Overall objectives:

1 - It is intended in this CU that students: a) develop systemic thinking;
2 - b) deepen a conceptual framework that guides understanding and intervention in systems (individuals, families, couples and networks);
3 - c) know and rehearse the application of systemic intervention methods and techniques in different contexts (individual, family and community/multi-systemic);
4 - d) deepen current issues in systemic intervention;
5 - e) apply the knowledge acquired in the discussion of practical cases.

Syllabus:

1 - Systemic epistemology and theoretical models
1.1 - Schools and models of systemic intervention
1.2 - Psychopathology from a systemic perspective
1.3 - Normative and disruptive dynamics and family processes
1.3.1 - The multi-challenged families
2 - Systemic intervention and the therapeutic process
2.1 - The therapeutic process
2.2 - The co-therapy work
2.3 - Conducting the interview and building hypotheses
2.4 - Techniques and modalities of intervention
2.5 - Therapeutic processes specificities with mandated clients
2.6 - The therapeutic alliance
2.7 - Process evaluation
2.8 - The multi-system intervention
3 - Case Studies
3.1 - The evaluation
3.2 - Case formulation and systemic hypothesis construction
3.3 - The evaluation of the intervention process and results
3.4 - Communication about the intervention: objectives, limits and ethical framework

Literature/Sources:

G. Ausloos , 1996 , A competência das famílias: Tempo, caos, processo , Climepsi
D. Catherall , 2004 , Handbook of stress, trauma and the family , Brunner-Routledge
O.Fernandes; C.Maia , 2015 , A família portuguesa no século XXI , Parsifal
L. Fernandes;M.R. Santos , 2007 , Terapia familiar, redes e poética social , Climepsi
M.McGoldrick; N. Preto; B. Carter , 2016 , The expanding family life cycle: Individual, family, and social perspectives , Pearson
M. Nichols; S.Davis , 2017 , Family Therapy Concepts and Methods , Pearson
I. Ochoa de Alda , 2004 , Enfoques em terapia familiar sistémica , Herder
M. Ochs; M. Borcsa; J. Schweitzer , 2020 , Systemic research in individual, couple, and family therapy and counseling , Springer
R. Pereira; J. Linares , 2018 , Clinical interventions in systemic couple and family therapy , Springer
A. Relvas , 2000 , Por detrás do espelho: Da teoria à terapia familiar , Quarteto
A. Relvas; S. Major , 2014 , Avaliação familiar: Funcionamento e intervenção (vol. 1) , Imprensa da Universidade de Coimbra
A. Relvas; S. Major , 2017 , Avaliação familiar: Funcionamento e intervenção (vol. 2) , Imprensa da Universidade de Coimbra
T. Sexton; J. Lebow , 2015 , Handbook of family therapy , Routledge
M. Gouveia-Pereira; M. Miranda , 2021 , Manual de Terapia Familiar Teoria, avaliação e intervenção sistémica , Pactor

Assesssment methods and criteria:

Classification Type: Quantitativa (0-20)

Evaluation Methodology:
Emphasis on experiential methodologies (e.g., role-plays and video discussion) Assessment: practical group work and its discussion (50%); individual essay (50%) The curricular unit can be recovered at improvement /appeal period through an individual essay (100%).