Year 1 Post-Graduate Certificate in Systemic Family Therapy – foundation level
Oxford Systemic Therapy Training
Year 1 Post-Graduate Certificate in Systemic Theory and Practice Foundation level AFT accredited
Course Aims
Provides an introduction to the theory and principles of different models of systemic therapy to develop skills in working with families, couples, individuals and other networks in an interactive and diverse learning environment.
Encourages students to develop systemic practice skills within their work settings across the lifespan.
Encourages anti-discriminatory practice and critical thinking considering power, inequality and marginalisation.
Develops self-reflective practice.
Course start date: 13th Oct 2025-10th June 2026. 10 days of teaching 9.30-5pm Tuesdays monthly (2 consecutive days at the beginning of the course).
Where: The majority of teaching is envisaged to take place at Oxfordhealth Education Centre, Floor 4, Unipart House, Garsington Rd, Oxford OX4 6LX but some may be at Oxford Brookes locations
Who can apply?
The course is open to staff from the following professional backgrounds:
- Health and social care
- Education
- Counsellors
- Unregistered staff e.g. support staff, assistant psychologists are also able to be considered for the Foundation Course.
How do I apply?
Please register your interest at Systemictherapyadmissions-oxicptr@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk, you will be emailed details regarding open events 24th March, 22nd April, 16th June at 5pm.
Fees: £2500
Will I be a systemic therapist if I pass the course?
No. The foundation course is year 1 of 4 years of systemic therapy training. It can be a stand alone course or upon completion, students can progress onto the Year 2 Intermediate level course. Students require a core professional backgrounds in health and social care to be able to apply to the Masters qualifying Years 3 and 4. We do not currently offer years 3 and 4 with OST.
https://www.aft.org.uk/page/Accreditedtrainingcourses
What our alumni say about the course
“This course and its focus on family inclusive practice has reconnected me to the clinician that I want to be. Transformative, personally and professionally”
“ I’ve developed awareness of working with relationships to address symptoms and to step away from medicalising”
“A rich learning experience that has made me a better clinician to understand ways of working with families and individuals and with more awareness of myself within my work”
Annette, course trainee cohort 2022/23
Having worked in Mental Health for over 40 years, I have always been very interested in the systems that we work in; the groups, institutions, society, globally and within families. As a CBT therapist by background, I enrolled on to the PG Cert in Systemic family therapy at Oxford-Brookes because I hoped to learn more about the theories of systemic processes and how they evolved. I also wanted to enhance my practice as a therapist as well as understanding more deeply how my own systems: me, my family, my friendship network, my workplace and myself in the world functioned.
The course has been wonderful. Enriching, challenging, nurturing, honest. There was a sense of collaboration and demonstrably an atmosphere of family within the teaching setting.
I immediately brought new ideas into my team and used them in supervision. It has broadened my understanding in a therapeutic setting. I am more curious about the wider context.
