Enter the fascinating world
of family work
Working with Families
6 Day Foundation Programme
Trainer
Angie Bradley
Angie has over thirty years experience in the world of training. She has worked primarily in the public sector, but additionally has facilitated many private sector training sessions. She has worked as a counsellor for over 15 years, been a children's foster carer for over 10 years and has facilitated parental best practice whilst working on the Separated parents information programme.
Delivery
This course combines the learning of theory and practice through a mix of direct teaching delivery, group discussions and experiential exercises such as role play / skill practice sessions.
Course Details
The course comprises 2 days each of:
Assessment and understanding family dynamics
Parenting and working creatively with families
Working with families experiencing heightened emotions and blended families
The course content outline is presented below. Please note the day structure/content may vary slightly depending on needs of attendees and flow of the days
Day 1
Understanding the differences in working with families to working with individuals and understanding family lifecycle and child development
Aims
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Appreciate the differences in working in a relational way to working with individuals
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Explore the differences in working with young children and adolescents as part of a family
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Experientially explore the competencies required in counselling children and young people and adults as part of family counselling
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Understand the development of family counselling
Topic
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Overview of competency framework for counselling children and young people and working with relationship
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Historical context and development of theoretical approaches
Day 2
Understanding the requirement for and considerations of an assessment process
Aims
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To understand the assessment process
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To reflect on the factors involved in assessment
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To consider forms of intervention and formulation by using assessment
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To explore experientially creative methods of formulation from referral information, assessment information and observation
Topic
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More history of family counselling/therapy
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Self-reflection
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The use of creative techniques within relational work
Day 3
Therapeutic parenting
Aims
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To understand family systems
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To consider different parenting styles
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To explore experientially different forms of parenting interventions and to reflect on impact own family experiences
Topic
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Parenting theories around positive parenting, therapeutic parenting and emotional coaching
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Adapting approach of parenting to reflect family lifecycle and child development
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Self-reflection
Day 4
Approach to working creatively with families
Aims
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To be able to use creative techniques in family counselling
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To understand the value of noticing the dynamic between family members whilst engaging in creative family interventions
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To learn about the most useful media in creative family work
Topic
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Roleplay
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Family sculpt
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Sand tray therapy
Day 5
Helping families who are experiencing heightened emotions
Aims
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The importance of including each family member equally in the process
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Re-visiting the contracting phase to understand the necessity of it for each family member
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Understanding of validation of all views within family work
Topic
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Comparison of different types of contract and reflection of their effectiveness with family counselling
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The impact of the re-frame in family work
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Experiential exercise – roleplay of family in difficulty
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Systemic view of the family – group exercise
Day 6
Helping blended families
Aims
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Understanding modern blended families
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Awareness of the differences between first relationships and blended families
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Appreciation of the stages of integration for blended families
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How the challenges can be approached for the benefit of all
Topic
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Experiential exercise using a blended family roleplay
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Self-reflection
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Overview of the cultural/societal changes in relation to family units
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Group exercise considering integration challenges
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Consideration of theory around blended family life