Agency Training

Liz Brenner, LICSW provides customized consultation to organizations to help them meet their mission and goals, improving staff performance and fiscal viability. These services include clinical skill development, coaching and ways to rethink the structure of organizations to enhance work effectiveness and productivity.

Liz helps people provide effective leadership while empowering workers to use their inherent strengths to manage change that is imposed on organizations from within and from external forces. Recent training that Liz has done for agencies includes key note speeches, day long workshops, training series and leadership coaching.

An innovative training model that has been working well for agencies is a combination of sending supervisory staff to the Intensive Program in Family Systems therapy in conjunction with a 15 to 30 hour training series for the clinical staff on site. This model intensively trains the trainers while providing enough grounding in the theory and practice for all staff to move the agency’s work with families to a higher level of effectiveness in a short period of time.

If you are interested in talking about custom designing training or consultation for your organization, please contact Liz so we can discuss your particular needs and goals.

Contact Liz:

Therapy Training Boston
203 Arlington Street
Watertown, MA 02472

Phone: 617-924-9255

Email: liz@therapytrainingboston.com

Recent agency training include work with:

St Ann’s Home and School
Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital
Casa Esperanza
Riverside Community Care
Devereaux Advanced Behavioral Health
Fenway Community Health Center
The Leggett Group Psychotherapy Practice
Burlington Community Life Center
UTEC, Lowell
New Life Counseling Center
Martha’s Vineyard Community Services with Corky Becker, PhD and Caroline Marvin, PhD
Clinical Staff and Child Psychiatry Fellows at Cambridge Hospital
Staff and volunteers at Parents Helping Parents
Germaine Lawrence residential and home based programs
Daiichi Sankyo, a biopharmaceutical company in New Jersey (through her consultancy with Waife & Associates)
Department for Children, Youth and Families

Brookline Community Mental Health Center
Bradley Hospital
Stoughton Youth Commission
North Soffolk Mental Health Center
Boston Behavioral Medicine
The Massacusetts Department of Public Health at the Shattuck Hospital and the Masachusetts Hospital School
Family Service of Greater Boston
Abbott Labs, a biopharmaceutical company in Chicago, IL (through her consultancy with Waife & Associates, Inc.)
Martha’s Vineyard Community Services
The Massachusetts Department of Children and Families
The Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership
Pittsfield Family Networks, Berkshire Children and Family
South Shore Mental Health Center
Lyndon State College
St. Ann’s Home and School
Westborough State Hospital

Comments from former employee of the home based family crisis stabilization program that Liz managed where she developed a family therapy training program for staff and student interns:

”I speak of you often. I wanted to send you another note of my appreciation and grateful feeling I have from the experience of working under your leadership. Most of what I learned about supervision came for your model. I am in my element training new social workers (Mostly BA’s). I try to be ALL INCLUSIVE, appreciating everyone’s style of work and most of all, I am taking care of my staff in this very taxing work they are doing.

Everyone I have interviewed to take positions understands that my style is responsibility, accountability and work ethic. I’m open to providing anyone with training and extra time to do their job, within reason. I just went through a stressful audit of our records. We came out with excellent results by the time the audit was executed. I was proud. From you, I understand that without a humanistic view of Social Work, people may not want to work for you. I mean really work! I enjoyed working for you and will do it again. I love you and feel lucky I had you as a role model.”

