Screening Family Formulation (SFF): For low-risk and mild clinical conditions – online (2026)

Description: The Screening Family Formulation (SFF) course teaches treatment planning for families with children with emotional or behavioral problems. It is based on 10 screening tasks. The SFF is meant to be applied quickly, soon after a family needing intervention is identified. It does not require prior qualifications in diagnostic assessment skills.

The course meets twice per week for 3 weeks, after which time the participant’s plan should be ready for implementation. The 10 Tasks address a wide range of family functioning, including several topics that might otherwise be overlooked. During course meetings, the participants will discuss the day’s Task, view a presentation of a previously completed SFF, and consider how to assess the next Task. Each course participant will be assigned to a mentor who will give feedback on each Task completed by the participant. The SFF is meant to give an initial overview of family members’ competence and needs to focus intervention efficiently or identify what additional assessment is needed to construct a treatment plan. Because the SFF is meant to be used before intervention is begun, late submission of assignments might disqualify the course participant’s report.

Benefits to clinicians of taking the SFF course:

• Construction of a Case Report that includes 9 topical assessments and concludes with a treatment plan or specification of additional assessments that are needed.
• Identification of family members’ strengths and needs.
• Weighing the temporal importance and priority of various family needs.
• Consideration of effective therapist-parent strategies to use in treatment.
• Improved report writing skills.

A SFF Certificate is earned by completing the Case Report on time, in clear writing that addresses the mentor’s suggestions.

Instructors: Patricia Crittenden, PhD, Andrea Landini, MD, Clark Baim, PhD & Rebecca Carr-Hopkins, DipSW MSc.

Prerequisites: Attachment, Neurodevelopment, & Psychopathology and ANP Readings.

Language: English

Where: Virtually by Zoom

Dates: May 2026 – Tuesday 5 & Thursday 7; Tuesday 12 & Thursday 14; Tuesday 19 & Thursday 21

Time: 2:30pm (UK) – 4pm (UK). Your Zoom link will show the times in your time zone.

Assignments:

1. When you express interest in taking the course, you will be sent the form for a case report. As a part of your application, you will complete Task 1: Presenting problem, family structure, your role, & family history up to referral.
2. After each meeting, you will write 300 or fewer words on the next of the 10 Tasks and modify your previous text based on your mentor’s feedback. Note: 1 home visit is required.

Cost: USD $1000 by February 1, 2026 or USD $1300 thereafter. Payment is not transferable or refundable (unless the course is cancelled for too few registrations).

Registration: Contact The Family Relations Institute at fri.segreteria@gmail.com. Please note that the course is limited to 10 participants, so book early to avoid disappointment.