Postgraduate Certificate Family Therapeutic Skills

Course description

Family life in Ireland has changed dramatically over the last 30 years, consequently there is a growing demand for sufficiently skilled counselling and psychotherapy professionals  who are equipped to work therapeutically with families struggling with a range of issues from relationship breakdown, child protection and custody concerns, to loved ones with complex mental health difficulties or in the throes of addiction. Many counsellors and psychotherapists currently working with families and family-related issues are experiencing a deficit in the skills and knowledge required to support effective therapeutic outcomes and many family resources hubs throughout Ireland would benefit greatly from expertly trained professionals with sufficient expertise to work with family related issues. Validated by Middlesex University, this lively, creative and experiential program strives to create open, safe and respectful spaces in which a variety of modalities are explored, and skills competence achieved. The program will engage each learner in the ongoing dynamic process of demonstrating humility, openness and courage for connecting with each other and their clients throughout this programme and into clinical practice. It aims to enhance therapeutic care within diverse families and communities through the acquisition of key clinical skills, as well as tend to the therapist’s personal growth and reflective development.

This exciting new program aims to furnish existing counselling and psychotherapy practitioners with the skills and knowledge required to expand their existing repertoire and develop the expertise used by systemic family therapists working with children, adults and couples.

Therapists who are working therapeutically with clients on a one to one basis will develop a new skills set and the opportunity to work systemically, where the individual is understood through the contextual lens of their family of origin and current family dynamics. Therapists who are already working with families, couples and young people will benefit greatly from learning about underpinning theories, introductory systemic and EFT skills as well as the opportunity to reflect on their practice and personal development.