Graduate Certification of Family Therapy (2024-2025)

The certification program in family therapy is suitable for clinical psychologist, social worker, counsellor etc who are currently practising counselling/therapy and has an interest to cultivate skills in working with families. This program is also suitable for final year master student in counselling and psychology. It is anticipated the program will provide the knowledge to develop a solid understanding of how to work systemically and collaboratively with families and the wider system.

M'sia as a collectivistic society and where connectedness and support within the family system is generally the norm and where it is not uncommon to have 3 generation living in the same household then family therapy should be considered as a primary treatment modality of choice when family relationship become problematic. Understanding the family context and engaging with the family is critical to effective work with families and to creating positive change.

The Graduate Certification of Family Therapy has stood the test of time since commencing in 2024. To date over 150 Allied Health Professionals, Psychiatrist and Child Psychiatrist has attended the program.

Program Outline:

Module 1

Dates: 3rd May to 6th May 2024 [face to face in Kuala Lumpur / 10 am to 4.30 pm

Introduce students to the underpinnings of systems theory and its influence on working with

families. It builds participant's knowledge of how the family and the broader context influence

family life and dynamics. It will offer students the opportunity to develop a new way of

conceptualizing and understanding family difficulties and the broader context. The topic areas

include:

• History & Foundation of Systems Theory

• Bowen’s System Theory

• Structural Family Therapy

• Genogram as a tool. Capturing the Family Picture – using Genogram

• Family Life Cycle / Developmental Framework

• Culture & Migration

Module 2

Dates: 5th July to 8th July 2024 – [face to face in Kuala Lumpur / 10 am to 4.30 pm]

Introduces students to the various family therapy approaches, providing an overview of the

core principles and practice of each approach. It will highlight key concepts and how they

are applied to family work. The topic areas include:

• Strategic Family Therapy

• Milan/Post Milan Family Therapy

• Solution Focused Therapy

• Narrative Therapy

• Multi-generational Family Therapy

Module 3

Dates: 5th Oct. to 8th Oct. 2024 [face to face in Kuala Lumpur] / 10am to 4.30 pm]

The Therapeutic Process - Provides participants with skills and techniques of how to work

with families – initial session, assessing, engaging, formulating a hypothesis &

conceptualizing and planning therapeutic interventions. It is expected that students will

begin to consolidate their knowledge and application of theory into practice. The topic areas

include:

• The Initial Family Interview, engaging the Family & Assessment

• Formulating, Conceptualizing & Intervention of family’s difficulties

• Engaging family in change & termination

• The Use of Live-Consultation in Family Therapy for Teaching & Training.

• Students will have the opportunity to observe family session in vivo

• Sculpture in Family Therapy

• Special topics:

1. School Refusal & School System

2. ADHD & Family Therapy

3. OCD in Family Therapy

4. Couple Therapy

5. Home-based and School-based Intervention

Module 4 – Group Supervision

Dates to be decided, monthly on a Friday by zoom from November 2024 – 5.30 pm to 8.30 pm

Group supervision following the completion of the theoretical component of the course.

Two participants will have the opportunity to present their cases for supervision in each

session.

• Participants are expected:

1. Written reflection of each module

2. Written reflection on group supervision

3. Written assignment 2500 words

4. Evaluation