FOUR YEARS TRAINING PROGRAM IN SYSTEMIC PSYCHOTHERAPY

 Inclusion Criteria:

At the Four-Year Training Program in Systemic Psychotherapy  is open to medical doctors, psychologists, social workers and students in the respective disciplines, who have successfully completed at least the first 2 years of studies, provided that the completion of their basic degree will precede the completion of the four year program.

Graduates from other disciplines (social sciences, educational sciences, human sciences) may enroll at the program, if their work or their social activity is directly linked to intervention in human systems.

People who have started their training at another institution (accredited by the EFTA-TIC) and want their previous training to be counted during their studies, may also enroll at the Four Year Training Program in Systemic Psychotherapy.

Those who wish to participate at the program should submit a short CV and copies of their degrees and participate in an interview with the head of the study program.

Description of the Program:

The Four Year Training Program in Systemic Psychotherapy is designed according to the European Criteria in Systemic Psychotherapy Training as defined by the European Family Therapy Association – Training Institute Chamber. In addition, the educational criteria established by the corresponding Greek scientific societies of systemic therapy (ELESYTH, EESKEPSO, SEVE, ESYTHEPAS) have also been taken into account.

The duration of the program is 1400 hours, which are dividede in at least 4 years. Basic training takes place in pre-determined meetings (two-day monthly) from September to June of each year.

 

Implementation:

The implementation of the training program is based on 6 interrelated axes:

1. Theoretical training (250 – 300 hours).
2. Practical training (200 hours).
3. Personal development / therapy (250 – 300 hours).
4. Direct / indirect supervision (200 hours).
5. Individual study and preparation of a final essay (200 – 300 hours)
6. Autonomous clinical practice  the training center (250 hours).

 

Theoretical Training

Means of implementation: Lectures, bibliography report (book & article presentation, trainees’ essays), workshops, audiovisual material.

Scientific topics

  • Code of ethics.
  • General Systems Theory.
  • Basic principles of Systemic Therapy.
  • Systemic thinking: application in families and larger systems.
  • The ‘context’ as a reference point for Systemic Psychotherapy.
  • Basic principles of family function.
  • Family as a system, a subsystem and an hyper system.
  • Individual development, Family lifecycle: critical points/events and evolutional stages.
  • Attachment theory:  a systemic reading.
  • Psychopathology and symptoms through a systemic perception.
  • History and evolution of Family Therapy.
  • Schools of Family Therapy (extensive presentation).
  • Therapeutic process: the role of the therapist, the role of the group, systemic interview, systemic diagnosis, stages of therapy, systemic interventions).
  • When the therapist ‘follows’ the theory and not the family.
  • Therapist’s involvement in the therapeutic process.
  • Curiosity and questioning in the therapeutic process.
  • Special issues (divorce, death / bereavement, adoption, violence, abuse, immigration, homosexuality etc).
  • The use of Creative Fantasy as a mean of emergence of different communicational contexts.
  • Synthesis of Systemic Approach with other Psychotherapeutic Approaches.

Duration: 250-300 hours.

Clinical Practice

It includes four different stages:

  • 1st stage: Group of observation of therapeutic sessions.
  • 2nd stage: Reflecting team.
  • 3rd stage: Co –therapy.
  • 4th stage: Undertaking of a case under direct supervision.

Duration: 200 hours.

The clinical practise begins in the first year of the program. During the four years, trainees gradually participate in the four different stages of practise, so that they can then function effectively as therapists within the framework of autonomous clinical practice, while participating in an indirect supervision group.

Personal Development / Therapy

Groups of therapy have three-generational orientation. Their aim is for the trainees:

  • To achieve a secure equilibrium between feeling of belonging and individuality (capability of separating the ‘I’ from the “we”).
  • To  develop ‘questioning’, ‘curiosity’ and “fantasy” as means of reading life events, of deconstructing etiological relations and of activating alternative ways of composing life experiences.

Duration: 250-300 hours .

Individual Study and Preparation of a Diplomatic Essay

During the four years of training, the trainees should study the corresponding systemic literature and deliver the work assigned to them at regular intervals. In the last year they undertake the preparation of a diplomatic essay in the systemic field (theoretical essay or research, depending on their interests).

Original works that promote the scientific dialogue may be presented at scientific meetings or published in scientific journals respectively.

Duration : 200 – 300 hours

Supervision 

The goal of supervision is to develop the therapist’s ability to control his/her place within the therapeutic system, utilizing his/her own life story and avoiding emotional involvement with clients. Management of ethical issues.
Duration: 200 hours.

Autonomous Clinical Practise
During his/her training, trainees are required to complete 250 hours of autonomous clinical practice (voluntary or paid).

Duration: 250 hours

Additional Educational Activities

Aiming at the wide knowledge and educational experiences for the trainees, the Ergastirion of Systemic Thinking and Training regularly organizes conferences, workshops and symposia with distinguished invited speakers from the field of Systemic Psychotherapy and other therapeutic approaches or disciplines. This way the trainees have the opportunity to synthesize and combine ideas that promote scientific thinking.

Completion of the Four Year Training Program in Systemic Psychotherapy

The completion of the Four Year Training Program in Systemic Psychotherapy requires the attendance of 80% of the scheduled meetings, the delivery of the required essays and the non-violation of the Code of Ethics as established by the European Family Therapy Association (EFTA Code of Ethics, http://www.europeanfamilytherapy.eu/code-of-ethics-of-the-european-family-therapy-association/ ).

Graduates of the program may apply for membership in the European Family Therapy Association and the corresponding Greek scientific societies of systemic therapy, depending on the respective statute (ELESYTH, EESKEPSO, SEVE, ESYTHEPAS).

The granting of professional rights for graduates is regulated by the current legislative framework.