Diploma in Family Therapy

Flexible Learning

The training consists of 8 units completed over two years. Applicants can apply for the full course or for individual units. The course is accredited by the Victorian Association of Family Therapists and Queensland Association of Family Therapists and co-ordinated by Drs Miriam Tisher and Livia Jackson. Guest lecturers lead workshops in each unit.

Course Overview

First year units:

• Overview of family therapy
• Developmental experiences, therapeutic interactions
• Family therapy and illness
• Family of origin

Second year units:

• Children and adolescents
• Couples
• Older adults and aging issues
• Ethics research, closure and referral

Teaching Methods

The course is conducted at the Alma Family Therapy Centre. Teaching methods include small and large group work, seminars, discussions, role plays, case presentations, demonstrations and video work. Participants will also be required to keep a journal thoughout the course.

The Units

Each unit comprises the following components:

Students who would like more face to face contact can also participate in fortnightly small group workshops. This is included in the course fees.

Memberships of Family Therapy Associations

On successful completion of the course students will be eligible for associate membership of VAFT and QAFT. After completion of extra supervision requirements associate members would be eligible for full clinical membership of VAFT and QAFT.

For current details of supervision requirements for VAFT, please refer to their website. www.vaft.asn.au

Internships

Students can apply for a twelve month internship. This includes one four hour session per week at the Centre seeing clients and group supervision.

Eligibility

The course is open to qualified practitioners in the health and social sciences.

Professional Development Points

Professional development points can be applied for to the relevant professional association.

Cost

(2008)
The cost for the Diploma in Family Therapy (8 units over two years) is $7,000(plus GST).
Fees are payable in advance per semester (2 units) at $1,750 (plus GST).
For those wishing to enrol for individual units by distance, the cost is $1000.00 (plus GST) per unit, payable in advance.

Student Feedback

Applications

Click here to download an application form. This document is in Adobe PDF format, and requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. Acrobat Reader can be downloaded free from here.

Offers of enrollment will be made on the basis of interview, subject to availability.

Faculty

Course Directors

Dr Miriam Tisher, BA (Hons), MA, PhD, CFHC, Clinical Member VAFT, Clinical Psychologist

Dr Livia Jackson, MBBS (Hons), RACGP, Clinical Member VAFT

Advisory Committee

Tammy Berman, BSc., Grad Dip Ed. Psych. Grad Diploma Family Therapy, MAPsS, Psychologist, Clinical Member, VAFT.

Associate Professor Suzanne Dean, BA(Hons), MA, PhD., MVAP, MPAA, Clinical Psychologist, Victoria University and Monash University.

Rosemary De Young, BA, BEd (Counselling), MAPsS, Clinical Member VAFT, Counselling Psychologist.

Associate Professor Erica Frydenberg PhD Dip Ed Dip Clin Psych FAPS Educational and Clinical Psychologist, University of Melbourne.

Dr Dennis Handrinos, MBBS, FRANZCP, MPM, Consultant Psychiatrist, Royal Melbourne Hospital and Alma Family Therapy Centre

Dr Jenny Ouliaris, MBBS, FRACGP, Clinical Member VAFT, Grad. Diploma Family Therapy.

Dr Brian Stagoll, MBBS, FRANZCP, DPM, Clinical Member VAFT, Consultant Psychiatrist

Dr Vicki Windholz, MBBS (Hons), FRACGP, Grad Diploma Family Therapy, Clinical Member VAFT

Livia Jackson
Pam Rycroft
Miriam Tisher

• Recognise different schools of family therapy.
• Understand theoretical basis for schools of family therapy.
• Understand and use boundaries, systems and subsystems in formulating hypotheses.
• Recognise theoretical formulations guiding psychotherapy

Livia Jackson
Sue Jackson
Miriam Tisher

• Identify and understand four stage model of therapy.
• Draw three-generation genogram with appropriate symbols.
• Use information obtained in genogram to generate hypotheses about patient’s problems.
• Understand relevance and importance of life cycle stages in patient’s presenting problems.

Livia Jackson
Maria Nichterlein
Miriam Tisher

• Identify families’ narratives in relation to illness.
• Use genograms to clarify transgenerational patterns of coping with chronic illness and death.
• Identify circular patterns in families relating to illness.
• Identify circular patterns between families and systems.

Livia Jackson
Moshe Lang
Miriam Tisher

• Acknowledge influences of family of origin in therapy.
• Use genograms to clarify transgenerational patterns of secrecy and grief.
• Respect cultural and individual grieving processes.
• Understand and recognise impact of culture, gender and secrets in a family and how this can affect family dynamics.

Livia Jackson
Miriam Tisher
Bruce Tonge

• Child-related problems as reflection of distress in family.
• Child and adolescent expressions of unhappiness.
• Circular patterns with children as the identified patient.
• Adolescent turmoil and interaction with family system.

Livia Jackson
Tom Paterson
Miriam Tisher

• Evaluate your own therapy and counselling work.
• Patients’ symptoms in cybernetic or circular pattern terms.
• Use circular questioning.
• Include marital system in information gathering and option generating stages of therapy.

Livia Jackson
Bernie McCarthy
Miriam Tisher

• Recognise issues of elderly persons and families.
• Recognise the circular pattern between an elderly member and their family and between families and other systems.
• Identify own issues about ageing and influence on practice.
• Identify approach to impending death, relate to family of origin, socio-cultural and spiritual experiences.

Barbara Fraser
Livia Jackson
Miriam Tisher

• Clarify confidentiality and its limitations with your clients.
• Ethical issues, your responsibility and how they apply to you in your work place and in the therapeutic context.
• Recognise when and how to refer appropriately.
• Duty of care issues and appropriate responses.