AFTA Blog
AFTA's blog on progressive views on family centered, couple, and family therapy practices and policies.
AFTA Applauds the Supreme Court’s Affirmation of the Civil Rights of Gay and Transgender Citizens and the Continued Protection of Dreamers
The American Family Therapy Academy applauds the landmark decision recently made by our Supreme Court to affirm the civil rights of gay and transgender people. In doing so, the highest Court responded to the courage, resilience and tenacity of L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+...
AFTA Decries Anti-Black Racism and Stands with Those Calling for Change
AFTA stands in solidarity with those protesting pervasive anti-Black racism, those keeping vigil in the face of unrelenting racial violence, and those for whom the murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd are the echoes of an unbearable,...
AFTA denounces Anti-Semitism in the United States. AFTA rejects hate crimes.
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. AFTA condemns the brutal Chanukah attacks in New York State, the New Jersey shooting, and the numerous acts of violence targeting Jews in New York City that have all occurred in...
Save the Date: Support AFTA on GivingTuesday!
AFTA Celebrates GivingTuesday, joining millions around the world participating in the global generosity movement! GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement, unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and their...
Four Metaphors for Couple Therapy
Over many years working integratively with couples (Nielsen, 2016), I’ve discovered some metaphors that make my comments to clients more memorable and that explain and normalize the experience of couple distress and couple therapy. In this short essay, written for...
Cultural Competent Therapists for Black Women
I work in a homeless shelter that serves 21 families and currently 90% of those families identify as African American, single family homes with the mother as the primary support. With each day they are living in our shelter, a new challenge is presented to these...
Five BASIC Guidelines of Gender Affirming Care for Children, Youth, and Families.
For therapists working with children, youth and families, Transgender, Nonbinary or Gender Expansive children and youth are presenting at increased rates in agencies and independent practice. There are not necessarily “more” young people, but rather, increased safety,...
The Migrant Caravan
“no one leaves home unless home is the mouth of a shark” Home Over this last year, AFTA as an organization attempting to honor its mission and vision, has been required to post an unprecedented number of statements opposing, denouncing, insisting, decrying, grieving,...
Avoiding The Hopelessness Trap In A Time Of Widespread Despair
Given the social, economic, and political times in which we live, we are repeatedly confronted with the issues of hope and hopelessness – whether our own or that of family, friends, co-workers, those we serve as professional caregivers, neighbors, the general public,...
Tribute to Douglas H. Sprenkle
Doug Sprenkle, a cherished friend, colleague, and mentor to many in family therapy passed away on August 16th, 2018 after fighting pancreatic cancer. His remarkable kindness and warmth is celebrated by many in our community whose lives he touched. His contributions to...
