The Advanced Certificate in Couple and Family Systems Therapy is accredited by the Australian Association of Family Therapy (AAFT) featuring training in relationship systems thinking and clinical application with individuals, couples and families. It is ideal for already practicing clinicians from various disciplines – including social work, psychology, psychiatry, occupational therapy, nursing – wanting to gain theory and practice experience in working with couples and families, moving towards certification as a clinical family therapist with the Australian Association of Family Therapy.
The Advanced Certificate in Couple and Family Systems Therapy is a 2-year accredited training program by the Australian Association of Family Therapy (AAFT) for those wanting to work towards their Clinical Family Therapy Membership with AAFT or further their skills in couple and family work. Drawing on the Family Systems Institute’s rich history of clinical training, the Advanced Certificate offers a unique opportunity for training in the theory and application of Bowen Family Systems Theory within the broader context of family therapy.
The Advanced Certificate program features training in relationship systems thinking that is applicable to clinical work with individuals, couples and families. It is ideal for already practicing clinicians wanting to gain theory and practice experience in working with couples and families, including those in social work, psychology, psychiatry, occupational therapy and nursing.
The program offers a rich learning platform simultaneously for participants starting to work with families as well as more experienced therapists. The unique focus of the self as therapist creates a learning experience that promotes personal and professional growth in applying Bowen theory for both experienced and emerging family systems clinicians.
Download the flyer for the Advanced Certificate in Family Systems Theory and Application.
The core program of the Advanced Certificate is a two year program that includes four online Modules (live reading and discussion groups) and four days of in-person Collaborative Learning Intensives each year. In addition, students are required to complete other Compulsory Professional Development components of the program either separately or simultaneously to the core program – these include Workshops, Family of Origin Research Groups and Clinical Supervision Groups, which are counted as ‘Recognised Prior Learning’ to the training program.
See the section on Recognised Prior Learning for more information.
Online discussion modules and guided reading cover the history and different models in family therapy and provide a grounding in Bowen Theory, while special topic workshops provide opportunity to think about challenging topics.
Special topic workshops, supervision groups and collaborative learning intensives provide opportunity to consider the family life cycle and sociopolitical and cultural contexts of cases in clinical application.
Family of origin research groups provide a unique opportunity to consider the self in the fabric of intergenerational relationship systems, and in the live domains of personal and professional contexts.
Applications for the Advanced Certificate open from 1st July, with applications for the following year closing on October 31st.
Applicants for the Advanced Certificate must have a relevant undergraduate degree, have at least two years experience in a counselling setting, and be working currently in a counselling or clinical context.
Click here for an application form or complete an online enquiry form if you would like more information about the program.
Both the Advanced Certificate and Certificate programs are two years in duration. However the FSI offers ‘Recognised Prior Learning’ (RPL) as part of its core programs learning pathway and encourages students to take time to complete different program elements prior to enrolling in the 2-year program.
View a breakdown of fees for the three core programs below. Remember that elements of the curriculum can be done in advance of registration and used as RPL. This would be deducted from the fees.
Download the fee structureOur course delivery is mostly online live and interactive learning, with some face to face intensives. International and interstate participants can contact the FSI to discuss online options for the face-to-face components.
It is important to have preliminary engagement with Bowen Family Systems theory. This includes activities such as attendance at FSI workshops (which count as RPL), FSI conferences, reading groups or supervision from FSI faculty in your workplace. It is also a requirement to have a workplace setting that provides relevant case examples for the Certificate stream you are enrolling in. It is strongly recommended that people commence the program having already completed some RPL. The only people eligible for entering without RPL are those who have done Bowen theory training at recognised network centres. I.E The Bowen Centre introductory course and network programs, linked below.
Network ProgramsThe Core Program is a commitment of 2 years, and given it is a post-graduate certificate, the timings are considerate of those juggling work and family commitments (e.g. most components are scheduled at the end of a work day or over lunch). Our recommendation is to complete some RPL before registering for the Core Programs, such as the family of origin group, supervision group and workshops if you are concerned about your ability to fulfil the requirements. For a breakdown of time commitments, please email info@thefsi.com.au and request a meeting with our Programs and Engagement Coordinator.