Bernadette Rucker,

Children’s Services of Roxbury, Inc., Intensive Foster Care Program Supervisor

Examples of Keynotes, Workshops/Training Series

“Holding Transformational Couple and Family Meetings” MA NASW Symposium, April 2018
“Using Solution Oriented Questions to Clarify Intentions, Deepen the Conversation and Facilitate Change with Couples” Harvard Couple Conference, December 2, 2017
“From Ancient Wisdom to Contemporary Practice: Mindful Approaches to Conflict in Couple Therapy” American Family Therapy Academy Conference, Denver CO, June 23, 2016
“Healing Anxiety with LifeForce Yoga and Internal Family Systems” with Laura Orth, LICSW, and Amy Weintraub, Kripalu, May 27 – 30, 2016
“Working Effectively with Couples in Conflict” Leggett Group and Fenway Community Health Center Spring/Summer 2015
“Holding Couple Therapy Sessions” Leggett Group and Fenway Community Health Center Spring/Summer 2015
“Using Problems to Change Difficult Behavior”, UTEC, Lowell, 2/21/14
“Avoiding ‘Bad’ Family Meetings: Lessons from a Family Therapist and Family Member”, Family Therapy Training Boston, 3/2/12
“Holding Effective Meetings with Families and Providers”, Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership, 7/20/11
“From Ancient Wisdom to Contemporary Practice: Yogic Strategies to Manage Mood and Anxiety”, with Laura Orth, LICSW, Family Therapy Training Boston, 11/4/11
“Healing, Relationships and the Brain: Mindfulness, Self Care and Clinical Efficacy”, Boston Behavioral Medicine, 12/7/10
“Solutions to Difficult Problems: Working Effectively with Families Effected by Violence”, Juconi 1st International Conference, Mexico, 12/1/10
“Working Well with Families: Engaging Families in the First Session and Beyond”, Stoughton Youth Commission, 10/4/10
“The Initial Interview: A Structure to Support Every Session”, Harvard University Cambridge Series Treating Couples Conference, 10/3010

“Mental Illness in the Family: Lessons from a Family Therapist and Family Member”, American Family Therapy Academy, 6/10
“Acting Out: Therapuetic Responses to Difficult Behavior”, 10/19/07 at Bradley Hospital and 4/1/10 at NASW Symposium
“Mindfulness as Self Care for the Clinician”, Harvard University Cambridge Series Mindfulness and Psychotherapy Conference, 6/2/07
“Team Facilitation: Running an Effective Meeting” with Corky Becker, PhD, Massachusetts Department of Social Services, Marlborough, MA 4/4/07
“Working with Adolescents and Their Families”, Family Institute of Cambridge, Watertown, MA, 6/24/05 and 6/25/05; 6/15/06, 3/30/07 and Human Services Training Institute, Lyndon State College, Lyndonville, VT, 10/23/04
“Striving For Safety: Family Centered Practices in a Residential Setting” St. Ann’s Home in Methuen, MA, 5/24/06, 6/7/06, 6/21/06
“Working with Families”, training series for the social work Department of Westborough State Hospital, Westborough, MA, six sessions, 4/25/05 – 10/7/05
“Creating a Climate for Change”, the Behavioral Healthcare Network of Massachusetts, Boston, MA, 7/99, 8/99, 9/99
“Managing Family Based Programs in the Managed Care Era”, New England Regional Family Based Services Conference, South Portland, ME, 11/96
“Clinical Decision Making in Managed Care Settings”, National Technical Assistance Center for Children’s Mental Health, Georgetown University, Training Institutes, Traverse City, MI, 6/96
“Home Based Services: The Role of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist”, New England Council on Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Belmont MA, 10/94

Comments from Participants About the Course

“I am thinking about the Intensive Program all the time and want you to know how still utterly transformational that course was for me.”

Emmy Campbell, LICSW Boston Children’s Hospital

“I want to thank you again for an amazing, life changing learning opportunity this past year. As many have said, this has been the most beneficial and motivating training I have attended. “

Donna Lebow, LICSW, Bridgewater State Hospital and private practice

”It’s pretty amazing that our year together has gone by so quickly. I can honestly say that participating has been one of the most valuable educational experiences I’ve experienced. Thanks for you, Liz, Caroline and Corky making it so.”

Harold Starkman, MD, pediatric endocrinologist

“You must be tired of me gushing over the class, but I just had to tell you how much I appreciate it. I have been seeing Russian families of adults and couples and am in awe of the power of family therapy. I just had a session with two people who shared over a decade of accumulated hurt and got visibly closer after an hour. It would have taken me years of individual work to get to this point that one joint session did. You are a miracle worker, undoubtedly in sessions with people, but I am referring to the confidence you have inspired in me to tackle difficult situations and get people to a place of closer connections and improved communication. Thank you. Words can’t express the gift that you keep giving me.”

Dasha Tcherniakovskaia, LMHC, outpatient

“Thank you for your leadership, teaching and guidance of our learning community. In many ways it felt like this class saved me from becoming quite jaded about therapy amidst an absence of consistent supervision and support. I wasn’t sure I wanted to continue in the field. But gaining tools, and probably more importantly the support of our class community, was a real game changer. Our time together sharing, our rituals, and the grounded hopefulness you cultivated helped me return to a place of joy and hopefulness for my clinical work.”

