No. AFT accredit training institutes who deliver training courses. Each training provider deals directly with accessing applications for entry onto courses.

It is advisable to read an introductory text in family therapy and/or attend one of the many workshops and conferences available. Many Foundation level courses welcome students to complete the first year, as a way of finding out about the systemic approach and the training in detail. Many institutes and universities have open days where you can find out more. Some institutes may also run online access courses. View our list of accredited courses.

You will need to contact the training course provider you are interested in studying with as AFT do not run training courses or deal with training applications.

Please see the Dual qualification document found under training standards.

You will need to contact the training course provider you are interested in studying with to discuss if you would meet their criteria for applying via an APEL application route onto a course.

The requirements for student placements and practice hours vary between training institutions and your level of training.

Training course may be able to support students with this. However, below are some places where people have found placements and practice opportunities:

• Hospices
• Schools
• Children’s centres
• Family centres
• Local charities that support families through all kinds of challenges, such as families where one or more members have special needs, families where one member is in prison, homelessness, women’s refuges, refugee support, etc.
• Looking through the list of job vacancies in organisations that work with families, and contacting them to offer your services
• General counselling agencies
• Faith based organisations that run counselling services, such as mosques, churches and their related services and charities
• GP surgeries
• Organisations that work with young people
• Organisations that work with elderly people
• Hospital chaplaincy services
• Think about your core profession and how you can use your professional skills and networks to help you find a placement

If you are awarded the Masters qualification in Family and Systemic Psychotherapy from an accredited training provider you would be eligible to apply for UKCP registration and practice as a Family Therapist. However, some trusts may require dual qualification or specific employment experience as part of their job specifications.

Although there is a strong tradition of Family and Systemic Psychotherapists being employed in the NHS, social services and the voluntary sector, qualified Family and Systemic Psychotherapists also work in independent private practice. Some graduates find opportunities to do family therapy within their original profession, while others seek designated family therapy posts. These continue to increase and develop, with the majority still within child and family, and adult mental health services within the NHS. Posts usually have a strong field of applicants and there are still many more trained Family and Systemic Psychotherapists than posts available.

You will need to discuss placement opportunities with your course provider. The majority of students will be in relevant employment while undertaking the training. However, some students may have to find their own placements. Although some courses give assistance, it is important to be clear about the detailed requirements when approaching agencies and departments about the possibility of a clinical attachment. It is important to agree a contract for any placement negotiated.

Geographical location will usually be a deciding factor. The training is organised so that after one level is completed it is usually possible to move to another institute (or equivalent) if this becomes more convenient. You can usually take a study break between levels of training. Some courses are larger than others, some have a particular theoretical leaning, and some courses are more firmly based in a health service setting or in the voluntary sector. Qualifying level training, in particular, is a huge investment in both time and money and it is worth investigating various courses before making a decision.

The importance of robust and rigorous research underlies our clinical practice and theory and is hence one of AFT’s key strategic objectives. We support our members, trainees and students, to undertake both quantitative and qualitative research, to publish findings from their studies and to disseminate the findings through our conferences and webinars.

Therefore, training in systemic and family therapy includes research methods.

In general, courses include research material in their Foundation and Intermediate trainings but it is during the qualifying master’s degree that the main training in research methods takes place. Some courses require, or offer the option of, a research project dissertation. Others build research experience into the research modules. Research Doctorates are becoming increasingly available.

All psychotherapists who apply for professional registration with the UKCP, have to fulfil continued professional development requirements. This includes ongoing supervision/consultation and attendance at training events. Many Family and Systemic Psychotherapists go on to train as supervisors and The Red Book outlines requirements for accreditation as supervisors. Some institutes in partnership with universities also run clinical doctorate programmes, for those who wish to undertake practice based research.