Pre-requisite Course(s)

COUN200 Theories & Systems in Counselling and Psychotherapy

Course Aims

This course aims to provide the students an overview of the main theories and intervention techniques of Family Therapy. It also introduces the ‘systemic’ way of thinking about people’s behaviour and experiences, and how it is different from a traditional focus on the individual in psychology. The course will focus on a number of different topics in the field of family therapy. These include: the history and developments in the establishment of family therapy as a field; system elements of families including family structure and patterns of communication and interaction, as well as assessments within family therapy, and a focus on working with families within the context of Hong Kong and Chinese culture.

1. Discuss key approaches to family therapy, including their assumptions, concepts,

    goals, and techniques;

 

2. Describe the history and evolution of the field of family therapy, including

    contemporary issues;

 

3. Evaluate the appropriateness of key approaches within the context of contemporary

    Hong Kong and traditional Chinese culture;

 

4. Apply theoretical concepts and ideas for intervention to discussion of family cases;

 

5. Reflect on how their own experiences and values may influence their practice of

    family therapy.