How We’re Unique

What It’s Like to Work With Us When the Institute was founded in 1979, the staff envisioned family therapy becoming the rule of treatment rather than the exception—especially with children and teens. Unfortunately, this has not turned out to be the case. We are unique in our specialty with couples and families. When you work […]

Education Overview

Family Therapy Institute of Santa Barbara offers a unique opportunity for associates and licensed professionals to learn more about the theory and practice of systemic approaches to understanding and improving individual mental health, to deepening couples and family relationships, to foster effective parenting, and to meet difficult transitions with resiliency. Through our clinical training program, […]

Our Story

The Founding and History of FTI Our Founder, Debra Manchester After graduating from Stanford in 1974, Debra Manchester was hired as the Executive Director for Social Advocates for Youth (SAY), a non-profit agency in Mountain View, California with ten other centers including one in SB. The 1960’s brought thousands of runaway teens to the Bay […]

Articles

Article Downloads Forms & Handouts Current Family Assessment Form Family of Origin Assessment Form  Handout: The Repair Kit Article Downloads (.Docs & PDFs) Exercise Therapy Family Meetings Positive & Negative Self Talk Cognitive Distortions Overcoming Fears Asseriveness Worksheets Not Too Soft, Not Too Strict: A Balanced Approach to Parenting Principles of Effective Parenting Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy