Certification

MDFT Certification training and program licensing is available for teams of three or more clinicians. All MDFT training is done on-site at your agency in person or virtually.

General Requirements

The information listed here is not comprehensive. Read our Getting Started Guide for full details.

Training Topics/Skills acquired include:

  • Youth Engagement, Motivation, and Skills Building

  • Parent Engagement, Motivation, and Parenting Skills Building

  • Family Therapy Techniques

  • Youth Substance Use and Mental Health Interventions

  • Community Collaboration Skills and Advocacy 

Site & Staff

  • A team of a minimum of 3 clinicians

  • Serving youth who fit MDFT criteria: between the ages of 10-26, and having at least one parental figure or guardian who can participate in treatment

  • Adequate recording equipment and set-up for recording supervision and therapy sessions

  • Cell phones for easy contact between clients and other therapists

  • Internet access for entering data into the MDFT Clinical Portal, an online database for tracking outcomes

  • Commitment to adhere to MDFT supervision and QA requirements

Caseloads

  • Length of treatment generally runs from 3 to 6 months

  • Number of weekly sessions can range from 1 to 3, tapering down at the end of treatment

  • Full-time MDFT therapists who hold some or all sessions in the home have caseloads of 6-10 families (depending on case severity)

  • Full-time MDFT therapists who work in office-based outpatient programs have caseloads of 15-20 families (depending on case severity)

Training & Quality Assurance Activities

Therapist Certification

Timeline: Months 1-6
Overview:

  • Study written and video material, complete exercises, review feedback

  • Onsite or Virtual 3 Day Introduction

  • Up to 16 Weekly Team Consultation Calls

  • Written Assessment 1

  • 2 Intensive Video Reviews with each therapist (Virtual)

  • 1 On-site Intensive (Live Supervision for each therapist)

  • Written Assessment 2

  • Certification!

Supervisor Certification

Timeline: Months 6-12
Overview:

  • Onsite or Virtual 1 Day Introduction to Supervision

  • Supervision Written Assessment

  • Onsite Supervision Intensive

  • Review Case Review supervision sessions

  • Review feedback to therapists on Weekly Case Plans

  • Review Therapist Development Plans

  • Review Video Review supervision sessions

  • Certification!

Clinician Recertification

Timeline: Annually
Overview:

  • Onsite Booster Training: Live Supervision for each therapist, Supervision review, Consultation on Therapist Development Plans (TDP), and overall program implementation discussion and troubleshooting

  • Refreshers: Virtual instructional presentations by trainers on relevant topic(s)

  • Review, rating & feedback on recorded therapy session with each therapist

  • Review, rating & feedback on recorded supervision session with each supervisor

  • Bi-annual reviews of Therapist Development Plans (TDPs)

  • Bi-annual reviews of MDFT Clinical Portal Reports (January – June Report, and January – December Report)

  • Review of compliance with site requirements