COURSE OUTLINE 2008

The overall aim of the course is to extend the knowledge and skills acquired by clinical workers in their undergraduate education and subsequent work experience so that they can work effectively as family therapists in a wide range of therapy contexts.

This is intended firstly, by developing the ability to integrate, in the therapist-family interface, practice wisdom, theoretical knowledge, the use of self, and involvement with the wider context and secondly, by equipping participants with the skills to generate new knowledge and evaluate effectiveness.

It is anticipated that at the end of the course participants will have:

* developed a sound knowledge of the theoretical bases and practical applications of family therapy;
* achieved clinical proficiency in all phases of family therapy with a wide range of family problems;
* explored and analysed the network of relationships between their own family experiences; their clinical experiences; the process and outcome of therapy and the broader environments with which they and families interact and in which therapy takes place;
* developed basic skills in the critical evaluation of family therapy.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The course is offered part-time for two years. Students are required to attend for six hours per week (three and a half to four hours of supervised clinical experience and two to two and a half hours of theory).

YEAR 1 UNITS, 2008

Unit Title: Family Therapy Theory A
Unit Code: FTH5FTA

This unit is designed to give students an in-depth understanding of the foundations of different models of family therapy, primarily with a view to providing some theoretical and philosophical frameworks for actual practice, but also to give students an appreciation of the history and context of the development of these frameworks. The ethical implications of the models will be addressed more comprehensively in the following year.

Semester: One
Class requirements: one 2.5 hour lecture per week
Assessment: one 3,000-word essay (100%)
Co-requisite: FTH5SCA. Students must be enrolled in HMCLFT Master of Clinical Family Therapy
Credit points: 10


Unit Title: Family Therapy Theory B
Unit Code: FTH5FTB

This unit is a continuation of FTH5FTA from the previous semester designed to give students an in-depth understanding of the foundations of different models of family therapy, primarily with a view to providing some theoretical and philosophical frameworks for actual practice. However, there is a heavier emphasis on post-modern approaches in this semester.

Semester: Two
Class requirements: one 2.5 hour lecture per week
Assessment: one 3,000-word essay (100%)
Co-requisite: FTH5SCB. Students must be enrolled in HMCLFT Master of Clinical Family Therapy
Pre-requisite: FTH5FTA
Credit points: 10


Unit Title: Supervised Clinical Practice A
Unit Code: FTH5SCA

In this unit students are taught to develop family therapy assessment and executive skills, initially with roleplay families and subsequently with families from The Bouverie Centre's waiting list and the student's own workplace. The emphasis is on gaining first hand experience in the various aspects of family therapy practice and integrating the theory taught in the course with clinical practice. The unit is aimed at developing conceptual and practical skills by live supervision as therapist and as a member of a reflecting team. The unit is conducted in small groups led by an experienced family therapist supervisor. Concurrent with the 91 hours of clinical supervision within the first year of the course, throughout the year, students must be working within a counselling or therapy relationship with at least 5 families at any one time.

Semester: One
Class requirements: one 3.5 hour clinical practice session per week, plus an additional 39 hours of clinical work
Assessment: one 2-hour oral review of clinical competencies (group of 6) AND one contact sheet Hurdle requirement, (pass/fail) (student supervisor rated) ( 0%)
two, 2,250-word case analyses (75%)
one 1,500-word learning goals reflection (25%)
Co-requisite: FTH5FTA. Students must be enrolled in HMCLFT Master of Clinical Family Therapy
Credit points: 20


Unit Title: Supervised Clinical Practice B
Unit Code: FTH5SCB

In this unit students are taught to develop family therapy assessment and executive skills, initially with roleplay families and subsequently with families from The Bouverie Centre's waiting list and the student's own workplace. The emphasis is on gaining first hand experience in the various aspects of family therapy practice and integrating the theory taught in the course with clinical practice. The unit is aimed at developing conceptual and practical skills by live supervision as therapist and as a member of a reflecting team. The unit is conducted in small groups led by an experienced family therapist supervisor. Concurrent with the 91 hours of clinical supervision within the first year of the course, throughout the year, students must be working within a counselling or therapy relationship with at least 5 families at any one time.

