Find out more about studying PgCert Systemic Practice and Family Therapy at Queen's University Belfast? We've gathered all the key details, entry requirements, modules, fees, and more. Take the next step by booking an open day to explore it for yourself.
Postgraduate Certificate
Queen's University Belfast
Part Time
Sep 2026
1 Year
OverviewThe suite of multidisciplinary Systemic Practice and Family Therapy programmes are suitable for professionally qualified staff who wish to enhance their skills of working effectively with individuals, families, couples, other systems and relationship networks.There are three levels of systemic practice and family therapy training: PG Certificate (AFT accredited Foundation - Year 1), PG Diploma (AFT accredited Intermediate- Year 2) and MSc Systemic Psychotherapy (AFT accredited Qualifying level training - Years 3 and 4).This one-year Postgraduate Certificate is the entrance programme to all levels of systemic training and must be undertaken before applying for other programmes.The Postgraduate Certificate seeks to help practitioners in different settings and roles understand the core concepts of contemporary systemic practice and utilise systemic skills and techniques to maximise the therapeutic benefit for individual service users or relationships groups in their everyday work.Systemic practice and family therapy helps people in close relationships to better understand and support each other. It enables individuals and family members to express and explore difficult thoughts and emotions safely, understand each other’s experiences and views, appreciate each other’s needs, build on family strengths, and work together to make useful changes in their relationships and their lives.Systemic family therapy has been found to be effective across the life course in helping children, young people, adults, couples and families struggling with a broad range of difficulties and circumstances.Systemic practitioners, and family and systemic psychotherapists work in many health and social care contexts across child and adult settings, including child and family support services, looked after children’s services, older people’s services, physical health and disability, substance use, justice and mental health services.Please note that this course is not eligible for a Tier 4 visa.Systemic Practice And Family Therapy HighlightsThe Postgraduate Certificate in Systemic Practice and Family Therapy provides knowledge and skills which are highly valued in both child and adult services across health, justice and social care.Professional AccreditationsAll levels of Systemic Practice and Family Therapy programmes at Queen's are accredited by the Association of Family Therapy and Systemic Practice UK (AFT), a member organisation of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP), and recognised by the relevant professions’ continuing professional development frameworks. The PG Certificate programme is aligned with the specialist award of the Professional in Practice CPD framework for Social Work of the Northern Ireland Social Care Council.
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