We are pleased to be offering our well-established Children & Young People’s Psychological Therapies Systemic Family Practice (SFP) Post Graduate Diploma. This programme will enable practitioners to develop their systemic knowledge, skills and competencies in the latest evidence-based approaches for common mental health difficulties. There are two systemic strands on the programme:

  • Self-harm & depression, and conduct problems (for young people aged 10 & over)
  • Eating Disorders

Practitioners will receive training in the following evidence-based models: Attachment Based Family Therapy (for adolescent depression), Functional Family Therapy (for conduct disorder), SHIFT (for self-harm), alongside models for working systemically with Eating Disorders such as Family Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa (FT-AN) and Multi-Family Therapy Group (MFGT) training. In addition, practitioners will receive robust training in systemic theory and approaches to working with families.

Practitioners will study within a vibrant, stimulating and internationally recognised research environment, where members of your teaching team have first-hand experience within clinical settings. Practitioners’ learning experience is enriched by nationally recognised, innovative, clinical teaching approaches, designed to develop your clinical systemic skills

Frequently asked questions

What is systemic family therapy?

According to the Association for Family Therapy (AFT), family therapy involves working with family members, couples and others who care about each other to express and explore difficult thoughts and emotions safely, to understand each other’s experiences and views, appreciate each other’s needs, build on strengths and make useful changes in their relationships and their lives. To find out more, download the AFT’s booklet ‘What is Family Therapy?’ or watch the University of Exeter’s programme lead and family therapist Hannah Sherbersky in BBC IPlayer documentary ‘I Blame My Parents’.

WOULD I BE SUITABLE?

Candidates should have:

  • At least two years’ experience of working with children and young people’s mental health and experience working with families
  • A Level 6 qualification (usually an undergraduate degree).
    Information about qualification levels can be found here.
  • A core profession recognised by AFT – for example: psychology, social work, psychiatry and other medical specialities, teaching, nursing and health visiting, creative arts therapy, counselling (BACP registered), occupational therapy and speech and language therapy.
  • There is no KSA option available on the SFP strand.

How does the training work?

The course runs for one year, between January and December. This is a training course funded by NHSE. Practitioners study at the University of Exeter 2 days a week on a Thursday & Friday, and work in your service for 2-3 days per week. They are employed directly by the Trust. 

What topics will I be studying?

You will either be assigned to the Depression, Self Harm & Conduct Disorders strand or Eating Disorders strand, this means that within your workplace, your clinical work will focus on supporting young people and their families who present to the service with difficulties in these areas. You academic assignments will therefore focus on these clinical presentations. All students will study the following academic modules as part of the course. This benefits your staff by ensuring they have evidence-based training in a range of models, including those outside of their specific strand. This in turn, enables them to work with a wider range of clinical presentations on completion of the course. Click on the links to find out more information:

  • PYCM027 – Core Skills for Working with Young People with Mental Health Problems and Their Families
  • PYCM030 – Systemic Family Practice in CAMHS
  • PYCM031 (ED Strand Only) – Systemic Family Practice for Adolescent Eating Disorders
  • PYCM032 (CD Strand Only) – Systemic Family Practice for Adolescent Conduct Disorders
  • PYCM033 (CD Strand Only) – Systemic Family Practice for Adolescent Self-harm/Depression

In addition to workplace supervision, practitioners engage in frequent clinical supervision & clinical skills practice sessions at the university. Practitioners are encouraged to develop a high level of self and relational reflexivity, including being able to attend to self of the therapist themes. This ensures staff are able to engage in their role in a safe, ethical and reflexive manner.

What clinical work would I complete?

You would be required to complete 60 ‘clinical hours’, of which:

  • 40 must be as the ‘lead clinician’
  • 20 can be as part of a reflective or co-therapy team

You will need access to cases appropriate for family therapy via your service. One full family therapy session can be noted as 1.5 hours if it includes a pre and post session discussion. It is worth noting therefore, that the requirement based on this calculation means you would need to do a minimum of about 28 sessions as lead clinician over the course.

Practitioners need to spend one full day per week working with a fully qualified Family Therapist, who provides live supervision to the trainee. Practitioners are expected to also have access to a second systemic clinic day as part of the course requirements.

How is the course assessed?

The course is assessed via both clinical and academic work, including the following:

  • essays
  • videotaped assessment and therapy sessions
  • case reports
  • case presentations
  • supervision reports
  • reflective logs

Is this course accredited?

Yes, this course is accredited by AFT. Practitioners are eligible to proceed to the MSc qualifying level Family Therapy training.

How do I apply?

Our next intake of practitioners will be for January 2026. To see current job vacancies, check the ‘Latest Jobs’ section of our website, search on NHS jobs, or check the following websites for services that have recruited SFP trainees in the past year:

Where can I find out more?

For further information: