Systemic Intervention with special problems and populations

Recommended Prerequisites

It is recommended the frequency with approval of 1^st semester units from the Systemic and Familiar Psychotherapy specialization subarea. The student must have good knowledge of English (reading) since many bibliographic references are in English.

Teaching Methods

Theoretical and practical teaching, discussion of specific readings and clinical materials (ex.: prescriptions, videos) articulated with active methods (ex.: role-playing) for training of practical skills.

Learning Outcomes

To acquire specific knowledge and practical skills for working with particular types of clients and problems, such as couples (common problems and situations of rupture), elderly and multi-challenged families; chronic illness and family violence.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Module I

Systemic Intervention and Special Problems

1. Chronic Illness

- Systemic models of assessment and intervention

- Family and chronic illness. Conceptualization and intervention (family therapy, psychoeducational groups and multiple families)

- Relationship with other systems and professionals

2. Family Violence

- Definition and types of violence - systemic readings

- Assessment and intervention

 

Module II

Systemic intervention and special populations

1. The couple and Marriage

- Common challenges and couple therapy: sexuality, financial and laboratorial issues, impact of the new technologies, performance of parenting and relationships with families of origin

- Rupture situations after divorce and mediation

2. Elderly and Family

- Regulations and unexpected challenges and impacts

- Provision of family and institutional care

3. Multi-challenged families

- Concept (s), assessment and intervention

- Relationship with and between support systems.

Head Lecturer(s)

Ana Paula Pais Rodrigues Fonseca Relvas

Assessment Methods

Periodic
Fieldwork report: 20.0%
Project work: 30.0%
Test at the end of each module: 50.0%

Final
Exam: 100.0%

Bibliography

Frankel, H. & Frankel, S. (2006). Family therapy, family practice and family poverty: Historical perspectives and recent developments. Journal of Family Social Work, 10, 4, 43-80

Halford, W. K. & Markman, H.J. (eds.) (1997). Clinical Handbook of Marriage and Couples Intervention. Chichester: Wiley

Johnson, M. (2006). Conflict and control: gender symmetry and asymmetry in domestic violence. Violence against women, 12, 1019-1025

Minuchin, P., Colapinto, J., & Minuchin, S. (2007). Working with families of the poor (2nd ed.). NY: The Guilford Press

Navarro-Gongóra, J. (2002). Familia y enfermedad: Problemas y técnicas de intervención. Psychologica, 31, 63-83

Pereira, R. (2011). Psicoterapia de la violencia filio-parental. Entre el secreto y la vergüenza. Madrid: Morata

Sousa, L.; Figueiredo, D.; Cerqueira, M. (2004). Envelhecer em família. Os cuidados familiares na velhice. Porto: Ambar

Sousa, L.; Mendes, A. & Relvas, A. P. (2007). Enfrentar a velhice e a doença crónica. Lisboa: Climepsi