Functional Family Therapy for Adolescent Behavior Problems
James F. Alexander, PhD,created the core elements of Functional Family Therapy (FFT) in 1971 and has been researching and helping others implement the model since then. He provides training and supervision to FFT therapists across the United States and worldwide. In addition to his work with FFT, Dr. Alexander has taught at the University of Utah for 40 years. He has had fellowships with American Psychological Association (APA) Divisions 12 (Society of Clinical Psychology) and 43 (Society for Family Psychology) and served as president of Division 43. Dr. Alexander has served on the editorial board for several family-related journals, including as senior consulting editor for The Family Psychologist. He has published three books on FFT and more than 80 articles and chapters and has given hundreds of presentations and webinars nationally and internationally.Holly Barrett Waldron, PhD,is a senior scientist at the Oregon Research Institute (ORI) and director of the ORI Center for Family and Adolescent Research. She has been involved with Functional Family Therapy (FFT) clinical development and research for over 30 years. Dr. Waldron also established a program of research evaluating FFT through a series of clinical trials funded by the National Institutes of Health. Her research and clinical efforts have focused on the implementation of FFT for adolescent substance use disorders, delinquency, depression, and HIV risk behaviors. She has developed a Spanish-language training system for FFT and has trained FFT therapists working with Spanish-speaking families in the United States and in Latin America.Michael S. Robbins, PhD,completed his doctorate in clinical psychology at the University of Utah and a clinical internship at the University of Miami School of Medicine. He served as research associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Miami School of Medicine for 15 years. He is currently a senior scientist at the Oregon Research Institute and research director for Functional Family Therapy, Inc. Dr. Robbins has many publications in the area of family therapy for adolescents with behavior problems. Dr. Robbins is a frequent lecturer and consultant and is recognized as a leader in the areas of process and outcome research in adolescent drug abuse treatment.Andrea A. Neeb, MS,received her Master of Science degree from Nova Southeastern University in 2001 and became a licensed mental health counselor in 2004. She has worked with Functional Family Therapy (FFT), Inc. as a trainer and consultant for the past 10 years. Ms. Neeb s primary focus of work has been in the clinical development of therapists in their practice of the FFT model with diverse client populations and settings.