Doctor Bruce and Nellie Litchfield developed and started delivering courses in 1992 as a ministry in response to requests by church leaders.
They were birthed out of much travail, many years of intensive input both in Australia and USA, a deep God-given passion for the health and restoration of individuals and the families of the world, and many years of professional marriage and family therapy practice (including addiction therapy, sexual therapy and individual psychotherapy).
In 1994 the courses were brought under the banner of Family Ministries, Youth With A Mission (YWAM) and were accredited as an Advanced Certificate in Christian Counselling and Family Therapy.
In 1997, the courses became accredited as a Certificate IV and Diploma in Christian Counselling and Family Therapy.
In 1999, the courses were transferred to the Family Resource Centre Australia, Institute for the Nations (YWAM) Canberra (the local expression of YWAM's international University of the Nations).
In 2001 the courses were taken out of YWAM and placed under the newly formed Australian Institute of Family Counselling Limited, a company limited by guarantee and a non-profit organisation. The friendship with YWAM remains. In 2003 the courses were reaccredited for five years and the Diploma was upgraded to an Advanced Diploma of Counselling and Family Therapy (Christian).
The courses are now available Australia-wide and intensive teaching seminars can be attended in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth, Sydney (in English and Korean), and Townsville. A Distance Education program is available for Australian students for whom attendance at seminars is not possible and for English speaking students living overseas.