Education: MSc Systemic Psychotherapy

These modules are composed of two parts, live supervision in clinical teams and work based practice.

Live Clinical Supervision

Students work as members of a team with a Registered Supervisor.  Family Therapy training has evolved a distinctive method known as “live supervision”. By this is meant that the student is guided, as they are conducting therapy, by a supervisor who is observing, along with the rest of the team, using a two/way mirror and/or video system. While one student works with the client(s) face-to-face, the other members of the team observe with the supervisor.

This provides an intensive learning experience with the opportunity for detailed feedback and commentary afterwards. Students are gradually introduced to this format during the first year and begin clinical practice under direct supervision during the second year. In the third year the students move towards more autonomous practice although all sessions continue to be ‘live’ supervised, and in the fourth year there is a shift to retrospectively supervised team work. Live supervision clinical practice in year 2 and 3 takes place both in Clanwilliam Institute and in off-site venues. Students remain with their assigned team throughout the programme.  While one student works with the client(s) face-to-face, the other members of the team observe with the supervisor.  Students are also involved in case discussion, planning, reviewing the session and feedback to the student therapist.  In some cases the whole group may work as a team with more active participation in the therapy process.

Cases are selected and assigned in so far as is practicable to give the students a range of clinical experience.  Where clients give permission, sessions are recorded. The recordings are subsequently reviewed by the student and discussed with the supervisor and group.  Attention is given to theoretical issues, the development of therapeutic techniques and the individual skills and style of the student.  Students are encouraged to address their personal and emotional resonances to the stories of the clients both in the supervision group and the Personal and Professional Development group.

In the first year the students consider the influences of relationships and personal history on their development as a therapist. Students present and explore their own family genogram and its impact in the therapeutic domain.  Students develop a better understanding of and compassion for issues and problems in families together with reflexivity in relation to their own positioning, if they have undertaken an exploration of their own family of origin. In the fourth year, student’s move from live supervision (in the presence of the supervisor) to individual practice with retrospective supervision and group seminars/group consultations.

Work Based Clinical Practice

In years 1, 2, and 3 students are expected to have clinical practice outside of the course. Some students work full time in clinical settings and do not require additional practice. For students who do not work fulltime in clinical settings they will be required to work a minimum of 3 hours a week in a clinical practice (ideally 6 hours).

In Year One, clinical placements may be on telephone helplines and other counselling support settings. In Year 2 and 3 students are encouraged to work more face to face with clients and should have done so before beginning Year 3. In Year 3 and 4 all students must be working in clinical settings outside course clinical hours for a minimum of 3 hours per week.

Year Four students are required to complete a minimum of 200 hours of external systemic practice. This will usually be in a student’s workplace but, occasionally, it may be necessary for students to complete additional work on a placement basis. Students bring to the facilitated supervision sessions audio & videotapes of therapy consultations in which they are engaged so as to allow them the opportunity to reflect on their practice and to benefit from the reflections and input of others in the supervision group.

In Year Four Clinical supervision for 200 hours clinical work is provided by one of the faculty clinical supervisors and is covered by fees paid. Clinical supervision is not clinical line management but offers the students an opportunity to reflect on their clinical work and link theory to practice.

Subject: Theory

These modules attend to the interconnections between theory and practice.

The theoretical modules provide students with a detailed and critical overview of the principal philosophical and theoretical underpinnings of systemic practice as well as the postmodern influences on systemic therapy:

• Systemic thinking
• Constructivism
• Social constructionism
• Postmodernism and psychotherapy

These modules link theoretical perspectives with the practice of therapy. Models of Family Therapy are explored in relation to (a) theoretical descriptions of the model (b) descriptions of practice (c) explorations of the links between theory and practice (d) critiques of the model and (e) an experiential component where participants experiment with utilising the model.

Subject: Ethics and Inclusivity

This module highlights ethics as a central aspect of therapeutic practice, and explores links between ethics, justice and professional practice. Emphasis is placed on incorporating ethical principles within everyday practice and on understanding and utilizing ethical codes and principles.  Different frameworks of understanding ethics – in particular legal, spiritual and social justice frameworks – are presented and explored.

