Who We Are

Who We Are

The Family Therapy Training Institute of Miami (FTTIM) was founded in 2003 by Olga E. Hervis, MSW, LCSW. Our faculty provides training leading to certification in the evidence-based programs:

Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT)
Family Effectiveness Training (FET).

Ms. Hervis is the co-author and co-developer of these award winning model programs. She also developed and directed the BSFT and FET Training Programs for over 30 years until she founded the FTTIM. She has been teaching, supervising and consulting on the model since its inception 30 years ago.

Being family-based practices, both models target the problem behaviors of the youth as well as the way the entire family functions.

BSFT is a structured, problem-focused, and practical approach to treat children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 that exhibit moderate to severe behavior problems, including early drug use. FET is a psychoeducationally-based adaptation of BSFT to be utilized with younger, prevention/early intervention target populations.

Training is available in the U.S. and abroad in Spanish and in French, as well as in English. We have the largest and most experienced staff of Master Trainers delivering BSFT and FET. Our training is tailored to the needs of the care-giving organizations, including to “consortium” of agencies that choose to participate in joint training. Our training also addresses the special clinical needs of immigrant and minority families in our communities.

At FTTIM we are passionate about the quality of training, monitoring, and on-going support we provide to the agencies and organizations we serve. For other services and programs offered by FTTIM, please refer to the “Other Programs & Services” tab.