Christa Morse, LMHC, medical clinic

“The Intensive Certificate Program in Family Systems Therapy is the family therapy course that you always wanted but never got in grad school. It’s a unique opportunity to obtain exposure family systems theory, evidence based approaches and cores skills needed as a family therapist that can be used regardless of which treatment modality you use. The practical, hands-on instruction has been invaluable. This course is critical if you want to learn how to ‘do family therapy,’ but more importantly, the instructors are masters in the field and have created a supportive learning environment that fosters professional and personal growth, curiosity, and self-reflection.”

Tamra Williams, PhD, Clinical Director at Residential Program then Director of Clinical Management, Community Behavioral Health, Philadelphia, PA

“The retreat was nothing short of pure magic.”

Melissa MacIntyre, LICSW, supervisor of home based work

“This course has been eye opening and immensely helpful in better understanding the dynamics of my family system and how I affect and am affected by those I love most in my life. I am grateful to the other members of our class and to the faculty for the honesty, integrity, vulnerability, professionalism and commitment everyone had in being fully present and engaged and challenging me to do the same.”

Tiffany Horne, LICSW, home and school based therapist

“The Intensive Program was a rewarding learning experience, well worth the commute from New Hampshire. My skill and confidence as a family therapist have grown. The unexpected gifts were the deepening of my work with individuals and the compassion that I am able to offer groups of people when I view their reality through a lens infused with an appreciation for systems thinking.”

Kate Harris, PhD, private practice

“The course has helped me solidify my understanding of family systems/ family therapy practice. I will use this to make engaging families in my agency a priority for myself and to encourage this with the entire social work department at the Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital.”

Ann Carter, LICSW, DMH adult inpatient psychiatry unit

“I learned so much this in this course…I feel as though I’ve packed a toolbox full of new techniques and strategies…the most significant insight this course brought me was the strength-focused core of the newer schools of family therapy. That felt very comfortable to my social worker’s soul and is something I’ll carry with me into my future work.”

Robin Levine Freedman, LICSW, parenting full time

“I feel more confident that I can intervene in a positive manner with almost any family that comes to my practice…with my individual cases, I have learned to see the impact of their family dynamics.”

Juan Sosa, LICSW, private practice

“The most significant things from this course that I want to keep alive in my work are: Accepting that change starts with you. Empowerment of the client. Not focusing on problems in order to help. Recognizing limitations. Self care. It has made me more aware, kinder to those around me and reminds me of the universality of being human—we all want connection and people to see us in a positive way.”

Mia Shapiro, LICSW, parenting full time

“I feel I understand myself better and I appreciate the courage I gained through this course to repair relationships of my own.”

Christina Mule, PhD, hospital setting

“This model is more in keeping with how I want to work with kids and families and ultimately makes me a more sensitive and compassionate clinician.”

Erin Belfort, MD, private practice and hospital setting

“This course enhanced my knowledge, confidence and openness in treating families with difficult challenges.”

Marymar Rivera, PhD, outpatient clinic

“I will remember a multitude of perspectives when I am stuck: of theorists, teachers we had and those of our group. When I have more ideas and a mind-team, I fell less isolated and stuck when things get tough. The most significant thing I have noticed is how relevant the course has been to my teaching and supervising trainees on their cases. Again, I feel part of a team, supervising and teaching from our collective expertise and experience.”

Eric Geopfert, MD, hospital setting

“I took Intensive in 2011, immediately after completing my Level I IFS training. Within the first 2 days of the training (a really fantastic retreat), I realized how much I was going to get from the course. In addition to learning about traditional work with families, it was going to support my IFS work with individuals, couples and their families. The collective experience of the group really helped the material to come alive in a rich way. The course was organized in a way to support multiple learning styles, which I greatly appreciated. I noticed a significant shift in my work with my individual clients and continue use the course content in my more recent work with couples. I am really glad to see that TTB continues to offer this certificate program and am happy to answer anyone’s questions about it. I am a grateful and enthusiastic former participant.”

Angela Carini, LICSW, private practice

“What I most appreciate about the experience of taking Intensive is the opportunity to think more critically against the backdrop of theory about my clinical practice.”

