A ground-breaking international training initiative launching in 2025

Course details

This unique and innovative online one-year course comprises 24 x half days of teaching between January and December 2025.

The programme will be delivered by experienced international teachers from around the world and will meet the criteria for Association for Family Therapy (AFT) accreditation as a foundation in family therapy in the UK (seeking accreditation in 2026).

Teaching will take place on Zoom from 08:30-12:30 GMT.

If you would like to register, complete this Application Form and email to createprojects-cedar@exeter.ac.uk.

Course content

The training provides participants with the platform to deliberate, interact, explore, review and challenge ideas around cross-cultural practices. Participants will also be introduced to ideas and concepts that can facilitate and enhance a cultural responsive practice. This course will help to broaden the definition, practice and responses towards developing a more systemic view of culture.

As per the AFT Blue Book guidance:

“Provide an introduction to the underlying theory and principles of systemic practice with families, couples and other systems

• Provide an overview and framework of different approaches and models of systemic family therapy
• Enable students to develop basic practice skills and apply these in their practice, including convening, engaging and working with families, couples and other systems
• To facilitate critical reading of practice and research texts
• Provide an opportunity for students to become familiar with research into systemic practice
• Enable and support the development of students’ self-reflective practice”

(AFT, Blue Book, p.6)

Trainers will pay acute attention to their experiences of working with minoritised communities. The course will encourage participants to interact and intra-act with their own cultures, and that of others.

Please note, as this course has originated in the UK, content aligns the UK Equality Act. If you have any questions about content or would like to discuss specific topics in relation to your country or culture, please get in touch via createprojects-cedar@exeter.uk.

Aims

At the end of the course, the participants will learn:

• To develop a systemic relationship with culture
• To have an intercultural understanding of systemic theory and practice
• To identify cultural biases in practice
• To instil culture of humility and empathy in social work and mental health practice
• To cultivate and co-construct culturally caring responsive environment within their practice contexts
• To learn and be inspired from others around the world working in similar contexts

The course is suitable for

Anyone working in mental health, social care, education, religious and pastoral related fields. There is no requirement to hold a core profession, but applications are particularly welcome from those already qualified as social workers, family therapist, psychologist, nurses etc who wish to enhance their intercultural practice. There are protected places for international trainees from Singapore and Malaysia, as well as the UK and the wider global community. We anticipate a cohort comprised of trainee from around the world.

There are limited spaces available on this course and it is a unique international collaboration that we envisage will be very popular. If you would like to register, complete this Application Form and email to createprojects-cedar@exeter.ac.uk.

International teachers and contributors

Prof. Hannah Sherbersky – Programme Lead

Associate Professor, University of Exeter and CEO, Association for Family Therapy (AFT), UK

Prof. Dr. Siti Aishah Hassan

Professor, Universiti Putra Malaysia

Rehma Said

Psychotherapist systemic supervisor and tutor, University of Exeter, UK

Maimunah Mosli

Executive Director, Clinical Consultant and Psychotherapist, Hayaa’ Network, Singapore

Fajariah Saban

Director, Clinical Consultant and Psychotherapist, Hayaa’ Network, Singapore

Divine Charura

Professor of Counselling Psychology, York St John University

Ven. Dr. Kunsang Yang Yang

Systemic Psychotherapist, Reconnect Psychology & Family Therapy

Dr Reenee Singh

Consultant Family & Couples Systemic Psychotherapist and Director, London Intercultural Couples Centre

Course Fees

This course will cost £1,900 GBP or equivalent for your currency.

Get in touch

If you have any questions, please email us on createprojects-cedar@exeter.ac.uk.