Post-Graduate Training
in Systemic Couple & Family Therapy (2 1/2
years)
This course is suited to individuals who have previously
completed a training course in individual counselling,
psychology or psychotherapy (or similar), and are seeking
to expand their repertoire of clinical skills and selection
of treatment modalities, thereby enhancing their clinical
practice.
The course explores some of the major schools of systemic
family therapy including Structural Family Therapy,
Strategic Family Therapy, Brief Solution Focused Therapy
and Milan Systemic Family Therapy. Systems theory in
general offers a unique perspective and approach to the
clinical treatment and understanding of "problems"
pertaining to individuals, children, adolescents, couples,
families and groups, as the focus shifts markedly from the
intrapsychic to the interpersonal.
In addition the course explores various concepts pertaining
to relationships and originating from Psychoanalysis such
as the unconscious, transference and counter transference,
projective identification, the Oedipus complex, the
compulsion to repeat etc.
Some of the clinical skills and theory to be explored are:
understanding context and process, the first interview,
joining, position and neutrality, hypothesizing, working
with genograms, structure and boundaries, sequence and
hierarchy, the use of questions and different types of
questions: circular questioning, future hypothetical
questions, questions which imply the solution, the miracle
question, scaling questions, triadic questions, mind
reading questions; reframing, giving directives, positive
connotations, home work exercises, the use of rituals,
paradoxical interventions, theories of change etc.
The course emphasises the application of theory and
development of clinical skills with regard to clinical
practice. Common presenting problems encountered in
everyday clinical practice pertaining to children and
adolescents, families and couples are explored with a view
to applying effective interventions.
Training
Structure:
Duration: 2 1/2 years. The course runs according to public
school terms and as such there are four terms per year of
approximately 10 weeks per term.
The course comprises three core subjects:
(1) Clinical Theory and Supervision Group which is held
weekly for 2 1/2 hours for the duration of the course;
(2) Interpersonal Relationships Group which is held weekly
for 1 1/2 hours for the first two years of the course; and
(3) Individual Clinical Supervision on a one hour per
session basis varying in length depending on the length of
the 2 control cases being supervised.
Core Subjects:
(1) Clinical Theory and Supervision Group:
The objective of this group is to explore critical issues
relevant to clinical practice as a Couples and Family
Therapist, by way of seminars, selected reading,
discussion, skills training and clinical supervision of
case work. Video tapes of trainees’ clinical work are
utilised. There is ample opportunity for trainees to
develop their own unique style and pursue their own
clinical interests. Trainees are required to present a
tutorial paper to the group twice per year in each of the
first 2 years. A major paper focussing upon an area of
personal interest is due by the end of the course.
(2) Interpersonal Relationships Group:
This group provides a unique opportunity to explore
personal issues and development, with a focus on
understanding patterns of relationship stemming from one’s
family of origin. It also provides a space in which
counter-transference issues pertaining to ones clinical
work can be examined.
(3) Individual Clinical Supervision:
The course requires the completion of two control cases:
one family therapy case and one couples therapy case.
Throughout both these cases trainees are required to be in
individual clinical supervision, to present a video of one
session from each control case to their supervisor and to
maintain a full set of clinical notes. Upon successful
completion of the course graduates are required to
undertake a further two years of clinical supervision on a
minimum one hour per fortnight basis.
Qualifications/Registration
Upon successful completion of the training course,
graduates receive full registration as a Coulpes
and Family Therapist, and Associate Membership of
ICP. Graduates are also able to apply to PACFA for
additional individual registration.
