Course Description

Course 1 of the Systems Under Strain series builds the shared foundation used across the full three course sequence. Participants are introduced to the Medical Family Therapy (MedFT) biopsychosocial spiritual model and the MedFT Health Care Continuum, alongside Person of the Therapist (POTT) work rooted in Harry Aponte's model of the purposeful use of self. These frameworks are then applied to systemic sex therapy, treating sexual health as a relational rather than individual concern.

The course focuses on two of the most heavily researched illness domains in the field: cardiometabolic conditions (type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obesity, coronary artery disease, heart failure, and stroke) and mental or physical comorbidity (depression, anxiety, and serious mental illness layered onto chronic physical conditions). Participants leave with an assessment and intervention framework they will carry into Courses 2 and 3.

This course stands alone and may be taken independently. No prior MedFT training…