Emily Leadholm, LICSW school social work and private practice

About the Teaching

“Dear Liz and Corky, I want to let you both know again how much I enjoyed the class. It was a great addition to the foundation I got from Cambridge Hospital. You are both such amazing teachers, clinicians and people….I count you among the best (maybe even the best!!) mentors and teachers I’ve had. Your warmth, humor, humility, irreverence, personal sharing, willingness to be genuine/authentic…I could go on and on….are so valued. I am hoping to pass some of these values along to the fellows I supervise and teach. Since the class, I’ve been involved with a family therapy workgroup to start a seminar series for our fellows in the fall. I will be borrowing heavily from the readings and from the classes.”

Erin Belfort, MD, child psychiatrist

“I thought Liz Brenner’s presentation was wonderful. I appreciate the close fit between the way she taught the process and the way she opened it up for participants to experience. -I think it’s an art, while teaching a mindfulness approach, to be able to reflect on her internal process. I learn from moments of vulnerability and felt she shared uncertainties and questions with us. I appreciate her being brave and teaching from these moments.”

Liz Lawrence, LICSW

“Not only were you (Liz) able to share such effective interventions, techniques and prevention approaches in such a short time, but you did it with magnetic presentation skills. I am so glad I was able to be here today to hear you!”

Karen Brenner, LICSW

About the Intensive Certificate Program in Family Therapy

This course creates a supportive learning environment to empower beginning and intermediate family practitioners from a variety of backgrounds to become more skilled, self aware, confident family-centered clinicians, supervisors and teachers. “Intensive” is a program that will enable you to be on a path to master the art of working well with a family approach regardless of the number of clients in the room. Participants gain clarity about their strengths, develop new ways of working and become more articulate about their own model of helping. Special attention is paid to creating a shared group learning experience. The Intensive Program was the hallmark program of the former Family Institute of Cambridge for 35 years. We continue to teach the Intensive Program in the comprehensive, immersive and experiential tradition of FIC.

Our annual weekend retreat on Chappaquidick Island, Martha’s Vineyard is a highlight of the course. In addition to the retreat, we meet for 11 day-long classes scheduled on Fridays every few weeks to promote in depth learning while attending to work life balance. The opportunity to learn then digest, practice and return to learn more enhances the experience.

Helping families through difficult times can be joyful service or a daunting task. Today more practitioners in New England are being challenged to help families support children with serious emotional and behavioral problems at home and in a myriad of settings. Working well with families is a critical way to improve the lives of struggling children, adolescents and adults. Our course supports work with all kinds of families in varied forms. We attend to the needs of families and helping professionals working in all settings.

Family systems models provide a lens for understanding families and the skills to develop a mutually agreed upon focus. Trained family therapists know how to lead conversations so that everyone participates constructively. They also know how to help parents avoid making things worse in attempts to solve problems. Without specialized training, holding meetings with families can be overwhelming, difficult to manage and unproductive. Understanding families as a system with clear patterns helps clinicians do what is best for everyone involved.

Participants will study concepts and methods from a variety of theoretical approaches, including historically important, enduring models and more recent developments in the field. Drawing on their own unique styles and abilities, students will examine their underlying assumptions about families and therapy, developing a relational, empowering systems-oriented clinical stance.

The goals of the Intensive Program in Family Systems Therapy are for participants to:

learn conceptual models and clinical practices that highlight family, couple and individual competencies, frame their difficulties in non-shaming, non-blaming ways, taking into account the influences of the larger culture and community, and facilitate a path for growth and change
learn a model to hold meetings with families, couples and other working groups with a structure that helps people and the process from getting stuck
learn more about and develop their individual strengths in doing the work as they further articlulate their own way of working

Teaching methods include discussions about reading material, didactic information sharing, experiential exercises, live and videotaped interviews. Smaller group work is an integral part of the course, providing the opportunity to attend to each student’s development.

We look forward to enlivening your work and learning together!

Who should apply: Social workers, mental health counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, educators, substance abuse counselors, parent partners and other professionals interested in learning more about counseling individuals, families, couples and working effectively with larger systems. Helping professionals in direct service and supervisory roles are welcome to attend the course.

Agency Training

Recent agency training include work with:

Examples of Keynotes, Workshops/​Training Series

Therapy Training Boston

Comments from Participants About the Course

About the Teaching

About the Intensive Certificate Program in Family Therapy

The goals of the Intensive Program in Family Systems Therapy are for participants to:

Examples of Keynotes, Workshops/Training Series