About Us
The Family Institute of Berkeley was founded by Dr. Keith Sutton, a psychologist in the San Francisco Bay Area, and is a subsidiary of Bay Area Community Counseling, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community organization. After many of the great family therapy training institutes of the SF Bay Area went away (e.g., Redwood Family Center, Mental Research Institute, Family Institute of Pinole), there was a absence of family therapy training. Dr. Sutton, a past president and ongoing board member, worked through the Association of Family Therapy of Northern California (AFTNC) to help, along with other dedicated AFTNC members to keep family therapy and systems theory present in the SF Bay Area and California.
In 2021, his long time mentor and friend, Dr. Bart Rubin passed away, leaving his dream of the Family Institute of Berkeley unrealized. At one time, the Family Institute of Pinole and the Trauma Institute of Richmond were the largest family therapy and systemic therapy training institutions in Northern California. He had always wished he had named in the Family Institute of Berkeley since those outside of the local area did not know the city of Pinole, California. Bart Rubin, Ph.D. was one of the most prolific supporters of family therapy in the SF Bay Area, teaching at Alliant International University, the Wright Institute, and training hundreds of clinicians in working with families.
In 2023, Dr. Sutton approached a group of family therapists from the to come together to provide workshops, one way mirror trainings, and supervision/consultation to those in the community wishing to develop their skills. Today, teams of seasoned family therapists work together to lead family therapy training, and support their licensed and student clinicians provide systemic, culturally competent treatment to children, adolescents, families, couples, and adults. The Family Institute of Berkeley currently runs one way mirror. courses throughout the year, and takes on Marriage and Family Therapy, Social Work, and Professional Counselor associates, and post doctoral psychologist to provide effective treatment to clients.
You can learn more about the founder, Dr. Keith Sutton, in an interview from Shrink Rap Radio
In 2021, his long time mentor and friend, Dr. Bart Rubin passed away, leaving his dream of the Family Institute of Berkeley unrealized. At one time, the Family Institute of Pinole and the Trauma Institute of Richmond were the largest family therapy and systemic therapy training institutions in Northern California. He had always wished he had named in the Family Institute of Berkeley since those outside of the local area did not know the city of Pinole, California. Bart Rubin, Ph.D. was one of the most prolific supporters of family therapy in the SF Bay Area, teaching at Alliant International University, the Wright Institute, and training hundreds of clinicians in working with families.
In 2023, Dr. Sutton approached a group of family therapists from the to come together to provide workshops, one way mirror trainings, and supervision/consultation to those in the community wishing to develop their skills. Today, teams of seasoned family therapists work together to lead family therapy training, and support their licensed and student clinicians provide systemic, culturally competent treatment to children, adolescents, families, couples, and adults. The Family Institute of Berkeley currently runs one way mirror. courses throughout the year, and takes on Marriage and Family Therapy, Social Work, and Professional Counselor associates, and post doctoral psychologist to provide effective treatment to clients.
You can learn more about the founder, Dr. Keith Sutton, in an interview from Shrink Rap Radio