Department of Family Therapy Joins the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine

As result of NSU reorganizing, the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine (KPCOM) welcomed the addition of the Department of Family Therapy in June. The fit served as a proper one, as the department has already been collaborating with the KPCOM through the Medical Family Therapy Clinic launching in 2016, and most recently the joint B.S. in Health and Wellness Coaching program in fall 2020.

“Based on the systemic and collaborative perspectives utilized by the KPCOM and similarities in our philosophies, this reorganization has been a good fit for us,” said Farah Niazi, Ph.D., LMFT, LMHC, Department of Family Therapy chair and assistant professor. “We believe that this transition has brought new prospects for us in learning opportunities and to expand what we do well as systemic marriage and family therapists.”

The integration will allow several opportunities to work collaboratively with other departments within the KPCOM to provide opportunities for students and faculty members, as well as to create the space to seek new grants and contracts. The department has already been highly involved with the NSU-KPCOM Unity Program for Change, while working with the departments of basic sciences, geriatrics, medical education, and internal medicine on upcoming projects. In addition, it has started teletherapy services for clients at the Brief Therapy Institute on-site clinic and plans to launch the service at the Medical Family Therapy Clinic at NSU’s Sanford L. Ziff Health Center.

The Department of Family Therapy’s academic offerings include the B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies, B.S. in Health and Wellness Coaching, M.S. in Family Therapy, Doctor of Marriage and Family Therapy, and Ph.D. in Family Therapy. The department also houses a unique certificate in solution-focused coaching, concentrations in medical family therapy and equine-assisted therapy, in addition to coursework in military families, infant mental health, grief and loss, and much more.

“We are excited about the future possibilities for collaboration, including expanding practice of medical family therapy, collaborating on medical outreach trips, working together on school-based and other community service projects, and cocreating educational opportunities for students, such as joint certifications and degrees,” Niazi said.