Systemic Practice (Foundation)

Program Overview

The Foundation Course in Systemic Practice is a 12-month part-time program that introduces students to systemic principles, models of family therapy, and their practical application. Accredited by the Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice, it prepares students for further training in this specialized field and enhances professional skills for working with clients in family and other relational settings. The course is taught by expert academics and features a combination of lectures, practical classes, and group tutorials.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Foundation Course in Systemic Practice is a 12-month part-time program designed to introduce students to systemic principles, models of family therapy, and their application to practice. It is accredited by the Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice, preparing students to transition into this specialized field.

Objectives:

• Introduce key theoretical approaches in family therapy and associated skills and techniques.
• Examine personal and professional contexts from a systemic perspective.
• Acquire basic systemic practice skills, including genogram construction, circular questions, and reframing.
• Critically analyze systemic ideas and their value within a historical context.
• Promote anti-discriminatory practice and demonstrate awareness of the impact of wider social context, particularly regarding race, gender, and disability.

Outline:

Content:

• Basic theory and concepts of systemic family practice.
• Theories of change and "schools" of systemic practice, including structural, Milan, post-Milan constructionist, and narrative approaches.
• Family life cycles, developmental tasks, and inter-generational patterns.
• Approaches to systemic practice in different settings and with different client groups.

Structure:

• The course runs on approximately 16 Wednesday evenings (5pm to 8.30pm) between September and July, plus approximately three full days.

Assessment:

• Attendance and participation in lectures and tutorials.
• Feedback on written assignments.
• Group presentation on an area of interest.
• Reflective learning journal completed during the year of the course.

Assessment Criteria:

• Two written assignments focus on summative assessment of theoretical knowledge and application to practice.
• Group presentation and reflective learning journal receive formative feedback, focusing on personal and professional development and skills.

Teaching:

• Lectures.
• Practical classes.
• Group tutorials.
• Extensive use of IT and a wide range of materials for self-paced learning.
• Taught by expert academics, including lecturers, professors, industry professionals, and trained postgraduate researchers.

Careers:

• Students who complete Foundation level training in Systemic Practice enhance their professional skills, enabling them to work with clients in family and other relational settings.
• Past students have progressed to training on the Systemic Practice (Intermediate) and Systemic Family Therapy MSc courses.
• Completion of the MSc in Systemic Family Therapy qualifies students to register with the UKCP as Systemic and Family Psychotherapists, allowing them to practice as qualified family therapists in the public, voluntary, and private sectors.

Other:

• The Leeds Family Therapy and Research Centre has been training therapists for over 22 years.
• The course is available as a stand-alone module or as part of the Postgraduate Certificate in Systemic Practice.
• Suitable for professionals working in psychology, nursing, psychiatry, social work, counselling, voluntary organizations, and related fields.
• An Open Evening is held on Wednesday, 6th March 2024, from 5pm to 7pm.
• Students may wish to undertake systemic supervision of their clinical practice at this stage in their own work agency.
• Costs of supervision are typically met by the employer, such as in NHS settings.
• The University offers a range of funding opportunities for students.
• The Careers Centre and faculty staff provide career planning and support services.

UK fees: £3,500 (Total) International fees: £7,000 (Total)