Functional Family Therapy (FFT) is a practical, evidence-based, team-based approach for working with at-risk youth and their families. Rooted in decades of research and clinical application, FFT is a short-term, strength-based intervention model designed to reduce behavioral issues and strengthen family systems.
It's a structured, goal-driven, evidence-based intervention that helps clinicians engage the whole family in meaningful, lasting change. And the results speak volumes.
Over 25 peer-reviewed studies have consistently shown FFT's impact: 77% of youth who complete FFT have no new offenses within 18 months, 89% avoid drug-related charges, and 95% are either in school or working by the end of treatment.
FFT LLC is the exclusive provider of the Functional Family Therapy Model developed by the original Model developer, Jim Alexander. With over 350 certified teams across the U.S. and beyond, the training FFT LLC delivers ensures that clinicians receive not only training but also ongoing support as they implement FFT in their communities. But how does a team go from interest to full certification? And what makes FFT LLC’s training process the national gold standard? This blog breaks down what you can expect from FFT training with FFT LLC—the gold standard for evidence-based family therapy training.
FFT training with FFT LLC is designed to enhance clinician skills, strengthen team infrastructure, and position programs for long-term success. Each phase builds on the last, with intentional layering that turns good practice into great systems.
Phase 1 starts with the foundation: clinical training and building implementation skills. Agencies start with a one day kickoff event that includes community stakeholders and the FFT team to be sure there is buy in for FFT across the community. Teams of 3-8 therapists then participate in an intensive 2-day introduction to the FFT clinical model, learning the core principles, phases, and intervention strategies. Therapists begin to see FFT clients immediately following this clinical training.
Weekly consultation directed by an FFT LLC consultant begins after the team receives the initial clinical training. Consultation is the opportunity for FFT teams/therapists to receive clinical support, direction and real-time feedback on care given to families. Teams also begin utilizing the web-based Clinical Services System (CSS), which enables clinicians to track progress, adherence, and outcomes.
Three 2-day follow-up trainings are held over the course of the first year with the FFT LLC consultant and the team. A 2nd clinical training also occurs virtually with a separate FFT LLC clinical trainer.
Towards the end of Phase 1, one clinician begins a three-month externship with other new externs to prepare for a future supervisory role. This training consists of three 3-day events at an off site location where the externs see real clients behind a mirror and gain immediate feedback on their practice via an FFT LLC externship trainer.
Phase 2 turns the spotlight on leadership. This focus is where FFT LLC helps sites develop in-house supervisory capacity (a critical step toward sustainability). Site supervisors complete two intensive virtual trainings and receive biweekly consultation calls with an FFT LLC consultant over the course of the Phase 2 year.
They also participate in a one-day on-site visit to refine their coaching skills and align supervision with the evidence-based program training model. With continued access to CSS, both supervisors and therapists stay grounded in data and feedback.
Phase 3 ensures that the momentum built in the first two phases continues. Through an annual consultation visit (in person or virtual), ongoing monthly supervisor calls and oversight with an FFT LLC consultant, and continued CSS use, sites maintain high-fidelity implementation.
Tri-yearly performance evaluations (which begin in Phase 1 and continue throughout the life of an FFT program) provide structured checkpoints to prevent drift and encourage growth.
Each stage of FFT training supports the next, creating a resilient model that grows with the team.
From the first session to long after certification, clinicians are supported through a system that's built for growth and real-world impact. This is what makes our FFT training stand out from the rest.
At the core of that support is a rhythm of feedback and accountability. Weekly Zoom consultations delve deeper than a simple check-in, allowing practitioners to explore real cases. Clinicians get direct, constructive input on their work, grounded in the FFT clinical model.
FFT LLC’s CSS helps teams streamline everything: session documentation, assessment tracking, fidelity measurement, and outcome reporting.
Within the CSS, teams have instant access to the data that matters, making it easier to course-correct in real-time and stay anchored in the family therapy model.
One of the biggest challenges in implementing any clinical model is ensuring its long-term adherence. Staff turnover, shifting priorities, and day-to-day realities can erode even the most effective training. That's why FFT training with FFT LLC is built with long-term success in mind.
Phase 3, as mentioned, is the sustainability phase. This final leg of our FFT training framework comprises monthly supervisor consultations, annual site visits, and ongoing access to FFT LLC's CSS. These tools serve as anchors, keeping teams aligned with the model, enabling them to flag potential issues early, and safeguarding fidelity over time. It's how FFT LLC helps agencies avoid "model drift" and maintain high-quality family therapy services year after year.
But sustainability isn't just about maintaining the status quo. FFT LLC anticipates the bumps along the road (like when a supervisor leaves, or a new therapist joins midstream). Our contingency plans are clear and structured.
If there is the need to replace a clinician or add them to an existing team, FFT LLC offers virtual replacement training series on a regular basis that are easily accessible. If an FFT site supervisor leaves a team, FFT LLC helps the team restructure and create a training plan for a new supervisor while also covering weekly team consultation and oversight.
FFT LLC also offers a Supervisor Apprentice program for teams that are in Phase 3 and want to train a secondary person as a backup supervisor. This helps a team cover vacations, maternity leaves, etc. when a current site supervisor is not available for a short time. Ongoing Assessment Instruments
On the clinical side, FFT LLC reinforces this commitment with rigorous assessment tools. Every site integrates outcome measures, such as the OQ-45.2, Y-OQ 2.01, and Y-OQSR 2.0, to objectively evaluate progress. These tools provide teams with real data on how families are responding to treatment and where to focus their efforts next.
Our FFT training is a sustained partnership. With built-in support, data-informed decision-making, and realistic adaptation strategies, we ensure that agencies can continue to deliver effective, high-impact family therapy, regardless of the challenges that arise.
There's more to FFT training than teaching evidence-based intervention techniques. Agencies must create systems that last. One of the most impactful strategies FFT LLC brings to the table is internal capacity building. By developing supervisors from within, agencies reduce long-term training costs, strengthen leadership from the ground up, and build a sense of ownership that fuels long-term success.
Just as important is our commitment to data-informed decision-making. With CSS, programs don't have to guess what's working. They know. Real-time fidelity tracking, outcome measurement, and adherence reports allow teams to stay grounded in the clinical model while adapting to local needs.
FFT training strikes a balance between flexibility and fidelity. Programs don't have to choose between being clinically rigorous and practically responsive. With FFT LLC, they get both. Our approach is a best-in-class example of how evidence-based program training can scale across systems without watering down what makes it work.
FFT training with FFT LLC is about mastering the clinical model and making it work in the real world. For agencies committed to delivering outcomes to the families they serve, FFT training with FFT LLC is the gold standard. From the first session to long-term sustainability, the support is real, the structure is proven, and the results speak for themselves.
Learn how to become an FFT provider and connect with us to bring FFT to your organization!
FFT LLC is a counseling service that fosters resilience and positive change in at-risk youth and families. With a focus on comprehensive, short-term therapy, FFT LLC has touched the lives of over 40,000 families annually across the globe. Through clinical oversight and ongoing research, FFT LLC ensures that all its providers adhere to evidence-based practice standards, guaranteeing positive outcomes for those in need.
Contact us for more information about our evidence-based youth and family counseling services.