Training in Family Systems Therapy

Facilitator Training Program

Course Guide

This course will be of interest to those who have experienced the work, and have a deep desire to take it further, perhaps to enhance their existing disciplines, or to broaden their own knowledge.

The three year course will comprise 4 two-day workshops each year, at approximately 3 month intervals.  These workshops to run on Saturday and Sundays.

Course Content

The Training course will be a mix of highly experiential work, together with lectures and discussions on particular topics.

The participants will be encouraged to broaden their own systemic perspective.  There will also be a series of sub-group discussions ending with short presentations on particular aspects of the work.

Modules in the training will include :

• Systemic Awareness
• Systems Theory
• Systemic work as a support to an existing discipline
• The “Field”
• The Group and the Individual
• Family Constellations
• Invisible Dynamics
• Soul Perspectives & The Ego
• The Personal & Collective Conscience
• Belonging, Awareness, Fear and Love
• Systemic Work within Organisations

Training Groups & Locations

There will be two training groups, one will be in Galway, and the other in Dublin.

Participants of either group, who may have to miss a particular module, will have the opportunity of attending that module with the other group.

Training Group East (Dublin)   Lucan Spa Hotel

Start date for Year 1 

Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th November 2011         

Training Group West (Galway)  Carlton Hotel, Dublin Road

Start date for Year 1

 Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th December 2011

The dates for the remaining three workshops (2012) will be published in mid-September 

Training Fees

€800.00 per year.

Deposit €300.00

Tea & Coffee will be included each morning. 

Introducing the Work

What is Family Systems Therapy

Family Systems Therapy is a very unique way of looking at problems,both in the individual and in the family, that nothing else can solve.  It gently and compassionately looks at the truth of our suffering and distress, and its inseperable connection to our unresolved issues.

What does it address?

Using a very unique approach, originally developed by Bert Hellinger, this work provides deep levels of healing and insight into;

-Relationship difficulties between partners, parents and children.

-Adoption,death, divorce and incest.

-Addictions,suicides and illnesses.

-Sexual abuse abd violence.

-Issues with same-sex relations.

Who is the Training suitable for?

The Training is intended for psychotherapists,counsellors,community workers,teachers, nurses,clergy,consultants, and practitioners of other helping professions.  Because the Training highlights the hidden dynamics at work in a family system, it provides a valuable aid to anyexisting discipline.

Outline content of each of the modules

Systemic Awareness

When we increase our systemic awareness, that is, the understanding that we are part of many systems and their effects, the easier it becomes to interpret the hidden dynamics that are abroad in these systems.  This aspect of the Training develops by a process of awareness throughout the course.  In this way we develop a greater compassion.

Systems Theory

This is one of the smaller modules in the course, however, no less important for that.  In the Training we will look at the dynamics of elements in a particular system, including the work of Fritjof Capra and others. 

Systemic Work as a support to an existing discipline

A lot or professionals around the world have trained in this work, mostly to augment and enhance the understanding of people and themselves.  The huge advantage of using this work as an enhancement to you own chosen field cannot be understated.  The Training will highlight how you can use this work as a suppportive and more effective modality within your own discipline.

The "Field"

Rupert Sheldrake worked with Bert Hellinger to better undrstand how energy and the "field" play such an important part in the dynamics at work in constellations, and indeed, in the wider realm.

The Group & The Individual

Throughout this module you will learn about various approaches to working with groups.  Some of these may be familiar to you, while others may be new.  Once again, there is a strong experiential element to this part of the learning, together with an academic perspective.

Family Constellations

Family Constellations are at the core of this work.  They enable us to see the truth of a situation, together with the inter-relatedness of other family members, and the associated entanglements.  "Constellations" will form a part of every module in this Training, and indeed, participants will have many opportunities to work deeply on themselves.  In this aspect of the Training, the participant will be able to see and experience the profound nature of the work systemic healing qualities.

Invisible Dynamics

Our ability to see "below the radar" of what is really going on in a family is crucial in this work.  In many respects, it is the reason that this work is so successful in underpinning and enhancing most other professions that interact with human beings.

Soul Perspectives & The Ego

"Soul is not a thing, but a quality or dimension of experiencing life and ourselves.  It has to do with depth, value, relatedness, heart and personal substance.  Soul is fate, which almost always goes counter to the desires of the ego".  (Moore)  Participants will learn the very essence and importance of this perspective.

The Personal & Collective Conscience

The primary function of conscience is to bind a child to his or her family...A particular condition for belonging to one family may endanger the right to belong to another group.  The participant will develop a good understanding of the different realms of conscience and their effects.

Belonging, Awareness, Fear and Love

The elements of this module will form a significant part of every workshop throughout the two years.  Participants will broaden their knowledge and develop a "felt sense" of these most important human attributes.

Systemic Work within Organisations

Organisations and communities, just like families, have a systemic signature.  Here, the work can be used with individuals as well as groups.  Effects of hierarchy and "who came first" are identical in many ways to the laws that govern family systems. This part of the work teaches us to clarify unclear issues, from our relationship with money to working with complex and bureaucratic uncertainties within the organisation.  In the Training, we gain an appreciation of the dynamics that operate in organisations.

Note:

Anyone who may be interested in this Training can either email or telephone Barry Foley on 086-8196138 and ssts@eircom.net