Functional Family Therapy

Functional Family Therapy (FFT) is an evidence-based family counseling service designed for 11-to-18-year-old youth who are at risk or have been referred for behavioral or emotional problems. It is an effective, short-term intervention that works with a young person’s entire family and extrafamilial influences to facilitate positive growth and development. FFT’s effectiveness is rooted in the idea that each family has a unique set of circumstances, so treatment plans are individualized to fit the specific needs of youth and their families.

FFT LLC trains providers to bring Functional Family Therapy to over 40,000 families a year across the globe that are at risk of involvement in the justice and child welfare systems and/or gangs. FFT LLC provides clinical oversight and ongoing research to ensure that all FFT providers adhere to the evidence-based practice standards that are linked with positive program results. This supports providers and ensures positive outcomes.

In collaboration with the WCC, FFT LLC trains and provides ongoing support and oversight to FFT providers in the Colorado System of Care (CO-SOC). When delivered to youth and families in CO-SOC, FFT is referred to as Enhanced Functional Family Therapy (EFFT).

Visit the Functional Family Therapy website

FFT LLC is committed to the highest standards of training, consultation, and service. They offer a robust, research-based certification process for clinical teams. FFT LLC trains and certifies teams of three to eight therapists working within community mental health, juvenile justice, child welfare, and other settings. Training pathways are designed to support sustainable implementation through structured learning, intensive consultation, and fidelity monitoring. Training includes access to and usage of the web-based Client Services System (CSS), which keeps therapists embedded in the FFT model principles.

Required FFT trainings and consultation include:

Phase 1:

• 2-day In-person Initial Clinical Training (16 hours, Phase 1, therapists and supervisors)
• 2-day Follow Up Trainings (3 total, 16 hours each, Phase 1, therapists and supervisors)
• 2-day Virtual FFT 2nd Clinical Team Training (16 hours, Phase 1, therapists and supervisors)
• Externship training experiences (supervisors)
• Weekly team consultation

Phase 2:

• 2-day FFT Virtual Supervision Trainings (2 total, 16 hours each, Phase 2, supervisors)
• Supervisor Consultation (twice per month)
• Annual Site Visit

Phase 3:

• Supervisor Consultation (once per month)
• Annual Site Visit

To learn more about FFT training for your agency, contact Candis Segars, FFT Solutions Consultant, at candis@fftllc.com.

Core descriptions of the Functional Family Therapy approach and training are based on materials developed by FFT LLC. Colorado-specific content describes how the service is implemented within the Colorados System of Care.

Gottfredson, Kearley, Thornberry, Slothower, Devlin & Fader, 2018 Robbins and Midouhas,2021