The Family Institute at Northwestern University

About Us

To strengthen and heal individuals and families from all walks of life through clinical service, education and research.

We counsel individuals. We heal couples and we help families. Our focus is three-fold: therapy, academics and research. We are The Family Institute at Northwestern University, a center for direct care, academic learning and new innovative discoveries.

It is our firm belief that family is the singular, most significant factor influencing human identity, and that the definition of ''family'' takes many forms which are not limited by the boundaries of biology, marriage or law.

Each month, we help hundreds of families to live healthier, stronger lives. Last year alone, more than 6,000 men, women and children sought us out to provide the help they need regardless of income, or access to insurance. Through our unique Bette D. Harris Family and Child Clinic, we offer a sliding-fee scale, so clients throughout the Chicago metropolitan area pay what they can afford.

As an affiliate of Northwestern University, we are a unique not-for-profit organization that is leading the way in all facets of marriage and family therapy. No other institution brings together such a concentration of knowledge, expertise and academic credentials to help improve the lives of people in Chicago and around the globe.