Pfeiffer Institute

The Pfeiffer Institute for Marriage and Family Therapy

My primary role is managing and operating the daily responsibilities of the Pfeiffer Institute (PIMFT). PIMFT is not only a training clinic for our MFT students, but also it is a fully operational business. All of our clients are members of the community; they seek out services from PIMFT to work on real life challenges. My role is to not only make sure our interns get clinical training, but also to ensure that our clients receive the best quality care and service. 

Training

I spend the majority of my time in a training capacity. I train students, clinic staff, clinic supervisors, and our partner off-site supervisors on an ongoing basis. Due to the structure of the clinic and its essential role in the Marriage and Family Therapy Program, transition and flexibility are prominent themes. 

Each semester the clinic goes through major transitions, many which occur simultaneously: 1) Admitting new interns into the clinic, 2) Sending current interns to external placement sites, and 3) Graduating interns who have completed the requirements of the MFT program. I train interns and staff to not only engage with clients, but also I create a training experience like a "real world" agency setting.

My strength in managing the multiple tasks at any given time, yet being flexible, is essential for the clinic to run seamlessly in providing service to clients. Clients can expect to receive professional care at PIMFT due to the extensive training our interns receive throughout the MFT program and in the clinic. In addition, my skill at establishing a business structure and working model have transformed the clinic from surviving off the MFT program's budget to generating enough revenue to cover basic operating costs (e.g., overhead) while giving back financially to the university. A comprehensive review of the growth of the clinic will be described in greater detail in the Overview of PIMFT section of this site.

Marketing Efforts

When I arrived, PIMFT did not have a large or adequate budget for marketing a brand new business. However, creative efforts on limited funds has proven successful and PIMFT is seen as a valuable resource in the Charlotte community. The following are samples of the creative marketing efforts used to promote PIMFT:

• Website
• Facebook Page
• For Teens Only: An educational conference for teen and parents, October 3, 2009
• MFT Expo
• Earth Fare Back-to-School Wellness Event, August 25, 2012

Clinic Manual

In collaboration with Dr. Susan Wilkie-McHale, MFT Program Director, the Clinic Policy and Procedure Manual was written as a document establishing clinical policies and procedures. It is used as a guide to hold each intern accountable and states expectations for each person to follow as they advance towards graduation. Every October and May I revise the manual to include necessary changes in policies.

Letter of Recommendations

• Deidre Henggeler, Graduate Assistant 2011-2012
• Jennifer Tremblay, Community Relations Manager, Earth Fare

Letter of Encouragement

• Mary Beth (Johnson) Utsman, Graduate Assistant 2010-2011