Intervention in Family, Sexual and Marital Systems

Code:

PCS10

Acronym:

ISFSC

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
CNAEF	Psychology

Instance: 2022/2023 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Psychology
Course/CS Responsible:	Master Degree in Psychology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MPSIC	29	Plano de Estudos 2021	1	-	6	54	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

Students attending this course will develop the following expertise:

1. connect different theoretical models to analyze marital and family relationships;
2. a developmental, dialectic, ecological and systemic vision on family formation and structure;
3. understand the relationship between subsystems (individual, marital, siblings) and other systems;
4. describe the main models, assessment techniques and intervention strategies on marital and family therapy;
5. critically think on the research and intervention proposals on this domain;
6. be able to hypothesize, plan and intentionally propose techniques and strategies when observing a therapeutic process, adopting a systemic and developmental perspective;
7. recognize the relevance of the therapeutic team and a multidisciplinary perspective, paying attention to ethical, legal and social issues;
8. recognize the need for a continuous questioning, search and share of knowledge when practicing psychotherapy.

Learning outcomes and competences

1. Be familiar with the diversity of proposals for psychological intervention within marital and family systems, including counselling, psychotherapy, psychoeducation, training and consultancy with individuals, groups, institutions and communities that compose the psychosocial environment;


2. Have the appropriate skills for intervention in crisis, this contributing to the improvement of quality of life and coping skills of individuals, couples and families in dealing with new challenges and/or developmental tasks;


3. Analyze the uniqueness of the individual from a multi-systemic perspective;


4. Develop a developmental, dialectic, circular and contextual perspective of psychological intervention;


5. Gain skills for psychological intervention through observing, discussing and reflecting on real psychotherapeutic processes.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Be familiar with the diversity of proposals for psychological intervention within marital and family systems, including counselling, psychotherapy, psychoeducation, training and consultancy with individuals, groups, institutions and communities that compose the psychosocial environment;


2. Have the appropriate skills for intervention in crisis, this contributing to the improvement of quality of life and coping skills of individuals, couples and families in dealing with new challenges and/or developmental tasks;


3. Analyze the uniqueness of the individual from a multi-systemic perspective;


4. Develop a developmental, dialectic, circular and contextual perspective of psychological intervention;


5. Gain skills for psychological intervention through observing, discussing and reflecting on real psychotherapeutic processes.

 

 

1. Clinical psychologist and the therapeutic team: fundamentals, anamnesis, counselling and therapeutic skills;


2. Family and marital relationships: socio-historical perspective and concepts of family and couples – diversity and inclusion;


3. Theories and interventions throughout the family life cycle: family therapy pioneers; from psychodynamic models to the current paradigms;


4. Family psychological development and family life cycle: normative and non-normative transitions, assessment and intervention:
   
   
   
   1. Couple and family formation; prevention programs and communication skills;
   
   
   2. Parenthood: promoting positive parethood, parnt-child relationships; single-parent families and families with adolescents;
   
   
   3. Marital relationships, conflict and violence: conceptual and intervention models;
   
   
   4. Divorce and remarriage;
   
   
   5. Sexuality: psychosexual development; gender identity; homosexuality; sexual education programs; sexual dysfunctions; research and intervention within clinical sexology.
   
   
   
   


5. Diagnosis techniques (hypothesis, circular questioning, neutrality, strategizing, genogram) ad prescriptive techniques (positive connotation, rituals, sculpture, metaphor, paradox prescription)


6. Integrating systemic models in different contexts (e.g. schools).

Mandatory literature

Alan Carr; Family therapy. ISBN: 0-471-49124-1
Paula Mena Matos; Famílias. ISBN: 978-989-8148-76-6
Maria Emília Costa; À^procura da intimidade. ISBN: 972-41-3734-1
Roberts, T.W. (2008); A Systems Perspective of Parenting, Brooks/ Cole Publishing Company.

Complementary Bibliography

Mark Rivett & EddY Street (2009); Family Therapy.100Key points & techniques , N.Y: Routledge.
Markman, H. J., Rhoades, G. K., Stanley, S. M., Ragan, E. P. & Whitton, S. W. (2010); The premarital communication roots of marital distress and divorce: The first five years of marriage. , Journal of Family Psychology, 24(3), 289-298
Susan M. Johnson; Attachment processes in couple and family therapy. ISBN: 1-57230-873-7
Femmie Juffer; Promoting positive parenting. ISBN: 0-8058-6352-4

Teaching methods and learning activities

This course is organized in both theoretical (2h) and practical (1.5h) classe on a weekly basis. As this CU aims to provide training for future clinical psychologists, we aim to transfer evidence-based knowledge in a clear way, encouraging learning, reflection and communication.

In theorectical classes we use oral presentation using audio-visual support. Nevertheless, students are consistently participating through feedback, discussion of dilemas and role-play.


In practical classes students learn diagnosis ansd intervention techniques and watch psychological intervention films from varied models and problematics.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	15,00
Exame	50,00
Trabalho prático ou de projeto	35,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Elaboração de relatório/dissertação/tese	30,00
Estudo autónomo	25,00
Frequência das aulas	54,00
Trabalho de campo	50,00
Total:	159,00

Eligibility for exams

Students must be present in 75% of classes. Students must obtain a minimum of 10/20 in the practical component (paper + participation in classes) and 9/20  in the final exam.

Calculation formula of final grade

- active participation in class 15%
- paper 35%
- final written exam 50%

Examinations or Special Assignments

This paper should be accompanied by the following declaration (UPorto ethics code Despacho nº GR.06/12/2017):

"I hereby declare that the present paper is of my own authorship and has not been used previously in other courses or institutions. Citations to other authors strictly obey the rules of authorship attribution and are indicated both throughout the text and on the references section following the indicated output style. I am aware that the practice of plagiarism and self- plagiarism constitute an illicit academic act".