and course materials may only be used by the individual who purchased the course. If you would like to purchase this course for your organization, please contact Rebecca Saionz (rss94@drexel.edu) about group rates for ABFT training.

What is your cancellation and refund policy?
Refunds are available up until course access is granted. Once you have received your login information, your registration can no longer be refunded.

I've completed the Fundamentals of ABFT Online Self-Paced Course and I want to continue my training in ABFT. What is the next step?
The next step in ABFT training is to attend Part 2 of the live ABFT Introductory Workshop, which provides a more in-depth look at the procedures and processes involved in facilitating the therapy through lecture, video tape review, case discussion, and role-play. After that, you are eligible to attend ABFT Supervision and the ABFT Advanced Workshop.


Speakers

Guy Diamond PhD
Guy Diamond, PhD, is Professor Emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and Associate Professor at Drexel University in the College of Nursing and Health Professions. At Drexel, he is the Director of the Center for Family Intervention Science (CFIS). CFIS was founded in 1996 and has received funding from NIMH, SAMSHA, CDC, CSAT and several private foundations. CFIS is dedicated to the development; testing and dissemination of Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT) for depressed and suicidal youth. ABFT has been rigorously tested in several clinical trials and process research studies and now enjoys the distinction of being an empirically supported treatment on SAMHSA’s NREPP web site. Dr. Diamond is also the lead developer of the Behavioral Health Screening (BHS) tool, a web based tool for mental health and non-mental health settings. The BHS is in primary care, emergency rooms, schools and college health and mental health centers. Along with his co-authors, Drs. Gary Diamond and Suzanne Levy, Dr. Diamond has written the first book on ABFT, Attachment-Based Family Therapy for Depressed Adolescents, published by the American Psychological Association on October 2014.

Suzanne Levy
Dr. Suzanne Levy is a licensed clinical psychologist and training director of the ABFT Training Program at Drexel University’s Center for Family Intervention Science. Dr. Levy is a co-developer of Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT). ABFT is the only manualized, empirically informed and supported, family therapy model specifically designed to target family and individual processes associated with adolescent suicide and/or depression. Since 2007, Dr. Levy has been conducting ABFT training workshops and supervision for therapists nationally and internationally. She also over sees ABFT treatment in Drexel’s Center for Family Intervention Science’s clinical trials. She has presented regionally, nationally, and internationally on ABFT, emotion coaching, child and adolescent therapies, resilience, adolescent depression, adolescent development, and adolescent substance use.  Dr. Levy has presented at 100’s of workshops, conferences, and invited lectures, as well as in college classrooms.  Along with her colleagues, Drs. Guy and Gary Diamond, Dr. Levy has written the first book on ABFT, Attachment-Based Family Therapy for Depressed Adolescents published by the American Psychological Association.

 

 

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Continuing Education Information

***Many states accept Psychologist CEs for Social Workers, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, and Licensed Professional Counselors. Some states also accept other state board's CEs. Please check with your local licensing board to verify CEs you can use.***

This program is being offered for 8 continuing education hours.

Psychologist

Drexel University College of Medicine, Behavioral Healthcare Education is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Drexel University College of Medicine, Behavioral Healthcare Education maintains responsibility for the program and its content. 

PA State Board LMFT/LCSW/LSW/LPC

Drexel University's Counseling and Family Therapy Department is a Pre-approved Provider by the Pennsylvania State Board of Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Professional Counselors of Continuing Education Credits. For LMFT, LCSW, LSW, and LPCs: The workshop qualifies for 8 CEs. A Certificate of Completion will be awarded after the course to all who attend and follow protocol for registration and evaluation forms.

Drexel University Counseling and Family Therapy Department maintains responsibility for the program and content. Accreditation does not imply that Drexel College of Nursing and Health Professions approves or endorses any product included in the educational activity.

Fees:

PA State Board LMFT/LCSW/LSW/LPC - $25 per certificate

Psychologist CE - $35 per certificate

 

Program Objectives:

  • Explain the theoretical foundation of ABFT
  • Discuss the empirical support for ABFT.
  • Describe the five treatment task structure of the model
  • Explain how to organize therapy around interpersonal growth rather than behavioral management
  • Identify the strategies used in the five treatment tasks 

Disclosure statement:
All planners and presenters at nursing continuing education activities are required to disclose to the audience any significant financial relationships with the manufacturer(s) of any commercial products, goods or services. Such disclosures will be made in writing in the course presentation materials.

Registration

None available at this time. 

Questions? - Email CFIS@drexel.edu  

Please let us know if you have any disability or other special needs so that we can ensure that your needs will be fully met.