Skip to main content
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • Videos
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Library
    • Research
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • |
  • Alumni
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
Sections
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • |
  • Alumni
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • Videos
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Library
    • Research
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit

Marriage and Family Therapy students learn, work in CNY

Friday, October 31, 2003, By News Staff
Share

Marriage and Family Therapy students learn, work in CNYOctober 31, 2003Lindsay Beller

After eliminating several medical conditions, a doctor refers a patient suffering from chronic headaches to a family therapist for treatment of what he believes is an anxiety-related illness. This is just one of the kinds of cases Syracuse University’s Department of Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) Prof. Suzanne Haas-Cunningham manages in her role as clinical director of the Family Medicine/Family Therapy Program at SUNY Upstate Medical University. The collaborative training program brings together four MFT graduate students and residents from St. Joseph’s Hospital to meet weekly with clients who have been referred by physicians at Upstate. “As family therapists, we try to get relationship-oriented cases,” Haas-Cunningham says. “We believe health and stress are related to the family relationships you maintain.”

The purpose of this collaboration, which began in 1988, is to link the two professions by integrating medicine and therapy. “When you’re trained in family therapy, you tend to look at relationships as primary; but when you’re trained in the medical field, you see the physical body as most fundamental,” she says. “We need to consider all aspects of a person’s health-not just their isolated parts.”

Once a doctor makes a referral, Haas-Cunningham invites the client to participate and assigns an MFT student to conduct the therapy session. Haas-Cunningham, the other MFT students, and the residents then observe the session from behind a one-way mirror. Following the session, the client and therapist receive feedback from the students and residents.

The residents aid clients in a variety of ways. “Their input is especially helpful when a patient expresses dissatisfaction with the relationship with his doctor, or is confused about medication,” Haas-Cunningham says. The residents offer informed suggestions from a medical perspective. “But most importantly, they encourage patients to go back and talk with their doctor,” she says.

Tziporah Rosenberg, an MFT doctoral candidate and student therapist, says this collaborative approach between doctors and therapists was one of the reasons she was drawn to the program. “I’ve always believed in the value of that connection,” she says. “The patients genuinely appreciate the doctors’ perspectives.”

Haas-Cunningham, who has run the program since 1990, agrees. “The master’s students learn about observation, therapy, and being part of a team that includes a medical person,” she says. “The program provides a service to the clients and trains professionals to learn from and connect with each other.”

  • Author

News Staff

  • Recent
  • Eight New Recruits Begin Campus Peace Officer Academy
    Thursday, May 19, 2022, By Christine Weber
  • Media Tip Sheet: Consequences of China Lockdown
    Thursday, May 19, 2022, By Vanessa Marquette
  • Dean Rajiv ‘Raj’ Dewan to Step Down as Dean of the School of Information Studies
    Thursday, May 19, 2022, By News Staff
  • 2022 Graduates Reflect on Service as Academic Coaches
    Thursday, May 19, 2022, By Ellen de Graffenreid
  • Funding Expands for Newhouse Professors’ Work on Technology to Combat Fake News
    Wednesday, May 18, 2022, By Wendy S. Loughlin

More In Uncategorized

Syracuse Views Spring 2022

We want to know how you experience Syracuse University. Take a photo and share it with us. We select photos from a variety of sources. Submit photos of your University experience using #SyracuseU on social media, fill out a submission…

“Can Supermarket Design Really Impact What You Buy?”

Shelley Kohan, adjunct faculty member in the Whitman School, was interviewed for the VeryWell Mind story “Can Supermarket Design Really Impact What You Buy?” Kohan, a retail executive with 25 years of experience, explained that many grocery stores are following…

“COVID Truthers Have Found a New ‘Pandemic’ to Freak Out About”

Michael Barkun, professor emeritus of political science in the Maxwell School, was quoted in the Daily Beast story “COVID Truthers Have Found a New ‘Pandemic’ to Freak Out About.” Barkun, who is an expert on extremism and conspiracy theories, explained…

“With Elon Musk’s Twitter bid, there’s more at stake than freedom of speech: ‘It gives him a lot more influence over government'”

JM Grygiel, associate professor of communications in the Newhouse School, was quoted in the MarketWatch article “With Elon Musk’s Twitter bid, there’s more at stake than freedom of speech: ‘It gives him a lot more influence over government.’” Grygiel, who…

Koppl writes “Biden Establishes a Ministry of Truth”

Roger Koppl, professor of finance in the Whitman School, co-authored The Wall Street Journal opinion piece “Biden Establishes a Ministry of Truth.” The Department of Homeland Security recently announced the formation of the Disinformation Governance Board. The goal of the…

Subscribe to SU Today

If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.

Connect With Us

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
Social Media Directory

For the Media

Find an Expert Follow @SyracuseUNews
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • @SyracuseU
  • @SyracuseUNews
  • @SUCampus
  • Social Media Directory
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Campus Status
  • Syracuse.edu
© 2022 Syracuse University News. All Rights Reserved.