Family and Systemic Psychotherapists treat psychological and relationship problems within families that affect people’s emotional, mental and physical health.
Family and Systemic Psychotherapists work with groups and families to assess and treat a wide range of psychological and relationship problems affecting emotional, mental and physical health.
To practise as a family and systemic psychotherapist, you’ll need to undertake appropriate training, in the form of a taught Master’s degree or doctorate recognised by the Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice (AFT).
To qualify for training, you’ll usually need a clinical qualification such as clinical psychology, social work, psychiatry or mental health nursing.
Entry to the qualifying level training also requires successful completion of the Foundation and Intermediate level trainings in systems theory and practice.
You will also need substantial work experience that relates to the field of psychotherapy and an ability to reflect on your own life and relationships.
- Helping people change the ways they think and behave or find better ways to cope.
- You could work in a range of different services, including hospitals and community teams.
- You will be part of a multidisciplinary team with many other professionals.
- You will manage a caseload of children and families presenting with a wide range of emotional and psychological difficulties
- You could provide supervision and support to other professionals and teams, get involved in developing services or carry out research.
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I currently work in CAMHS and offer Systemic Psychotherapy to children and families who are referred with a range of complex mental health challenges i.e. low mood and/or anxiety; eating difficulties; self-harm; suicidal ideation; neuro divergence assessments (ASC & ADHD); family relationship difficulties; and complex trauma. I provide clinical assessments and work within this area as well as supervision of Family Therapists across the service. I previously worked in the field of evidence-based programmes for children and young people on the edge of care or custody (and their carers). This involved developing skills in the field of implementation science and programme sustainability.
There is an old saying within the field of Family Therapy which is that ‘context is everything’. Children live within families (birth or substitute families); families live within communities; communities operate within wider society; and wider society is subject to a whole range of economic, political, historical, religious and cultural forces. “No person is an island” – to coin another old phrase.
Wherever possible, I want to help families and other professionals to consider the child/young person’s difficulties within a wider context – this includes looking at the skills, strengths and competencies of the situation. This enables us to make sense of what might be happening for the child/young person and to help the family develop strategies that will support them through a difficult time in their lives’. Individual psychological work definitely has a role to play for some people, some of the time. But, inviting members of the wider family, community and/or professional system into the work can open up new possibilities and bring about longer lasting, positive change.
Some days involve one or two professionals meetings which might include the family. This is particularly the case when the difficulties are being noticed in a number of settings i.e. home, school/college or the community, or where there are safeguarding concerns. One day a week I run a Family Therapy clinic where we typically see 2 families. This involves a team (3-4 of us) working with families on the issues they feel are most relevant to them. It’s fascinating work and a real privilege to join families as they share with us the trials and tribulations of their lives’. Our non-judgemental, strengths focused stance provides space for them to explore what is going well for them as well as the things they want to change.
I am a peer reviewer for the Journal of Family Therapy – an internationally recognised journal in the field of Systemic Family Psychotherapy. The 3 papers I have reviewed to date encourage me to be up to date with research and developments in the field. I’m also a Committee Member of the West Yorkshire Branch of AFT (Association for Family Therapy) and we meet monthly to plan and carry out a range of CPD events each year. These events support the CPD requirements of our members and those of the committee. Teaching and training also help me to keep up to date with developments in the field, as does supervising a number of colleagues who have their own areas of expertise.
It’s such a privilege to work alongside whole family groups as they navigate a way through the challenges they are facing. Bringing up children and young people is not easy and many of the families we see have a range of complex difficulties. It’s hugely rewarding to see things change; to hear about children and young people doing well in school/college; to watch them branch out into various hobbies and interests. Add into this, the work we do alongside new and less experienced colleagues who are often keen for new learning. It’s rewarding and reassuring to know that the next generation of mental health workers is so highly skilled and compassionate.
‘Doing good in the world’ is a sometimes an under rated attribute, yet it is such a common thread for people working in the public sector. The levels of skill and commitment amongst the workforce is staggering even though at times, it seems they are undervalued in society. Being calm, thoughtful, analytical, empathic are all helpful qualities – as is, having a good sense of humour. Also, advocating on behalf of children and families is essential to ensure they get the support they need.
Find a good supervisor – stay connected with competent and experienced colleagues that you admire. Pay attention to your CPD needs and open yourself to workshops in areas that might challenge you. Have a life outside of work – supporting other people can be very rewarding but it can also draw upon your reserves in terms of emotional and psychological resilience.
It’s often helpful (but not always essential) to have some type of core professional qualification before going on to train as a Family Therapist i.e. Teaching; Nursing; Doctor; Occupational Therapist; Social Worker etc. The Foundation and Intermediate years of Family Therapy Training – or Systemic Family Practitioner Course – can really add to the skills and knowledge gained from an existing professional qualification. The qualifying 2 years, MSc in Family Therapy, is as challenging as it it is rewarding but it certainly opens doors in terms of career opportunities. Not to mention the content of the teaching that will arguably extend your horizons in terms of academic rigour.
The Covid pandemic was a game changer as it propelled the NHS (and other parts of the public sector) to rapidly consider different ways of connecting with people who require a service. Video calls; telephone consultations; emails and letters have all added something to the range of therapeutic options available to us. Even hybrid session (some people being present in the room whilst others have joined online) have increased access to therapy sessions for those family members who were struggling attend in person. This has to be a good thing, right? And there are some excellent resources available to children, young people and adults on a wide range of topics. People can do their own research and can use therapy sessions to appraise the content they are accessing.
Life can be struggle and many mental health professionals may well have faced their own challenges. We are all human after all. So, to be able to join with a child, young person and their parents/carers for part of their journey – to help them take a few more steps towards achieving their potential, is an absolute honour. ‘This too will pass’ is a helpful saying to hold onto in this work. Change is possible – arguably it’s inevitable given the passage of time and maturation. Our job is to help families to keep going and to notice this change when it is happening. That’s what motivates me – especially when it gets really tough.
The video below published by the Psychological Professions Network describes the role of a Family and Systemic Psychotherapist as part of the career map for the psychological professions.
- Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice
- NHS Careers – Family and Systemic Psychotherapist
- NHS Careers – Psychological professions
- NHS funding for psychological professions training programmes
- Psychological Professions Network – Family and Systemic Psychotherapist
- UK Council for Psychotherapy
