CPD Certificate in Family Dynamics (Level 8 Module)

Programme Content

This module aims to explore clinical considerations for integrating systemic work into the therapeutic space. The module will focus specifically on enabling trainees to review, extend, transfer and adapt skills, strategies and concepts applied in one-to-one counselling in order to facilitate learners’ understanding of providing therapy within systemic contexts.

This module is experiential in nature and includes the following:

• The influence of the following: family belief system; family rules; family roles; communication patterns;
• Understanding the genogram and its application to clinical work;
• Interventions such as sculpting, circular questions, narrative approaches and use of timelines;
• Systemic assessment, use of assessment tools (i.e. SDQ) and utilisation of multiple perspectives (i.e. child, parent, partner, sibling etc.).
• Taking a full family history and contracting with more than one person;
• Theoretical considerations;
• Creative and experiential approaches to systemic work (i.e. art, visualization etc.); and
• Conducting a case study.

Written Assignment:

Learners are required to prepare a 2,500-word case study assignment demonstrating use of a systemic intervention in clinical work. The case study will commence with a brief literature derived evaluation of the efficacy of systemic approaches. Following this, the learner will present how they have applied this to their work.  A full genogram will be provided, and the learner will critically reflect on its application from a clinical perspective. Learners will utilise a systemic intervention and evaluate its outcome. The assignment will also critique and reflect upon the influence of the family life cycle, in particular, the impact of transitions, traumas and crises and the challenges they raise for the therapist.