The Philadelphia Child and Family Therapy Training Center (PCFTTC) had an amazing time training and connecting at the GAMFT 2025 Spring Conference in Atlanta!
From Dr. Steve Simms’ inspiring keynote on the power of clinical supervision, deliberate practice and systemic family therapy principles, not to mention the energy, passion, and dedication from everyone in attendance was truly unforgettable. 🌟
We’re leaving Atlanta feeling recharged, inspired, and even more committed to strengthening the systemic family therapy community. A huge THANK YOU to all the brilliant systemically trained family therapists, supervisors, and leaders we had the privilege to meet — the new connections and conversations we formed this weekend will ripple forward in exciting ways! 🌱
PCFTTC is proud to be part of a growing network that believes in collaboration, systemic thinking, and building stronger, more resilient families and communities.
Stay tuned — May’s newsletter will share more of this incredible weekend!!!
The Philadelphia Child and Family Therapy Training Center is proud to recognize Pinky Patel as a nominee for the 2025 Marion Lindblad-Goldberg (MLG) Award for Trainers. This award honors individuals who have made exceptional contributions to training and mentoring in Ecosystemic Structural Family Therapy (ESFT), fostering growth in professionals dedicated to strengthening families.
A Transformative Trainer and Mentor
For the past four years, Pinky has been a guiding force in the professional development of family therapists, particularly in Nova Scotia Cohort, where she has helped teams move beyond learning an approach to actively practicing it. As a trainer, she skillfully balances expertise with compassion, creating a learning environment where clinicians feel safe to take risks, try new interventions, and receive feedback with an open mind.
Her ability to bridge systems and perspectives makes her an invaluable trainer. Pinky recognizes the differences between treatment models in Canada and the U.S. and fosters collaborative discussions that honor these distinctions while maintaining the integrity of ESFT principles. Her professionalism, patience, and kindness allow her to support teams as they navigate challenges and refine their skills.
A Commitment to Systemic and Trauma-Informed Practice
Pinky’s deep understanding of systemic work enables her to see both the fine details and the broader horizon of treatment for the vulnerable children and families she supports. She is a strong advocate for trauma-informed, inclusive, and anti-oppressive practices, ensuring that treatment approaches align with the diverse needs of the families served.
Her work is particularly impactful in high-risk cases, where she formulates viable treatment strategies for children with complex needs. Through her teaching and supervision, she inspires clinicians to embrace the systemic lens and ecosystemic approach, helping them move beyond isolated interventions to truly transformative family work.
An Inspirational Leader in Training and Supervision
Pinky does more than train—she evokes positive change in the professionals she mentors. She creates space for learning, growth, and reflection, supporting clinicians in developing both their skills and confidence. Beyond structured trainings, she goes the extra mile to ensure that staff feel equipped and empowered to provide the highest level of care to families.
Her impact extends beyond her trainees, as she has inspired others to take on the role of trainer themselves. Through her mentorship, she strengthens not only the individual clinicians she trains but also the future of ESFT training itself.
A Well-Deserved Nomination
Pinky Patel’s dedication to systemic training, mentorship, and clinical excellence makes her a truly deserving nominee for the 2025 Marion Lindblad-Goldberg Award for Trainers. Her ability to cultivate a learning environment that is supportive, challenging, and transformative embodies the very best of ESFT.
Join us in celebrating Pinky’s well-earned recognition and the profound impact she continues to make in the field of family therapy training!
The Philadelphia Child and Family Therapy Training Center is proud to recognize T.M. Smith as a nominee for the 2025 Marion Lindblad-Goldberg (MLG) Award. T.M. exemplifies the core principles of Ecosystemic Structural Family Therapy (ESFT) through his deep systemic thinking, unwavering commitment to relationship-building, and dedication to personal and professional growth.
A Systemic Thinker
One of T.M.’s greatest strengths is his ability to identify and understand patterns at every level—from the child and family to the treatment team, agency, and training cohort. His systemic lens allows him to see beyond individual behaviors, focusing instead on the broader relational dynamics at play. Whether working with families, clinicians, or supervisors, he consistently prioritizes relationships, fostering connection before guiding conversations toward meaningful systemic change.
See the Isomorph
Within the supervisory cohort, T.M. creates a space where growth and reflection thrive. He joins in distress, offering validation and support before skillfully posing systemic questions that redirect the focus to the patterns of therapeutic transactions (POTT). His approach encourages teams to step back, recognize isomorphic processes, and work collaboratively toward solutions that align with the ESFT model.
T.M. also embodies self-awareness and accountability, openly acknowledging his own POTT and continuously working to shift his own patterns. He has demonstrated remarkable balance in leadership, knowing when to step in and when to empower others to take the lead. His ability to speak to his own privilege and offer feedback with thoughtfulness and humility fosters deeper joining and open dialogue within supervisory spaces.
