Welcome to the UNC Satir Program!

UNC Satir is the first permanent, university-based home for training in the Satir Growth Model in the United States. Based in the UNC School of Social Work, we offer several training opportunities for graduate students, practitioners, and other professionals who are interested in learning how to effect positive change through communication skills during times of stress, conflict, or transition. The courses and workshops we offer are highly experiential, and participants can expect to develop skills that not only enhance their professional lives but are deeply rewarding personally.

Family therapy pioneer Virginia Satir developed her groundbreaking model in the 1960s and 70s. She believed that all human beings have the capacity for growth and change. Her strengths-based model remains invaluable for therapists, professionals, and the countless individuals who ultimately benefit from it. UNC Satir supports Virginia Satir’s legacy through training and academic research, and we are particularly excited about the unique way our program contributes to the UNC School of Social Work’s mission to advance equity, transform systems, and improve lives.

In addition to two credit-bearing graduate courses focused on the Satir Growth Model, UNC Satir offers a week-long intensive training workshop for practitioners and other professionals every summer. Individuals who complete the two courses and summer intensive qualify for the UNC Satir 80-Hour Training Certificate.

If you would like to receive updates about our programs please use the form on this page to add your name to our mailing list, or feel free to contact us with any questions you have.