ABSTRACT
A recent study (Huntley, 2010) explored the extent to and manner in which psychoanalytic and experiential family therapy content was taught in COAMFTE- accredited master’s and doctoral programs. Program requirements and course descriptions from COAMFTE-accredited master’s and doctoral MFT programs were examined through content analysis. In addition, thematic analysis was utilized to analyze the interviews of designated spokespersons of these same programs. Themes that emerged indicated that these models continue to be an important influence in clinical training, and may have been part of the training of clinical supervisors, but are not at this time a primary focus of course content in any of the accredited programs. COAMFTE-accredited programs in general appear to be moving to a greater focus on evidence-based practice. In practice, this has meant a focus on structured, directive brief therapy models, for the most part. In the United States, the MFT field has become a formalized and licensed entity, complying with requirements of managed care and insurance companies. In Europe, in particular, experiential and psychoanalytic approaches have been less constrained by these exigencies.
