Systemic Family Therapy MSc MSc

University of Leeds

The MSc Systemic Family Therapy is accredited by the Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice as a qualifying level training in Systemic Psychotherapy or Family Therapy.

Successful graduates of the course are eligible to apply to the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) for registration to practice. Graduates are employed in the NHS, social care agencies or work in independent practice as a Family Therapist/Systemic Psychotherapist.

Training as a Family Therapist

The Leeds Family Therapy and Research Centre at University of Leeds has been training family therapists for over 25 years to work with individuals, couples, kinship groups and families experiencing distress. You will develop the theoretical knowledge, clinical skills and personal professional development needed to practice systemic psychotherapy.

The MSc Systemic Family Therapy is the final two years of training and is preceded by Foundation and Intermediate level systemic practice training courses. These can be undertaken over two years part time at the University of Leeds in the PGCert Systemic Practice. The Foundation and Intermediate level courses can also be studied as standalone courses for professionals to develop their practice to each level. Entry to the training programme for all professionally qualified students is at Foundation / PG Cert level. The MSc in Systemic Family Therapy is a part-time course over 24 months, accredited by the Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice. The MSc is the qualifying level of training and successful completion of the course confers eligibility to register as a Family Therapist/Systemic Psychotherapist with the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP).

The course is designed for those who wish to train to work in the NHS, social care agencies or independent practice as a Family Therapist/Systemic Psychotherapist.

Course highlights

The MSc is a part-time course, approximating two and a half days of study and practice each week. There are two full day teaching sessions per month at the University of Leeds campus and a weekly four-hour clinic placement in the NHS. Arranged by the course, where you’ll receive live supervision with families. There are currently supervision clinics located in Leeds, Bradford, Hull, Sheffield, Middlesbrough, Newcastle and Northampton. To meet the clinical hours requirements for registration, you will also be required to engage in systemic practice in your own work agency or on an alternative placement.

On this professional training course, you will gain an in-depth knowledge of systemic family therapy theory. From its origins in cybernetics and systems theory to the post-modern social constructionist ideas which inform contemporary family therapy practice. You will gain understanding of the main therapeutic models in the systemic field; Structural, Milan, Post – Milan, Narrative, Collaborative and Dialogical psychotherapy. You will be trained in the skills and competencies associated with these models.

You will learn how to work with individuals, couples, relational groups and families affected by issues including serious mental health conditions, relationship and communication difficulties, and the effects of trauma and loss.