Family therapy course by Appogg

It is a known fact that professionals in the caring field are facing new challenges when it comes to working with families. The ever increasing rise in family problems requires that professionals be equipped with new ways to deal with problems encountered in the course of their work.

Over the past five years, the family therapy service offered by Appogg has been organising courses in family therapy, in collaboration with the Tavistock Clinic of London.

This training provides carers with new ways to understand family dynamics, helping them to be better equipped to deal therapeutically with issues like marital breakdown, family discord and parenting problems.

Once again, this year, Appogg is offering further training in family therapy as part of the agency's commitment to continuous training. These courses are aimed at psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, guidance teachers, counsellors, psychotherapists and nurses.

The introductory course in 85 hours introduces both the theory and practice of family therapy. It offers participants a sound introduction to systemic thinking in family therapy and to various schools and theories of family therapy. The focus will be on issues pertaining to working with families in the Maltese context. This course includes lectures in large groups and small group sessions designed to offer participants the opportunity to learn and practice systemic techniques to work with families.

On the successful completion of the course, one can move on to the intermediate level. This 70-hour course will include skills seminars, live observations of family sessions and small group meetings with Tavistock consultants. The course will consolidate the work done in the first course through its practical and clinic orientation.

The third course offered is the Advanced Course in Family Therapy. It is a 99-hour course focused on clinical practice. Participants will have the opportunity to work with families together with a therapeutic team, with live supervision and case consultation with respective course tutors. Participants who have successfully completed the intermediate course are eligible to further their studies.

In addition to the courses offered, there will also be four half-day seminars for the public by Tavistock consultants Sara Barratt, Charlotte Burck and Dr David Campbell. Apart from clinical experience, these distinguished consultants, who have extensive experience in setting up and delivering training in family therapy, will share their rich expertise with the audience.

These four seminars are recommended for professionals who for whatever reason or other cannot commit themselves to attend the courses but wish to cultivate their interest in systemic practice in their work with families. They are also open to students in their final year of training at University.

For more information and/or registration for the courses or seminars, phone Sylvana Piscopo or Marthese Tabone on 2122-2066/76/86 or apply at 70, Capucchins Street, Floriana. Applications will be accepted until Friday.