Use the Model
Even in times of crisis, T.M. remains model-focused, helping teams recognize patterns rather than becoming lost in content. His ability to anchor teams in the ESFT framework provides stability and clarity, ensuring that families receive the best possible support.
A Well-Deserved Honor
For his exceptional leadership, systemic insight, and unwavering dedication, we are honored to celebrate T.M. Smith as a nominee for the 2025 MLG Award. His work continues to inspire and strengthen the field of family therapy, making a lasting impact on those he serves.
The Philadelphia Child and Family Therapy Training Center is proud to recognize Deanna Laser as a nominee for the 2025 Marion Lindblad-Goldberg (MLG) Award. This prestigious award honors professionals who exemplify the principles of Ecosystemic Structural Family Therapy (ESFT) and demonstrate an unwavering commitment to strengthening families and communities.
A Passion for Growth and Systemic Change
Deanna has been a dedicated booster in her program, navigating numerous challenges, including the pandemic. Through it all, she has remained committed to her growth and the well-being of the families she serves. Her ability to balance authenticity, transparency, and continuous learning makes her an exceptional clinician, mentor, and leader.
Deanna embraces a systemic perspective, recognizing that challenges within families are relational, contextual, developmental, and trauma-informed. She helps teams and caregivers shift their focus from isolated behaviors to meaningful family interactions, guiding them toward lasting change.
Empowering Caregivers and Strengthening Families
One of Deanna’s greatest strengths is her collaborative approach with caregivers. Regardless of the challenges a family faces, she finds ways to connect, highlighting strengths and fostering hope. Her work is deeply rooted in social ecology, recognizing how lived experiences shape family culture while also providing resources for resilience and success.
Working in a region where families often experience economic hardships, Deanna ensures every family is treated with respect, dignity, and belief in their ability to grow. She intentionally finds something to appreciate in each caregiver, reinforcing their capacity for positive change.
A Well-Deserved Nomination
Deanna Laser’s dedication to systemic family therapy, her unwavering support for both families and colleagues, and her ability to navigate complex challenges embody the very best of ESFT-FBMHS. We are honored to recognize her as a nominee for the 2025 Marion Lindblad-Goldberg Award and celebrate the incredible impact she continues to make in the field.
Join us in congratulating Deanna on this well-deserved recognition!
The Philadelphia Child and Family Therapy Training Center is proud to announce that Denise Stoneroad has been nominated as a supervisor for the 2025 Marion Lindblad-Goldberg (MLG) Award. Denise’s nomination is a powerful recognition of her unwavering commitment to systemic family therapy, her leadership in guiding clinicians, and her dedication to fostering resilience in families.
With a deep appreciation for systemic perspective, Denise challenges the traditional view of adolescents with “bad” behavior being seen in isolation. Instead, she ensures that her teams assess family interactions as a whole, seeking to understand the root causes of behaviors rather than focusing on a single identified client. During the challenges of the pandemic, she demonstrated exceptional leadership, guiding her team to grow stronger, adapt, and collaborate rather than becoming isolated—just therapists encourage families to do in therapy.
As a supervisor, Denise embodies the balance between professional boundaries and collaboration. She has cultivated a culture where clinicians build their own competence and resilience rather than relying on her to “rescue” them. By reinforcing patience and preparation, she helps clinicians and families develop the confidence to tackle challenges independently.
Denise also engages in social ecology with a keen sense of self-awareness. She encourages her teams to explore their own lived experiences and how those experiences shape their professional growth. A strong proponent of deliberate practice and videotaping, she fosters an environment of continuous learning—both for herself and for those she supervises.
Where others might see chaos as overwhelming, Denise sees opportunity. She remains calm and courageous in the face of crises, guiding her teams to help families make meaningful, lasting changes. Whether supporting caregivers in shifting family dynamics or helping clinicians navigate their own professional challenges, she instills the mindset that struggle is a stepping stone to transformation.
Denise’s ability to assess with complexity while acting with simplicity makes her an invaluable mentor. She helps her teams synthesize large amounts of data, break it down into meaningful insights, and use it to engage families in treatment planning. Through her guidance, clinicians help caregivers see problems in a new light and build stronger, child-centered, caregiver-led plans for family success.
Denise Stoneroad’s nomination is a testament to her extraordinary impact on systemic family therapy. Her leadership, insight, and commitment to second-order change embody the very essence of the MLG Award.
Please join us in celebrating Denise and her remarkable contributions to the field. Stay tuned as we continue to highlight the incredible nominees shaping the future of family therapy!
We’re thrilled to share a special recording featuring Tamara Allen, an alumna of the ESFT-FBMHS program and a Booster from the Allentown Cohort! In this insightful video, Tamara reflects on her journey, the impact of the program on her clinical practice, and her dedication to creating meaningful change for families. Her passion for systemic family therapy and her commitment to fostering resilience shine through in every moment.