Face to face intensives occur twice a year, and are 2 consecutive days (4 days in total per year). This is a great opportunity to meet faculty and peers and have more of a collaborative learning effort. Some workshops are offered in-person, and all other components (Core program modules, Family of Origin groups, Supervision groups, workshops) are online, live via zoom. There is the option to apply for special consideration for face to face components for interstate or international participants.
Modules:
– 4 hours of guided pre-reading per module (across 3 x 2 hour live online theory and discussion sessions)
There is also pre-reading for the Family of Origin groups, Supervision groups and some workshops, but generally this is less than two hours in preparation.
– 1 Module Assessment per Module. Assessments are 1500 words, answering 3 reflection questions (500 words each) which aim to consolidate learning from the readings and module discussions.
Other Assessments in the Core Program:
– Beliefs Paper Presentation (Year 1) – 750 words
– Individual Research Project (Year 2) – 2500 words
– One 20 minute presentation per year during the Collaborative intensives.
The purpose of the assignments are to demonstrate a deep engagement with the content of the course and an effort to make the learning your own. As such each assessment throughout the course is ungraded.
Other family therapy approaches are considered. All participants are encouraged in discussion groups to consider similarities and differences with other approaches. For more information about Bowen theory and other approaches, follow the link below to Jenny and Lily Mailer’s podcasts, where this is touched on in general.
PodcastsAny workshops, Family of Origin Research Groups or Clinical Supervision Groups that are undertaken in the eight years prior to enrolment in the Advanced Certificate are counted as RPL in your program. When you apply for the Advanced Certificate, you can list any RPL in your application.
The Advanced Certificate is a pathway to becoming accredited as a Clinical Family Therapist with the Australian Association of Family Therapy (AAFT). The FSI program is a recognised 250-hour training program with AAFT, which then opens the opportunity for individuals to continue the pathway with AAFT toward Clinical Family Therapy Membership which includes specific requirements around family therapy practice and supervision hours. You can find more information from AAFT here – www.aaft.asn.au
The FSI does offer a post-graduate supervision group for those wishing to apply for Clinical Membership with AAFT. For more information on this, please contact info@thefsi.com.au
Applicants for the Advanced Certificate must have a relevant undergraduate degree, have at least two years experience in a counselling setting, and be working currently in a counselling or clinical context. There are no clinical placements in the course. The flexible nature of the course means you could do the non-AAFT Certificate program and then complete the AAFT bridging components once you have the clinical work organised.
It is possible to start in the Certificate program and transition into the Advanced Certificate for those who have the required pre-requisites (relevant undergraduate degree, have at least two years experience in a counselling setting, and be working currently in a counselling or clinical context).
Yes, but with caveats. We recommend international students initially look for Bowen Theory training programs in their own area, but our online and flexible training programs do allow for international students, and so we welcome applications. For a tailored discussion regarding your specific circumstances, please contact info@thefsi.com.au and request a meeting with our Programs and Engagement Coordinator.
The core components of the training (theory and discussion groups and intensives) are all completed in a 2 year period. However the required additional components (FoO, Supervision Groups, Seminars) may start part way through your 1st year and therefore flow over into an additional 6 months from the time of commencement. Remember that the required additional components can all be done prior to commencing the 2 year Certificate.
The core program runs on a 2-year cycle, and so if students need to request a period of leave from the course, they will be unable to complete those modules for another 2 years. As such, we recommend students complete as much RPL as possible prior to commencing the Core Programs to assist with workload whilst enrolled in the Core Program.
Fee schedules must be up to date prior to taking an absence of leave.
If you’re interested fill in an enquiry form from the web page, linked below. Numbers are capped for these programs so there is no guarantee of spaces. However the workshops can be commenced at any time and count towards RPL.
Enquiry Form
0432 530 513
info@www.thefsi.com.au
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