Msc in Family and Systemic Psychotherapy

In conjunction with Birkbeck College, University of London

Next intake: September 2008.

The Institute of Family Therapy offers an advanced clinical training in Family and Systemic Psychotherapy with an award of an MSc (Birkbeck College, University of London). Details of this course are set out below. The course begins in September 2008, runs for two years and is designed to enable participants to pursue their careers concurrently.

The course is inter-disciplinary and is designed for professional practitioners with at least two years post-qualifying experience who wish to develop their skills to the required level for registration with the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy.

The course is accredited by the Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice.

We are currently liaising with the General Social Care Council with view to accreditation, with the future PQ and Advanced Awards structure set to replace the current framework after 2008.

Entrance requirements

• A previous professional qualification in psychology, social work, psychiatry, nursing or education
• A degree level education in the above or other area of academic work. If an applicant does not have a prior degree it must be possible to demonstrate ability to study at an MSc level. Individuals should discuss this with Judy Gray or Belinda Brooks-Gordon before applying
• Completion of foundation and intermediate levels of training in systemic practice or equivalent
• The possibility of completing 100 hours per year of systemic practice outside the course

Aims of the Training

• To enable participants to demonstrate a firm grasp of the principles of systemic thinking and apply them to the behaviour of people in families, marriages, partnerships and other significant relationship settings
• To develop a critical study of different family forms in different cultures and of the processes which affect stress and coping in their members.
• To acquire a range of clinical skills for intervention when these relationships present with difficulties.
• To develop a reflexive awareness of self as therapist and an understanding of the interplay between personal experience and professional development.
• To understand the principles of a number of different frameworks of Family and Systemic Psychotherapy and to develop the critical capacity to review the effectiveness of these in practice. of Family and Systemic Psychotherapy in relation to a range of practice settings.
• To apply systemic thinking to an understanding of organisational process.
• To gain an understanding of Research Methodology and to integrate research and clinical thinking.
• To combine the clinical training with the development of expertise in specialist practice areas.

Course content

• Family and Systemic Psychotherapy in context.
• Theories of change and models of therapy
• Family forms: structure, lifestyle, development, power and difference
• Applications of systemic thinking and practice
• The developing therapist including skills in self reflexivity and use of self
• Clinical research methodology and outcome evaluation

B. Clinical Supervision

Current course structure

Supervision Groups, consisting of four trainees, meet once per week for four hours over three terms. Additional time is required for reviewing and preparing video tape and for personal/professional development sessions. Groups also meet as peer groups without the supervisor. The supervisor will help in deciding how best to use this time.

Academic blocks are held three times a term and consist of Thursday afternoons and all day Friday. This includes tutorial groups (with emphasis on theoretical learning), workplace consultation groups (where trainees address both organisational and clinical issues from their workplace contexts), personal and professional development groups, research seminars and plenary workshops presented by external speakers.

Attendance at two workshops per year to be chosen from the IFT Training Events Programme.

Trainees will also receive additional individual supervision for their dissertation .

Assessment

• Two theoretical essays
• Case study
• Fieldwork interviewing project
• A Research protocol
• A dissertation of 5,000 - 7,000 words involving a research project or a review of an agreed clinical topic
• Successful completion of clinical hours and satisfactory supervisor's report
• The completion of a learning portfolio
• End of course examination
• Presentation (including video of work) to the clinical accreditation panel
  

Selection

• a group interview
• 2 individual interviews

Fees

• by direct debit in 8 monthly instalments
• in 3 termly instalments

Course Chair

Birkbeck Liaison Tutor