Subject: Research

Particular emphasis is placed  on understanding the place of research in therapy.  Introductory components provide the opportunity for students to explore the relationship between research and practice, to read research papers critically, and explore different epistemological foundations of research methods. The practice component focuses on carrying out research projects, with particular emphasis on research methods, research design, data collection, data analysis and presentation of results. The research subject is integrated into the program and encourages the student to reflect on themselves as a research and is influenced by reflexive research approaches.

Subject: Reflexivity

Reflexivity is a continuing process through the four year training programme.  Reflexive engagement with the practice of psychotherapy is both an ethical requirement and a guiding principle of competent, effective psychotherapeutic practice. Students are given the opportunity to reflect on their theoretical, clinical, organisational and personal positionings in ways that enhance and promote critical self-reflexivity.

Reflexivity in CWI training programmes is composed of two parts, a theoretical/practice component in each module and Personal and Professional Development groups.

Theoretical/Practice Component

The theoretical/practice component aims to

• equip students with the necessary skills to assess personal value, knowledge, skills and competencies;
• identify strategies for professional and personal development;
• balance personal and professional commitments;
• develop personally appropriate coping strategies;
• develop reflexive engagement in multiple relationships at a therapeutic, research, professional and organisational level.

Reflexivity supports theoretical and clinical learning through its emphasis on self-awareness of personal, professional, institutional and organisational limits, strengths, weaknesses, and vulnerabilities, and its focus on fostering the ability to respond to such awareness in ways that address these strengths and limitations. This includes awareness of the limits of personal and professional knowledge and a respectful positioning towards other models and frameworks of knowledge, as well as an awareness of the place of the self in therapeutic processes.

Personal and Professional Development (PPD)

The PPD groups occur in each of the four years of the programme. These groups promote participation in a group process and, through the use of exercises and tasks, greater self- reflexivity. Participation in these groups facilitates the development of increased perception of the complexity of the process of change in oneself and in others, and thereby makes a difference to competence in practice.

A strong emphasis on the personal story and emerging professional identity of the student therapist is a major focus of these groups.  This follows from the theoretical perspectives of the programme where the therapist is seen as a co-creator of the therapeutic story or ‘reality’ and as in a relationship with the client(s).  In this regard it is considered as essential that the student therapist develop an ability to reflect on their own history and current experience and a willingness to examine how these may be influencing their practice.

Assessment

The objectives of the programme and the learning outcomes are assessed through a combination of continuous assessment: practice evaluation same font size as Written assignment heading. The specific forms of assessments are as follows:

Continuous Assessment: Practice Evaluation

This formal evaluation is provided at the end of each year. Practice Evaluations for Year s2, 3 and 4 assess the specific learning outcomes achieved in the specified subjects for that year. This evaluation process is supported by a mid-year process where the Clinical Supervisor co-engages in an evaluation discussion with each student. This assists students to identify strengths as well as any potential weakness that might impact on their progress throughout the course. The midyear evaluation is not graded and acts only as a guide to the Supervisor and student.

Written Assignments

Written assignments are used to assess the achievement of learning outcomes on specified subjects. The topic of the various Written Assignments are closely linked to the teaching inputs and learning outcomes for that subject. Written assignments may include a requirement for presentation of written work. This assessment method also examines and enhances student competence in writing in a manner consistent with professional publication.

Examination

This takes the form of a written and oral case presentation. In all four years these examinations are designed to assess the knowledge, skills and competencies of the student through presentation and discussion of a piece of recorded clinical work. The examination modules are assessed in terms of the specific learning outcomes for that module.

Dissertation

As part of this programme all students are required to complete a research dissertation. Students are expected to submit a detailed research proposal on their chosen topic. Formal instructions are provided to students on the requirements for their dissertation.

The Institute reserves the right to alter course components and modify assessment procedures as deemed necessary.

It is expected that students will attend for all sessions of each of the three following activities i.e. clinical team practice, academic seminars, and PPD group.  If a student must or does miss more than 15% of any one of these activities, the Head of Training and the student will determine, in consultation with other teaching team members, what work is needed to be done to fulfill the requirements of the course.