Semester: Two
Class requirements: one 3.5 hour clinical practice session per week, plus an additional 39 hours of clinical work
Assessment: one 2-hour oral review of clinical competencies (group of 6) AND one contact sheet Hurdle requirement (pass/fail) (student supervisor rated) (0%)
two 2,250-word case analyses (75%)
one 1,500-word learning goals reflection (25%)
Co-requisite: FTH5FTB. Students must be enrolled in HMCLFT Master of Clinical Family Therapy
Pre-requisite: FTH5SCA, FTH5FTA
Credit points: 20


YEAR 2 UNITS, 2008

Unit Title: Family Therapy Theory C
Unit Code: FTH5FTC

In this unit students are provided with an opportunity to explore in depth the philosophical underpinning of postmodern and systemic approaches to family therapy. Students will be expected to critically review in detail all the major narrative and systemic approaches. Discussions and papers will also focus on recent advances in practice.

Semester: One
Class requirements: one 2 hour lecture per week
Assessment: one 3,000-word essay (100%)
Co-requisite: FTH5SCC. Students must be enrolled in HMCLFT Master of Clinical Family Therapy
Pre-requisite: FTH5FTA, FTH5FTB
Credit points: 10


Unit Title: Family Therapy Theory D
Unit Code: FTH5FTD

In this unit students are provided with an opportunity to explore specialist areas in family therapy. Discussions and papers will also focus on recent advances in practice.

Semester: Two
Class requirements: one 2 hour lecture per week
Assessment: one 3,000-word essay (100%)
Co-requisite: FTH5SCD. Students must be enrolled in HMCLFT Master of Clinical Family Therapy
Pre-requisite: FTH5FTA, FTH5FTB, FTH5FTC
Credit points: 10


Unit Title: Supervised Clinical Practice C
Unit Code: FTH5SCC

Students are taught to enhance their family therapy skills, working with families from The Bouverie Centre's waiting list and the student's own workplace. The emphasis is on gaining first hand experience in the various aspects of advanced family therapy practice and integrating clinical practice with relevant theories. Students refine conceptual and practical skills in live supervision as a therapist and as a member of a reflecting team. Students are given the opportunity to learn in small groups led by an experienced supervisor. Concurrent with the 104 hours of clinical supervision within the second year of the course, throughout the year, students must be working within a counselling or therapy relationship with at least 5 families at any one time.

Semester: One
Class requirements: one 4 hour clinical practice session per week, plus an additional minimum 39 hours of clinical work
Assessment: Family therapy skills assessment. Hurdle requirement (student supervisor rated) (pass/fail) (0%)
three 2,000-word case analyses (100%)
Co-requisite: FTH5FTC. Students must be enrolled in HMCLFT Master of Clinical Family Therapy
Pre-requisite: FTH5FTA, FTH5FTB, FTH5SCA, FTH5SCB
Credit points: 20


Unit Title: Supervised Clinical Practice D
Unit Code: FTH5SCD

In this unit students are taught to enhance their family therapy skills, working with families from The Bouverie Centre's waiting list and the student's own workplace with an emphasis on their gaining first hand experience in the various aspects of advanced family therapy practice and integrating clinical practice with relevant theories. Students will aim to further refine conceptual and practical skills in live supervision as a therapist and as a member of a reflecting team. They will focus on their development of their individual style as therapists. Concurrent with the 104 hours of clinical supervision within the second year of the course, throughout the year students must be working within a counselling or therapy relationship with at least 5 families at any one time.

Semester: Two
Class requirements: one 4 hour clinical practice session per week plus an additional minimum 39 hours of clinical work
Assessment: Family therapy skills assessment. Hurdle requirement. (student supervisor rated) (pass/fail) (0%)
one group of 6 oral presentation (10-minutes/member)(15%)
one 2,000-word essay (35%)
one 3,000-word case analysis (50%)
Co-requisite: FTH5FTD. Students must be enrolled in HMCLFT Master of Clinical Family Therapy
Pre-requisite: FTH5FTA, FTH5FTB, FTH5FTC, FTH5SCA, FTH5SCB, FTH5SCC
Credit points: 20