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, which is grounded in family therapy. Inviting all parties involved (parents, children, care-givers, teachers) to give input and participate is a characteristic aspect of family therapy.
Solution focused therapy is a playful and practical approach to solving difficulties of all kinds. 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. 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 gain knowledge on and experience with solution focused therapy by 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;
Describe SFT techniques and the treatment aim of each technique;
Describe the general course of a solution focused therapy;
Describe the professional code on privacy & consent when working with families;
Describe the role of alliance, motivation, culture and background of the client, and their support system in therapy;
Formulate a treatment goal and shape the treatment in collaboration with the client and their environment;
Apply SFT techniques during intervision and with the client;
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 druing intervision, supervision and in a treatment report.
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
Five plenary 2-hour seminars and eight 2-hour work group meetings (called intervision meetings), which involve peer consultation and supervision. During seminars as well as workgroup meetings, students will practice techniques and brainstorm on common difficult situations that might happen during treatment.
Attendance at the workgroup sessions and seminar meetings in mandatory. See Brightspace for more information.
Assessment method
The course objectives are assessed via a written exam and two written assignments and requires active participation during seminars and workgroup meetings.
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:
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
Additional scientific papers (to be announced via Brightspace)
In Dutch:
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. (2023) _Beschermjassen: Transculturele hulp aan families. Assen: Van Gorcum.
Aanvullende Wetenschappelijke artikelen (zullen bekend gemaakt worden via Brightspace)
Contact information
Dr. Bianca Boyer b.e.boyer@fsw.leidenuniv.nl