DFI is a vibrant therapy provider and learning community for marriage and family therapy. We recognize the central importance of relationships in the well-being of individuals, couples, families and communities. Additionally, we honor the diversity of relationships and of individuals in our world. We welcome students, faculty and clients from different cultures, backgrounds and lifestyles and we have a clear non-discrimination policy in our program. We integrate cultural competence and respect for diversity in all our courses and supervision.

We believe our faculty is second to none in the Rocky Mountain Region. Combined, they posses over 175 years of clinical experience! At the same time, the faculty continues to evolve, grow and adapt new ideas within the ever-changing world of family therapy.

In the training program, we do not have students in the program teaching or providing supervision. Rather, we attract experienced clinicians who are successful in their own private practices, consultation work or agency employment. This creates a dynamic faculty community of dedicated professionals who can inspire and challenge each other to provide an excellent learning experience for our students.

These students routinely praise the quality of the coursework, with comments like, “This course was better than any graduate course I ever had,” not being uncommon. At the same time, instructors are allowed to bring their unique strengths, skills and background to the fore in facilitating learning.

In addition, DFI coursework is noted for the amount of direct applicability to clinical work. Our faculty teaches subjects that clinicians want and need to learn about. DFI coursework focuses on allowing students to become the best therapists they can be. Role playing and other experiential exercises are common in our classrooms. We also infuse our coursework with the latest information and ideas from marriage and family therapy, from John Gottman to Sue Johnson to contemporary applications of structural family therapy. Throughout the courses, we weave in issues of diversity, oppression and disenfranchisement as they affect our clients and us; we also integrate the use of self and the importance of self-awareness for therapists into our coursework.

These themes hold true in the area of supervision as well. All of our supervisors are Approved Supervisors through AAMFT, the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Our students tell us that the supervision alone is reason enough to attend Denver Family Institute. We are not interested in turning out large numbers of graduates or providing the quickest, cheapest way to licensure. Once licensed, clinicians rely on their DFI experience to guide them in their work. We take that seriously. Supervision focuses on bringing out the strengths of each therapist, supportively challenging blind spots and roadblocks, and encouraging the practice of developing a systemic hypothesis for each case from which to guide treatment planning and interventions. To do so, we build strong, supportive relationships with our supervisees. We also foster the development of a community with our trainees.

All of these efforts are then reflected in the work in the clinic. Students express appreciation for the diversity of clientele and presenting problems they encounter in the clinic. For potential clients, we want you to know that DFI welcomes people from all walks of life, backgrounds, faiths and cultures. Our only requirements are that you can pay our low reduced fees, transport yourself to one of our two clinics and agree to be videotaped for training purposes only. We strive to treat each of our clients with openness, effectiveness and respect.