Contextual Family Therapy Trainings
| 220-hr. Contextual Therapy Certificate Program |
The work of Ivan Boszormenyi-Nagy is the primary guiding work of Play-Family Therapy. It offers a highly ethical approach to life and it is equally important for the therapist to be applying this way of living to his/her own life as well as offering clients an understanding of how the intergenerational reality impacts our every day lives.
Contextual Therapy is similar to mindfulness mediation in that one has a commitment to allow space for whatever comes up. One is invited to heal the pain and suffering that is inevitable in relationship and/or to truly accept the limitations in a way that does not displace harm onto those we love. This includes whether the other is deceased or alive. The path includes honesty, care, and fairness, giving and receiving in our important relationships.
“Contextual Family Therapy is about understanding and intervening effectively in relationships… For years students have been aware of the CT approach as an important addition to the literature …It is as if people know that contextual therapy has something important and even profound to say about individuals and relationships, but they are not quite sure what that ‘something’ is about. There are many reasons for this type of confusion, but a primary one is that the theory is so profound. It speaks about fair consideration, relational obligations, freedom, destructive entitlement, and loyalty. All of these concepts are not part of our everyday therapeutic language but carry hefty influence in the manner that individuals and relationships develop.” Quote is from Chapter l, The Basics of the Theory, in The New Contextual Therapy : Guiding the Power of Give and Take, by Terry D. Hargrave & Franz Pfitzer (they note that “new” is an effort to make Nagy’s concepts more accessible to the clinician interested in mastering the approach.)
Every fall we offer an Introductory and an Advanced class in Contextual Family Therapy. Classes are three hours once a month. The courses include the theory as well as experiential exercises to integrate the concepts. There is also a practicum class that supports therapists to be applying the theory to their own lives.
The Family & Play Therapy Center offers a Certificate Training Program approved by an advisory board of six senior contextual therapists. Please call for details! The certificate is optional, and classes may be taken individually.
We also offer 1-day advanced seminars in Contextual Family Therapy issues. Please check our brochure listing to find out more about upcoming seminars.
