Applying Systemic Principles in Professional Contexts - ARU

Program Overview

This part-time, 10-month PG Cert Family Therapy and Systemic Practice course is designed for healthcare professionals and other professionals who work with families, couples, and individuals. It covers the systemic approach to relationships, communication in relationships, family dynamics, couple relationships, individual therapy, working with children and young people, working with families in crisis, and ethical issues in systemic practice. The course is accredited by the Association of Family Therapy (AFT) and can be used to access year 2 training to qualify as a family therapist.

Program Outline

Develop different perspectives and new approaches to your work as a professional working with families, couples and individuals. Study in Huntingdon, gain a level of professional accreditation, and potentially start on the road to becoming a qualified family therapist.

• Objectives:
• Understand the systemic approach to relationships
• Develop new perspectives and approaches to your work
• Gain a level of professional accreditation
• Start on the road to becoming a qualified family therapist
Every individual is part of a network of significant relationships. The systemic approach explores and uses this network, looking at the beliefs which give meaning to people's actions and focusing particularly on communication. It hears people's stories and helps them to make new sense of things. This course is for healthcare staff and other professionals who work with families, couples and individuals. You’ll learn different perspectives on the work you do, and a new approach to working with families, individuals and couples. The course won’t qualify you as a family therapist, but the course is accredited by the Association of Family Therapy (AFT) and is often referred to as “foundation level training”. It’s the equivalent of the first year of four years' training to qualify as a family therapist. As it is accredited, this module can be used to access any year 2 training (often referred to as "intermediate level training" in the country.

Outline:

• Content: The course covers the following topics:
• The systemic approach to relationships
• Communication in relationships
• Family dynamics
• Couple relationships
• Individual therapy
• Working with children and young people
• Working with families in crisis
• Ethical issues in systemic practice
• Structure: The course is delivered over 10 months part-time.
There are 17 weekly sessions, each lasting 5 hours.
• Course Schedule:
• Week 1: Introduction to the systemic approach
• Week 2: Communication in relationships
• Week 3: Family dynamics
• Week 4: Couple relationships
• Week 5: Individual therapy
• Week 6: Working with children and young people
• Week 7: Working with families in crisis
• Week 8: Ethical issues in systemic practice
• Week 9: Revision and assessment
• Modules: The course consists of one module:
• Systemic Principles in Professional Contexts (30 credits)

Assessment:

• Methods: The course is assessed by one 3,000-word essay and a portfolio which includes a weekly reflective account of your learning.
• Criteria: The assessment criteria are as follows:
• Knowledge and understanding of the systemic approach to relationships
• Ability to develop new perspectives and approaches to your work
• Ability to reflect on your learning and practice

Teaching:

• Methods: The course is taught using a variety of methods, including:
• Lectures
• Seminars
• Workshops
• Role-plays
• Case studies
• Faculty: The course is taught by a team of experienced systemic therapists.
• Unique Approaches: The course uses a unique approach to teaching systemic principles.
The approach is based on the idea that learning is best achieved through experience. As such, the course includes a number of experiential learning activities, such as role-plays and case studies.

Careers:

• Potential Career Paths: The course can lead to a career as a family therapist, systemic psychotherapist, or other related profession.
• Opportunities: Graduates of the course can work in a variety of settings, including:
• Mental health services
• Social services
• Education
• Private practice
• Outcomes: Graduates of the course have gone on to successful careers in a variety of fields.

Other:

• The course is accredited by the Association of Family Therapy (AFT).
• The course is open to healthcare professionals with relevant training (for example in nursing, psychology, social work, psychiatry and other medical specialties, teaching, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, counselling, and dance, drama or music therapy), or equivalent (such as substantial experience as a child and family worker, foster carer, etc).