Within the life cycle of a family, many different crises can occur, and many factors affect how a family copes with different situations. However, sometimes there are crises outside the bounds of a family’s coping mechanisms, and they need experts to help to achieve recovery. This course is ideal for anyone keen to assist families in need, including those in social work, psychology, counselling, psychotherapy, psychiatric nursing or those in a caring, teaching or health professional role.
The Certificate of Family Therapy is an online professional development program that will give you insights into a range of techniques that can be used in family situations to maximise interventions that can lead to change.
In this family therapy course, you will study the nature and scope of families, family dynamics, and how to identify problems and offer support with a variety of counselling techniques.
You will also learn about different approaches to family therapy, how to conduct sessions, determine roles, establish rules and consider and offer a range of solutions.
On completion of this course, you will have developed a better understanding of family issues, be able to analyse and facilitate solutions and help families mend and adapt to their new dynamics.
Course Structure
Family Counselling
Unit 1 – Nature and Scope of Families
- Family types
- Some interesting facts
- The nuclear family
- The extended family
- Matriarchy and patriarchy
- Step families or the reconstituted family
- Single/lone parent families
- The family life cycle
- Independence stage
- Coupling
- Parenting – babies to adolescents
- ‘Launching’ adult children
- Retirement
- Family roles
- Traditional and modern family roles
Unit 2 – Family Dynamics
- Crisis
- Breakdown & loss within families
- Bereavement in families
- The death of a parent – the impact on the family
- New parents
- New siblings
- New grandparents and family
- Second relationship breakdowns
- Crisis in the teenage years
- Warning signs that a teenager is in crisis
- Substance misuse
- Traumatic effects that may lead to drug use
- Why do people use drugs?
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Culture shock
- Stages of culture shock and adjustment
- Coping with Job Loss or Redundancy
Unit 3 – Family History
- Family problems
- Sterilisation
- More on the eugenics movement
- Child abuse
- Who gets abused?
- Who are the abusers?
- Triggers of abuse
- Stranger abusers
- The development of family therapy
- Group dynamics
- Child guidance
- Schizophrenia
- Marriage counselling
- Suggested reading
Unit 4 – Identifying Family Problems
- Family therapy
- Family genogram
- Shapes and lines are used to draw up the family structure
- Family problems
Unit 5 – Support Structures
- Extended family
- Social workers
- Community services
- Support for families who have a member with a disability
- Support for families with a drug user
- Support for families with an alcoholic member
- Early parenting centres
- Family support following separation
- Other community support groups
- Religion
- Psychological services
- After counselling
Unit 6 – Approaches to Family Therapy – Part One
- Goals of family counselling
- Adlerian family therapy
- Fundamental ideas
- Family atmosphere and constellation
- Mistaken or faulty goals
- Counselling goals
- Role of counsellor
- Counselling techniques
- Goal identification
- Daily interactions
- Interviewing children
- Transgenerational family therapy
- Fundamental ideas
- Triangulation
- Differentiation of the self
- The goal of transgenerational therapy
- Genograms
- Questioning
- Human validation process model
- Fundamental ideas
- Family life
- Functional and dysfunctional communication
- Defence mechanisms and stress
- Family roles and triads
- Family sculpting
- Family reconstruction
- Experiential family therapy
- Fundamental ideas
- Focus on the subjective
- Pragmatic approach
Unit 7 – Approaches to Family Therapy – Part 2
- Structural family therapy
- Fundamental ideas
- Family structure
- Family subsystems
- Boundaries
- Counselling goals
- Role of counsellor
- Counselling techniques
- Strategic family therapy
- Fundamental ideas
- Paradoxical directives
- Social constructionist family therapy
- Reflecting team
- Linguistic approach
- Narrative approach
- Solution orientated therapy
- An integrated approach
- Synopsis of approaches to family therapy
Unit 8 – Conducting an Initial Interview
- Carrying out an assessment
- Joining and contracting
- Assessment
- Tentative hypotheses
- Tracking
- Family constellation
- Teaching family
- Commitment to therapy
Unit 9 – Counselling Solutions to Family Problems
- Multicultural family therapy
- Sexual abuse
- Counselling of children who have been sexually abused
- CSA in family situations
- Group therapy
- Individual treatment
- Dyadic treatment
- Family therapy
- Multiple therapists
- Issues
Unit 10 – Planning A Family Counselling Strategy
Problem Based Learning (PBL) Project – Planning A Family Counselling Strategy
Study Hours
Estimated duration 50 hours
Course Delivery and Start
Start anytime, self-paced and 100% online
Assessment
Assessment will be comprised of written exercises, including short-answer questions, reflective tasks, short reports and/or projects. There are no examinations or due dates for assessment. As a result, you can complete training in your own time and at your own pace with the assistance of unlimited tutor support.
Testimonials
About Us
Graduation
A Certificate of Attainment and Statement of Results will be issued upon successful completion of this course.
How to Enrol
Enrol Online: Enrol Now
Enrol via Live Chat (Business Hours)
Enrol via Telephone 1300 76 2221 (Business Hours)
Enrol via Purchase Order/Tax Invoice
Enrolling Multiple Staff?
To enrol multiple staff, please complete the Employer Enrolment Form. We’ll be in touch within 60 minutes during business hours!
Payment Options
Visa, Mastercard, BPAY and EFT/Direct Deposit. Please allow 1-2 Business days for processing for EFT and BPAY.
Course FAQs
Why Choose Australian Online Courses?
- Professional development that is widely recognised and respected;
- Improve your employment opportunities;
- Study online, anywhere via our elearning system;
- High-quality professional development programs written by industry experts;
- All course materials provided online – no textbooks to buy;
- Unlimited tutor support via email;
- We offer twelve (12) months’ access, with extensions available upon application (fees apply);
- Course may be tax deductible; see your tax advisor.
Are there any entry requirements or pre-requisites?
There are no course or subject pre-requisites for entry into our programs. However, our professional development programs are generally intended for people over the age of 18. In some circumstances, enrolments from younger people may be considered. Please complete the AOC Parent Guardian Consent Form prior to enrolling and submit here.
Are there any computer requirements?
To study online with Australian Online Courses you will need a computer (desktop PC/laptop) running a current/updated operating system with reliable high-speed internet access. You will need to use the Google Chrome browser to access your course.
When can I start this course?
You can start within 60 minutes during business hours when you enrol and pay in full with a credit card!
Credit card: Within 60 mins during business hours.
BPAY: Within 1-2 working days.
Internet Banking: Within 1-2 working days.
Cheque/Money Order: Upon receipt of mailed cheque.
How is this course delivered?
This course is delivered online via our easy-to-navigate Learning Management System (LMS), where you will discover interactive online learning/written content, resources and assessment.
Do I need to attend classes or undertake any work placements?
No. All courses are delivered online via our LMS and there are no work placement requirements in this course.
What support can I expect from Australian Online Courses?
Unlimited tutor support is available throughout your studies via email only during business hours Monday to Friday. Our Administrative team are available Monday to Friday via email, live chat and telephone.
I am an international student. Can I enrol into this course?
Yes! We accept enrolments from individuals both within Australia and internationally; location is no barrier to entry into our programs.
Career Pathways
Future growth
Strong
Unemployment
Low
Professional Development For:
- Counsellors
- Social Workers
- Community Service Workers
- Health Professionals
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