Watch the video to hear Tamara’s inspiring story and gain valuable insights from her experience!
This collaborative research, authored by Steve Simms, Jennifer Benjamin, Todd Franke, and Pinky Patel, focuses on validating the MFAF within Pennsylvania families, aiming to enhance the tools available for family assessment in therapeutic settings.
The study’s findings contribute to the field of systemic family therapy by providing a reliable instrument for practitioners working with diverse family structures.
We invite fellow professionals and researchers to read the full article here:
Family Connection: The way parents enforce rules, boundaries, and discipline within the home.
Social Ecology Impact: Cultural norms and societal expectations often shape parenting approaches, such as collectivist cultures emphasizing obedience and respect or individualist cultures prioritizing independence.
2. Conflict Resolution
Family Connection: How family members handle disagreements, whether through open dialogue, avoidance, or escalated arguments.
Social Ecology Impact: Broader societal influences, such as workplace stress or community norms about emotional expression, can affect how conflict is addressed within families.
3. Celebrations and Traditions
Family Connection: Birthdays, holidays, or rituals unique to the family.
Social Ecology Impact: Traditions may be influenced by cultural heritage, religious practices, and the family’s interaction with their local community.
4. Family Roles and Responsibilities
Family Connection: Expectations for caregiving, household chores, or decision-making responsibilities.
Social Ecology Impact: Economic conditions, gender roles, and societal shifts (e.g., dual-income households) shape these roles within the family.
5. Emotional Support Systems
Family Connection: Families offering encouragement during stress or celebrating achievements.
Social Ecology Impact: Access to community resources, social networks, or extended family involvement can enhance or limit a family’s ability to provide emotional support.
6. Communication Patterns
Family Connection: The frequency and style of communication between family members (e.g., open, hierarchical, or minimal).
Social Ecology Impact: Broader influences, like technology use, workplace demands, or societal norms around expressing feelings, can shape how families communicate.
7. Routines and Daily Practices
Family Connection: Shared meals, bedtime routines, or weekend activities.
Social Ecology Impact: Work schedules, school systems, and neighborhood safety often determine the feasibility of maintaining routines.
8. Adaptation to Stress and Change
Family Connection: How families cope with financial difficulties, relocation, or loss.
Social Ecology Impact: Access to support systems (like religious organizations, community groups, or healthcare services) significantly influences a family’s resilience.
9. Education and Learning Support
Family Connection: Parents assisting children with homework or prioritizing education.
Social Ecology Impact: The quality of schools, availability of resources, and societal attitudes toward education play a role in shaping these family interactions.
10. Health Practices
Family Connection: Meal choices, exercise habits, or approaches to healthcare.
Social Ecology Impact: Broader health trends, access to healthcare facilities, and community attitudes toward wellness often intersect with family practices.
Systemic family therapy stands at the intersection of healing, connection, and transformation. The MLG Awards not only celebrate the incredible achievements of today’s leaders in the field but also pay homage to the foundational work of systemic family therapy’s pioneers, such as Salvador Minuchin and Dr. Marion Lindblad-Goldberg. Minuchin’s groundbreaking contributions established structural family therapy as a cornerstone for understanding and addressing relational dynamics, while Dr. Lindblad-Goldberg advanced this legacy by integrating ecological and trauma-informed approaches. This award recognizes the profound impact systemic family therapy has on families, communities, and professionals. By honoring those who exemplify these values, the MLG Awards inspire ongoing innovation and excellence in a field dedicated to addressing complex challenges and fostering meaningful change. It’s more than an award; it’s a continuation of a legacy that transforms lives, one relationship at a time. Join us in celebrating the extraordinary contributions of systemic family therapy practitioners who, like Minuchin and Lindblad-Goldberg, are committed to making the world a brighter, more connected place.
As we close out the calendar year, the Philadelphia Child and Family Therapy Training Center (PCFTTC) reflects on 2024 with deep gratitude for our incredible community of systemic family therapists, faculty, alumni, and partners.
This year, we’ve witnessed remarkable milestones:
Expanding our Ecosystemic Structural Family Therapy (ESFT) reach through international training opportunities, including Georgia and Canada.
Representing PCFTTC at the AAMFT Conference at Disney World, connecting with colleagues and embracing innovation in family therapy.
Welcoming new graduates, celebrating their achievements, and watching them take their next steps in the field.
Launching our Certification Programs.
New publications advancing the practice of ESFT
700 blog subscribers!
Through it all, we’ve seen our community grow stronger, embracing systemic approaches that honor the resilience of families and the dedication of those who serve them.
As we step into 2025, we are excited to continue offering cutting-edge training, supervision, and resources to empower therapists. Together, let’s build on this year’s momentum and keep advancing the transformative work each of you do with professionals and the families they serve.
From all of us at PCFTTC, we wish you a joyous close to this year and a new year filled with hope, health, and connection. Thank you for being part of our journey!
