Foundations of Working with Families

This subject is not offered in 2011.

The coursework subjects allow participants to develop an understanding of the principal theoretical and clinical concepts associated with individual child treatment, individual adolescent treatment, family work, and work with parents, teachers, and other professionals who are involved in a case. Each subject consists of a series of 12 seminars, held between 9:00 am and 11:00 am on Wednesday mornings. The seminars combine didactic teaching with discussion and experiential learning.

This subject will cover:

• specific aspects of developmental theory, cognitive-behavioural theory, psychodynamic theory and systems theory perspectives which may be used to understand and work effectively with families;
• various forms of family therapy intervention and their application in specific situations;
• various forms of family behaviour and appropriate methods of intervention; and
• common challenges with respect to engaging and working with families.

Participants will develop their understanding of:

§ The principal theoretical orientations employed in clinical work with families.

§ The fundamental concepts that these theoretical orientations are based upon.

§ The rationale for selection of one form of treatment over another.

§ The application of appropriate therapeutic interventions.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of this subject, participants should be able to:

§ Establish a therapeutic relationship with families.

§ Identify which interventions might be effectively applied to specific presenting problems of families with whom they work.

§ Develop a treatment plan for specific presenting problems of families with whom they work.