Latest Module Specifications
Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026
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Description This module aims to facilitate exploration of the development of systemic therapy. It introduces students to the core principles and theoretical concepts underpinning contemporary Systemic therapy and examines a range of practice methods from within the systemic tradition. The meaning and place of reflexivity and ethicality in systemic psychotherapy is explored. Additionally, how language is embedded within social, political and cultural contexts and discourses and how self, identity and reality are shaped by such discourses is examined. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Learning Outcomes 1. 1. Critically explore the foundations of systemic therapy i.e. systems theory, cybernetics, constructivism and social constructionism and their application to psychotherapy. 2. Distinguish between the main systemic models - Structural, Strategic, Milan, Post-Milan, Discourse, Narrative and Brief Therapy. 3. Identify the core tenets of systemic theory e.g. relationship, recursivity/ circularity feedback, context, meaning, language, discourse, both / and approach. 4. Identify the use of systemic practices e.g. Circular conversations, reflecting processes, genogram, sculpting etc. 5. Examine the concept of knowledge / reality and self as socially constructed phenomena 6. Examine meaning- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml |
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Indicative Content and Learning Activities
To explore systemic theory and practice with particular reference to brief, strategic and structural approaches To review the notion that attempted solutions become problems in family systems To critically discuss how power positioning is central to structural family therapy To critically discuss the feminist perspectives to discourses of power and neutrality, explicit and implicit within the therapeutic endeavor and how this discourse is embedded in the social domain Discuss the importance of 2nd order cybernetics to the development of systemic family therapy and the development of a way of including the psychotherapist as part of the therapeutic systemic meaning To explore systemic theory and practice with particular reference to Milan and Post-Milan models Explore case formulation Explore the therapist positioning of neutrality, curiosity, irreverence, prejudice and not-knowing Explore the resonances of the reflecting team in terms of introducing ‘news of difference’ To personally critique and reflect on the implications of self as constructed through the language of familial, and social discourses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Indicative Reading List Books:
Articles: None | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Other Resources None | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||