FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

SYSTEMIC PRACTICE COURSES

The Systemic Practice courses (Families and Couples and Child Focused Practice) are provided jointly by the Institute of Family Therapy and Birkbeck, University of London.

Some FAQs are more pertinently answered on the Birkbeck website. The profession of Family Therapy is overseen by the Association of Family Therapy.  Again, much useful information can be found on their website, www.aft.org.uk. Please follow the links below. 

How do I become a Family Therapist?

Family Therapy training in the UK is a four year part-time post graduate training.  Courses are usually located within universities and the full qualification incorporates the university degree of MSc or MA.  Applicants should have a first university degree or its equivalent.  They will also usually have a recognised related professional qualification such as social work, teaching, nursing, medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist, etc.  Please see Prior Training Requirements.

At the Institute of Family Therapy the training is divided into 3 segments:

• Year One is Foundation Level.  There is a broad intake and it is not necessary to meet the criteria for the full training. The award is a Graduate Certificate in Systemic Practice.  There are two streams: Families and Couples and Child Focused Practice.  Both lead to the same award. 
• Year Two is Intermediate Level.  You must have successfully completed a foundation level training (equivalent to Year One) in order to gain access to this course.  The award is a Postgraduate Certificate in Systemic Practice.  There are two streams: Families and Couples and Child Focused Practice.  Both lead to the same award.  At the end of the Postgraduate certificate (Year Two) you can be called a Systemic Practitioner.  AFT is working on how to recognise this level of training more fully.
• Years Three and Four comprise the professional training and bring the title Systemic Family Psychotherapist.  Applicants must have gone through Years One and Two and also undergo a selection process to gain access to the course. 

What will I be qualified to do at the end of the Graduate Certificate?

Students come on the Certificate course for a variety of reasons.  The  Graduate Certificate is not a recognised professional qualification in itself.  However it does provide participants with grounding in the basics of family systems work including different approaches to work with families and philosophical perspectives.  We cover a range of topics including families in multiple contexts. 

For many students this foundation provides an adjunct to their professional work and is enough for them to add to their existing professional skills. A substantial minority of students leave after the first year.

Successful completion of the Certificate year is essential for progression to the Post Graduate Certificate, and indeed to the full Family Therapy training in years 3 and 4.

Do I have to be working with families in the field at the moment in order to do the course? 

Years one and two (Graduate Certificate and Postgraduate Certificate Systemic Practice) focus on the application of systemic ideas to your workplace.  You do not need to be in a ‘Family Therapy’ setting or clinic.

For Year one (Graduate Certificate Systemic Practice) Families and Couples Stream you need to be able to meet with a family in some professional capacity at least twice during the year.  For the Graduate Certificate Systemic Practice Child Focused Stream you need to be working with children and able to meet with their families at least occasionally to discuss the child.

For Year two (Postgraduate Certificate Systemic Practice, both streams) you must be able to undertake 60 hours of systemic practice with families and couples, including children for the Child Focused stream.  Again, this is about the application of ideas to your current work and is not expected to by ‘Family Therapy’ as such. 

We strongly encourage students to find placements in teams which undertake systemic practice. IFT does not provide placements.  It is up to students to make their own arrangements and negotiate honorary contracts as necessary.

There is no doubt that those students who have high exposure to systemic ideas, thinking and practice in their workplace or placements have more opportunity to benefit from the course.

I have been seeing families in my work context for a long time, have attended family therapy workshops and been part of a family therapy group at work.  Can I enter at the Postgraduate Certificate level and skip the Foundation Level (Graduate Certificate level).

Generally speaking practice on its own, even with live supervision and discussion of papers etc, is not enough.  AFT guidelines are very clear regarding the amount of direct teaching and learning outcomes required. See below for the AFT guidelines.

I have a qualification in another therapeutic modality or related profession. Can I enter the training at the PG Certificate or MSc level?

The Institute of Family Therapy is registered with the Association of Family Therapy and Systemic Practice (AFT) which accredits professional Family Therapy trainings in the UK.  Our courses follow their ‘Blue Book’ Guidelines.  In order for students to enter at a level other than foundation they have to demonstrate that they have met the requirements set out by AFT.  This is usually done by providing a copy of the curriculum of your previous training along with your application. 

For the Foundation year (Graduate Certificate Systemic Practice) you must show that you have had a minimum of 60 hours direct teaching, 120 self study and have attained learning outcomes set by AFT. 

For the Intermediate year you must show you have had at least 60 hours of direct teaching (i.e 120 for years one and two), 60 hours of systemic practice and 120 hours of self study, and that you have attained the AFT approved learning outcomes. 

(For AFT learning outcomes please visit their website: www.aft.org.uk)

What if I miss the deadline for applications.

Applications for the Systemic Practice (Families and Couples or Child Focused) courses are due in June of the year in which they start.  Applications received by the closing date are responded to in early July at the latest.  Applications received after the closing date will be considered in September. 

How often do the courses run?

The Systemic Practice courses (Families and Couples and Child Focused streams) run yearly from October to June. 

The intake for the MSc Family and Systemic Psychotherapy is every two years and the next intake will be in 2010.  Applications for the MSc are usually due in the preceding February. 

What if English is not my first language?

If English is not your first language, Birkbeck will ask you to demonstrate competence in English before accepting you onto a course. Some admissions tutors may assess an applicant’s command of English at interview, or through setting a brief writing exercise after application, but the following minimum scores are a guide to the standard Birkbeck requires:

• IELTS (International English Language Testing System) 6.5
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) 580 (or 237 in the computer-based test), plus 4 in the essay writing)

Birkbeck offers a range of courses to help you improve and extend your language and study skills in English and academic writing in order to participate more effectively in British higher education. The programme covers modules for non-native speakers of English (NNSE) and native speakers of English (NSE), and are for a range of students, from pre-university and foundation degree to undergraduate and postgraduate. The courses are also suitable for non-native English speakers who are not currently studying in higher education but plan to do so in the future or for anyone wishing to improve their level of proficiency in English to a very high standard. The levels on offer range from upper intermediate to very advanced. For more information about these courses please contact the Centre for Learning and Professional Development at Birkbeck (www.clpd.bbk.ac.uk).

How much of the course is made up of written work?

The course is offered in conjunction with Birkbeck, University of London, and is hence an academic course.  Students are expected to be able to express themselves clearly in writing to a standard which meets undergraduate level (for the Graduate Certificates) and postgraduate level for the Postgraduate Certificates and the MSc. 

I have a specific learning disability. What support is available for me?

There is a range of support offered by Birkbeck for disabled students, including those with specific learning disabilities. For more information please see www.bbk.ac.uk/disability or contact the Disability Office at Birkbeck directly:

Disability Office

Room G018

Birkbeck, University of London

Malet Street

London WC1E 7HX

tel: 020 7631 6336

email: Disability Office

minicom: 020 7631 6630