Family Therapy and Systemic Practice PGCert

Introduction

If you’re committed to a career as a qualified systemic psychotherapist, this postgraduate certificate is your first step. Study flexibly over two years in Huntingdon, around your work commitments. Our course is also for any professional who wants to develop skills in working systemically with individuals, couples and families.

Our PG Cert is the first two years of a four-year qualification for Family and Systemic Psychotherapy. Made up of two modules, our course is accredited by the Association of Family Therapy (AFT), so you can be confident that you’re developing skills that are up-to-date and relevant for a career in family psychotherapy. Each module can be studied alone as part of your continued professional development, or they can be combined as you work towards your full training to become a qualified systemic (family) psychotherapist. Our course is suitable whatever client groups you work with and will build on your knowledge, beliefs and experiences within your own work context. You’ll develop a deep understanding of systemic thinking and practice and how to put this into practice with clients and families, exploring a range of presenting problems and contexts spanning the lifecycle from birth to old age.

How you'll be assessed

You’ll be assessed in a range of ways to determine your expertise as an advanced reflective practitioner, including case and paper presentations to peers, a reflective portfolio, a case study and, at the end of the second module, a presentation to peers on a systemic concept of your choice and its application to practice. Assessment is on-going throughout the course and small group learning develops your skills with formative and informal feedback available on an ongoing basis.

Careers

By successfully completing your PG Cert you’ll be able to continue your studies to the completion of your MSc, which will then allow you to register as a family and systemic psychotherapist, on the basis that you fulfil AFT requirements. You’ll also be able to refer to yourself as a systemic practitioner, which will be a significant addition to your professional portfolio.

Students need a UK honours degree. In order to maximise access to training in systemic practice, entry requirement for foundation level are kept to a minimum by the Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice. Students should have: A relevant professional training or equivalent (these may include nursing, psychology, social work, psychiatry and other medical specialties, teaching, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, counselling, and dance, drama or music therapy.) For students just wishing to do Year 1, substantial experience in caring may also be considered (eg child and family workers, foster carers) Students will need two references, one of which should comment on the applicant's professional practice. This is to comply with the AFT requirements.