TS5S002 - Introduction to Systemic Theory and Practice 05 Jul 2023 - 31 Aug 2025 | Version 4

Associated Module Information

Module Code: TS5S002
Module Title: Introduction to Systemic Theory and Practice
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Therapeutic Studies
Faculty Sub Group: Professional Learning in Education
Module Leader: Rachel Davies
Module Team: Anna Playle, Nicky Lewis, Shelley Gait, Annie Beyer, Kirsty Richards
First Intended Intake: SEP 2018 Final Year of Intake: 2023
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 8
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100495 - counselling
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 4
Valid From 05 Jul 2023
Valid To 31 Aug 2025

Module Aims

To provide students with a critical appreciation of conceptual frameworks for understanding human interactional systems.

To engage students in reflective practice in analysing their own impact upon the client systems within which they operate.

Content Summary

The module will introduce students to systems thinking, complexity theory and communication theory as the matrix of human socially constructed organisation. Narratives of problem formation and problem resolution will be analysed with reference to critical theory in psychology.

Students will engage in studying their own interactional processes and sense-making frames of reference with regard to simulated and actual case material.

The module will engage students in an exploration of how they are synthesising a critical analysis of systems thinking and complexity theory into their own personal epistemology.

This will also be grounded by the synthesis of theory and practice. Analysis of interactional processes that form the therapeutic system in counselling will be central to the focus on practice in this module.

This module includes mandatory formative assessment activities, to support students learning and development prior to summative assessment tasks.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 14
Tutorial 2
Practical classes and workshops 20
Independent Study 110
Directed Study 54
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Using critical theory, demonstrate the ability to synthesise into own practice discourses of problem formation and problem resolution in counselling psychology practice.
LO2 Demonstrate an ability to formulate hypotheses on the formation and development of a therapeutic relationship and critically analyse these towards therapeutic ends.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Synchronous Onsite Oral Assessment Presentation (Synchronous Onsite) 1 ?Presentation of a client through a systemic lens supported by systemic theory and research 20 N/A 100 No 50

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Presentation (Synchronous Onsite) 1

Reading List

Whilst some of the texts below appear to be dated, these are key texts in the field marking a paradigm shift in Psychotherapy following the Palo Alto Group’s ten-year Rockefeller Research course and innovations from the early Macey Conferences lead by Gregory Bateson. We aim to equip students to be able to robustly critique current secondary source literature in the field through their reading of original source texts alongside relevant current literature.

Bateson G (1972) Steps to an Ecology of Mind Chicago: Chicago Univ. Press

Bateson G (2002), Mind and Nature: A Necessary Unity (Advances in Systems Theory, Complexity and the Human Sciences) Cresskill NJ: Hampton Press

Bertrando P (2007) The Dialogical Therapist: Dialogue in Systemic Practice London: Karnac Books

Dallos R & Draper R (2015) An Introduction to Family Therapy: Systemic Practice and Theory Maidenhead Berks:Open University Press

Haley J (1976) Problem Solving Therapy London: Harper

Minuchin S (1974) Families and Family Therapy , London: Tavistock Publications

Palazzoli M Boscolo L Cecchin G & Prata G (1978), Paradox and Counter Paradox New York: Jason Aronson

Parker I (2015) Handbook of Critical Psychology Abingdon: Routledge

Simon G & McCarthy I (2016) Systemic Therapy as Transformative Practice Farnhill: Everything is Connected Press

Watzlawick P Weakland J H and Fisch R (1974) Change: Principles of Problem Formation and Problem Resolution. NY: W.W. Norton.

Wynne L (1988) The State of the Art in Family Therapy Research: Controversies and Recommendations New York :Family Process Press

Anderson H & Goolishian H (1988) Human systems as linguistic systems: preliminary and evolving ideas about the implications for clinical theory Family Process 27:4 pp 371 – 393

Brown J (2010) The Milan principles of hypothesising, circularity and neutrality in dialogical family therapy: extinction, evolution, eviction or...emergence? Australian & New Zealand Journal on Family Therapy 31(3) 248-265

Cecchin G (1987) Hypothesizing, circularity and neutrality revisited: An invitation to curiosity Family Process Vol. 26: pp 405-413

Keeney H & Keeney B (2012) What is systemic about systemic therapy? Therapy models muddle embodied systemic practice Journal of Systemic Therapies 31(1) 22-37

Selvini Palazzoli M Boscolo L Cecchin G & Prata G (1980), Hypothesizing – Circularity Neutrality: Three guidelines for the conducting of the Session Family Process Vol. 19: pp 3-12.

Strong T (2015) Diagnoses, Relational Processes and Resourceful Dialogs: Tensions for Families and Family Therapy Family Process 54 (3) 518-532.

Stratton P (2016) The Evidence Base for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice http://www.aft.org.uk/SpringboardWebApp/userfiles/aft/file/Research/Final%20evidence%20base.pdf

Journal of Systemic Therapies

Australian & New Zealand Journal on Family Therapy

Family Process

American Journal of Marital and Family Therapy

Journal of Family Therapy