Leaders in Distance Learning

Professional Diploma in Family Counselling

Introduction

This course is designed to follow on from, and compliment the basic or introductory counselling course. Reappraisal of basic counselling skills and core knowledge will be covered, together with a detailed examination of the five approaches or theories counselling.

Specific attention will be given to psychodynamic, cognitive behavioural and person-centred approaches, which will give students a fuller working knowledge and understanding of advanced counselling skills. In specialist counselling fields, these advanced skills are necessary in order to be able to recognise and deal with the complex range of client needs, together with being able to understand the origins of these particular emotions and possible physiological factors.

Family counselling has emerged and developed significantly since the 1950's, and is a collaboration of modernist, postmodernist and constructionist views. The two important developments within family counselling during the past 60 years has been the systemic formulation and integrative practices which links the theory and practical aspects. In addition to the counselling approaches, various working models and theories specific to this field will be explored as well as the following concepts: meta-communication, genograms, triangulation, open and closed systems, reframing, solution focused counselling, goal setting and reflective practice.

The course consists of 10 modules, each with an assignment to complete. Upon completion of the whole course there will be required to pass a 5000 word extended essay question.

Module titles

1. Introduction, outline of family cycle and reappraisal of counselling skills
2. The psychodynamic approach relevant to family therapy
3. The cognitive behavioural approach relevant to family therapy
4. The person-centred approach relevant to family therapy
5. Ethics, consent, counsellor responsibilities and historical background
6. Main concepts
7. Processes in family counselling part 1
8. Processes in family counselling part 2
9. Focus on specific problems part 1
10. Focus on specific problems part 2

Module 1: Introduction, outline of family cycle and reappraisal of counselling skills

This module outlines the concept and definition of the family cycle and reflects on previous counselling knowledge. It also looks in detail at the five theories which have been adopted as approaches in counselling. In this module the work of Freud, Rogers, Skinner, Ellis, Jung and Eagan will be looked at in brief, and the corresponding counselling approaches examined.

Module 2: The psychodynamic approach relevant to family counselling

This module will look at how they work and are applied to the counselling situation. Specific examples and activities will give the student indications as to which particular set of client circumstances benefits most from this approach.

Module 3: The cognitive behavioural approach relevant to family counselling

This module will look at how they work and are applied to the counselling situation. Specific examples and activities will give the student indications as to which particular set of client circumstances benefits most from this approach.

Module 4: The person-centred approach relevant to family counselling

This module will look at how they work and are applied to the counselling situation. Specific examples and activities will give the student indications as to which particular set of client circumstances benefits most from this approach.

Module 5: Ethics, consent, counsellor responsibilities and historical background

This module will discuss boundaries or limitations and will look at how to recognise and deal with these. It will also look at what types of consent and responsibilities the counsellor has to seek. In addition, some historical background of the development of family therapy since the 1950's will be explored, together with the emergence of the therapeutic concepts in use today.

Module 6: Main concepts

This module examines the emergence of the systems theory, together with the lifecycle of the family and the relevant social influences and aspects.

Module7: Processes in family counselling part 1

This module looks at the planning, assessing and delivery of family counselling, including concepts such as disengagement, deconstruction of problems and construction.

Module 8: Processes in family counselling part 2

This module continues by discussing interventions, feedback loops, progressive hypothesizing and contexts.

Module 9: Focus on specific problems part 1

This module looks at relationships within the family and specifically discusses depression, anxiety and associated psychological problems within the family that may be encountered within the counselling context. It will also cover alcohol and drug problems within the adult family members.

Module 10: Focus on specific problems part 2

This module looks at abuse within the family situation (child and physical conduct) that may be encountered in the counselling situation. It also covers alcohol and substance abuse within the children and adolescent family members.

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