Entry requirements
Only open to Master students specialisation Child and Adolescent Psychology and research master’s students track Developmental Psychology.
Description
In the field of youth care, we use a variety of methods to support children, adolescents and parents. Within the Master in Psychology, specialisation Child and Adolescent Psychology, students have the opportunity to learn about and apply some of these methods. In this course, students will get to know Solution Focused Therapy by using Ben Furman’s programme Kids’ Skills. This is a solution-based programme which is grounded in family therapy. Inviting all parties involved (parents, children, care-givers, teachers) to have input and participate is a characteristic aspect of family therapy.
Ben Furman, a Finnish psychotherapist/psychiatrist, has designed a playful and practical approach to solving difficulties of all kinds. By means of a 15-step-programme, children and adolescents overcome difficulties in a positive and constructive way by learning new skills. This program spends little or no time on finding potential causes of difficulties. The focus is on what children or adolescents need to learn. To learn new skills, you need all the support you can get from your environment. Instead of blaming parents or teachers, we invite them to give input about the skill that needs to be learned. Because of this and because of the way the programme is structured, parents/care-givers become actively involved and responsible. They take on a supportive role in relation to the child and therefore contribute significantly to the learning process. As the therapist, you are the expert of the process of the solution focused method. However, the participants, the parents, the teachers and the children are the experts in finding their own solutions.
The implementation of solution focused therapy requires a new attitude, especially on the part of the therapist: not focusing on problems, but on solutions. During this course students will experience solution focused therapy practicing solution focused therapy with children and their environment at school or at home.
Course objectives
After completing the Solution-Focused Therapy course, the student will be able to:
Describe the SFT model of behavioural change in their own words;
Formulate a treatment goal and shape the treatment in collaboration with the client and their environment;
Describe and apply SFT techniques;
Record the course of the treatment by writing a treatment report;
Reflect on own behaviour as a therapist and on the treatment alliance with the client and their environment.
Timetable
For the timetable of this course please refer to MyTimetable
Registration
Education
Students must register themselves for all course components (lectures, tutorials and practicals) they wish to follow. You can register up to 5 days prior to the start of the course.
Exams
You must register for each exam in My Studymap at least 10 days before the exam date. You cannot take an exam without a valid registration in My Studymap. Carefully read all information about the procedures and deadlines for registering for courses and exams.
Exchange students and external guest students will be informed by the education administration about the current registration procedure.
Mode of instruction
6 plenary 2-hour lectures, 10 2-hour work group sessions, which involve peer consultation and supervision.
Assessment method
The course objectives are assessed via three written assignments and requires active participation and preparation of the workgroups.
The maximum grade for the resit of the reflection reports is 6 because the resit consists of a revision of the original assignments.
Assessments can be done in English or Dutch.
The Institute of Psychology follows the policy of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences to systematically check student papers for plagiarism with the help of software. All students are required to take and pass the Scientific Integrity Test with a score of 100% in order to learn about the practice of integrity in scientific writing. Students are given access to the quiz via a module on Brightspace. Disciplinary measures will be taken when fraud is detected. Students are expected to be familiar with and understand the implications of this fraud policy.
Reading list
In English:
Furman, B., (2007). Kids’ Skills. playful and practical solution-finding with children. St Luke’s innovative Resources, Australia ISBN0 9580188 9 8
Kim Berg, I., Steiner, T., (2003) Children’s solutions work. WW Norton & Co, ISBN13 9780393703870.
Tjin A Djie, K. & Zwaan, I. (2021). Protective Wraps:Transcultural aid for families. Assen: Van Gorcum
In Dutch:
Furman, B (2007). Kids’ Skills. op speelse wijze vaardigheden ontwikkelen bij kinderen. (2e druk) Nelissen Soest.
Kim Berg, I., Steiner, T. (2010). Het spel van oplossingen. Oplossingsgerichte psychotherapie voor kinderen. Uitgeverij Pearson Assessment And Information.
Tjin A Djie, K. & Zwaan, I. (2015) Beschermjassen op school, aandacht voor verschil in het onderwijs. Assen: Van Gorcum.
Contact information
Dr. Bianca Boyer b.e.boyer@fsw.leidenuniv.nl