Systemic (family) therapy works with families and couples as systems: it looks at the relationships between close people and at the wider context they live in. Several family members usually attend together, and individuals are also seen as members of a couple or a family.
Primary sources: EFTA: what is family therapy, EFTA-TIC: training institutes chamber, IFTA
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AFSP, UK
The association’s searchable directory of UK systemic psychotherapy courses it accredits, from foundation and intermediate to qualifying and supervision level. AFSP says accredited courses meet a training standard accepted for UKCP registration.
Listed byAFSP accredited courses directory
Institute of Family Therapy (IFT), London
A one-year certificate of 15 teaching days, the first year of IFT’s four-year pathway to Family and Systemic Psychotherapist (qualifying years accredited by UKCP, as IFT states). IFT says the London and East of England versions are AFSP accredited and the online version is in the process.
Listed byAFSP accredited courses directory
Birmingham Training Programme in Systemic Psychotherapy, UK
A two-year part-time qualifying-level course that combines academic study with supervised client work, validated by the University of Birmingham. The provider states it is AFT accredited and leads to eligibility to apply for UKCP registration through AFT.
The Bowen Center for the Study of the Family, USA
A program year of monthly virtual full-day sessions, two in-person blocks, nine one-hour individual consultations and a postgraduate project. The page states up to 49 continuing education hours for counseling and social work.
Ackerman Institute for the Family, New York
The seminar courses run 14 weeks, fully online, and build foundations in relational, couples and family therapy. Live clinical training with supervision and a clinical fellowship follow for more advanced work.
Channel: European Family Therapy Association (EFTA) · Checked: November 1, 2026
An EFTA Conversation with Alberto Penna of the Mara Selvini Palazzoli School on a couple therapy approach that works with emotional and bodily levels of communication. The description names three experiential interventions: sculptures, activating empathy and asking for help.
Open on YouTube ↗Channel: European Family Therapy Association (EFTA) · Checked: November 1, 2026
An EFTA presentation with the Hearing Voices Network: a voice-hearer and members of a family and friends group speak, and the talk asks how systemic practice can support voice-hearers and their networks.
Open on YouTube ↗Channel: European Family Therapy Association (EFTA) · Checked: November 1, 2026
An EFTA Conversation with Massimo Schinco on how dream images can inform the practice of systemic psychotherapy, with attention to setting, hypothesizing and designation processes in families.
Open on YouTube ↗Practitioner registries, training standards, conferences. The links go to official sites; the descriptions are ours.
United Kingdom
The UK professional association for family and systemic psychotherapists: member directory, accredited courses, registration with UKCP through AFSP, a code of ethics, webinars and an annual conference.
international (Europe)
Publishes European minimum training standards for family and systemic therapists (2025 edition) and works through chambers, one of them for training institutes (EFTA-TIC, 143 institutes in 29 countries). Holds a conference every three years.
international
Runs a family therapy congress, certifies family therapists and systemic supervisors, and publishes a list of programs approved by its accreditation commission.
USA
A professional association for marriage and family therapists. It offers online continuing education on systemic and relational therapy, Family Therapy Magazine and a Global Systemic Therapy Summit.
Short scales to see the starting level and change over time. They are screening, not a diagnosis.
RASRelationships
Many tests can be sent to a client as a link (a button on the test page), and the result comes to your email. If answers show signs of risk, the test shows help lines.
Check how much supervised work with families it includes, who teaches, and whether it appears on an association list, such as AFSP in the UK or EFTA-TIC institutes in Europe. In the UK, AFSP accreditation is tied to a standard accepted for UKCP registration.
Individual therapy takes the person and their experience as the unit. Systemic therapy takes the family or couple as a system, with its relationships and context, so several family members usually attend, though individual sessions are also used.
The RAS is a relationship satisfaction scale of 7 questions that takes about two minutes. Partners can complete it at the start and again later. It is on our site and can be sent as a link.
Entry rules differ by provider. Ackerman’s seminar courses list no prerequisites, the Bowen Center postgraduate program asks for a master’s degree and prior Bowen study, and UK qualifying courses expect an earlier accredited course plus professional experience.
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