Training and CPD Opportunities for Professionals
Open Supervision Group
28th February ongoing / €10.00/1.5 hours per group session
IFT-Malta is hosting an ongoing space for psychotherapists to meet peers, deepen their practice and discuss clinical dilemmas, and important themes that come up in our work. This group is open to psychotherapists with all levels of experience and from different therapeutic orientations. We aim at providing a supportive atmosphere that helps us challenge our thinking using a systemic lens. Hours contribute to CPD.
- The group will run on a Friday between 6:00 and 7:30 pm.
- This is an open group which means that whilst we’ll be very happy to meet you for every group there is no obligation to attend every session.
- Group size is kept small so booking recommended as number of participants is limited.
- Upcoming dates are Fri 2nd March, Fri 20th April, Fri 25th May and Fri 22nd June. Further dates shall be announced in due time.
Working with Blended Families: Framing the Best Interest of the Child
28th April/ €80.00 / 8 hours Day Seminar including coffee and a light lunch.
Marital separation and divorce are increasingly part of our social fabric. Repartnering after a relationship breakdown will inevitably present children with the challenge of adjusting to new family arrangements. Children will often go through grief and loss over their parents not being together anymore and negotiating maintaining a relationship with both of them When parents try to find love again, the child will encounter yet another set of challenges which can range from moving to a new house to living with the parent’s new partner and possibly his or her own children from a previous relationship.
Professionals need to be well equipped when working with children and their families going through this challenging life event. They need to be able to provide a platform for the child to voice their fears and concerns as well as come to a new understanding about their place within the new family unit. In turn parents need to be supported through the challenges of sorting out their new roles and learning how to maintain a healthy relationship with their children while building a new and loving bond with their spouse and stepchildren.
This day workshop will help participants widen their knowledge and understanding of the realities faced by such families through a variety of different activities, including discussion and role plays for participants to have hands-on experience.
Brief Solution Focused Therapy Workshop
13th & 14th April / €200.00 / 15 hours
This workshop led by Dr Charlie Azzopardi will provide a detailed overview of the fundamentals of the evidence-based approach of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy. An emphasis on practice and how to use this approach to uncover resources and resilience factors in multi-stressed individuals and families is key to this training. Participants will learn how solution-building differs from problem-solving, learn practical tools to uncover strengths and resources collaboratively, enhance goal negotiation whilst increasing hope. The workshop is designed to enable participants to immediately implement the practical skills learned.
Stopping Self-Harm and Replacing It with Something Better
18th& 19th May/ €200.00 / 16 hours two-Day Workshop including coffee and light lunch.
This workshop provides a wide range of specialized theory about the nature of Deliberate Self-Harm. It specifically focuses on helping skills that have been found effective with DSH, and presents a clear sequence of step-by-step techniques that are mandatory in the treatment of DBH.
This course is highly recommended for all professionals who meet people who self-harm within individual work, within group sessions or when working with families.
Post Graduate Diploma in Systemic Family Psychotherapy
A two-year training programme designed to help practitioners develop the fundamental skills in working with individuals, couples, and families from a systemic perspective. It is aimed at practitioners who already successfully work from within other clinical paradigms, or those who are qualified in another human science and want to move into clinical psychotherapy. A first degree in psychology, nursing, medicine, social work, or any other human science is a requirement.
Participants will be exposed to theoretical seminars and discussion, live clinical consultation sessions, paper and research review and writing, and reflective practice. The aims remain to introduce participants to the field of systemic theory, practice, and research and to introduce participants to the most basic systemic practice skills which they can apply to their own work setting.The training will provide participants basic theoretical grounding, an opportunity to relate theoretical ideas with their work, a range of practical skills, the possibility of taking a critical stance to personal ideas and account for their personal learning process over time, beliefs, an opportunity to take a critical stance to one’s values, a possibility to critique various concepts and perspectives with particular focus on the family life cycle, a familiarity with a wide range of key literature, a basic familiarity with aspects of research in family therapy, an appreciation of one’s personal family and cultural experiences, and an historical understanding of the development of systemic therapy.
The Course is accreditedby the NationalCouncil for Further & Higher Education and is in line with the European Family Therapy Association and with the International Family Therapy Association. Upon successful completion of the diploma trainees will be eligible for Masters level training within IFT-Malta or other EU training institutes.
Number of participants will be limited. The next cohort will commence in September 2018.
Masters in Systemic Family Psychotherapy
This is a four-year part-time training (including the two years Post Graduate Diploma) designed for professionals who have completed a post-graduate diploma level training in Systemic Family Psychotherapy. This level of training enables professionals from mental health and related disciplines to build on their existing skills and knowledge and to become competent in the clinical application of evidence based systemic family therapy. The program draws from a variety of theoretical frameworks and practice approaches, enabling graduates to meet the demands of working within agencies with a range of client groups in both child and adult focused settings.
This is a qualifying level training which prepares individuals to practice Systemic Family Psychotherapy and meets the requirements for registration as psychotherapist with the local Council for the Professions Complimentary to Medicine.
Events for the Public
Getting Closer: Workshop for LGBT Couples
6th April / €60.00 per couple / 3 hours (5:00-8:00pm)
This workshop is aimed at providing a space for LGBT couples to nurture and strengthen their relationship. We hope to provide a context that is especially dedicated and sensitive to the reality of gay, lesbian and bisexual couples. Getting Closer is aimed at couples who are looking to reaffirm their love, improve intimacy and keep the spark that brought them together going.
The workshop will be held by qualified and experienced couple therapists. The event will include a variety of different activities aimed at helping couples evaluate their communication styles, understand one another's expectations, and strengthen commitment, fun, and friendship in their relationship. There will be a blend of group activities as well as exercises each couple will do privately.Getting Closer is open to LGBT couples from all walks of life and at different stages in their relationship.
Terrible Teens: How to Parent your Teen and Preserve Your Sanity
11th May/ €30.00 /5:00 – 7:30pm
Many parents will nod to the idea that parenting teens is very often difficult and demanding. As teenagers struggle towards establishing their identity and independence parents often have a very rough ride too. They often encounter a sense of loss as they feel their child pulling away from them and often feel ill-equipped to as to how set boundaries as well as preserve a positive relationship with their son or daughter.Parents may feel they are competing with the online world and social media.
This workshop aims at supporting parents think about how best to parent their teenagers and preserve a healthy and loving relationship. Topics explored shall include:
- Keeping the communication channels open with your teen
- How to talk about things that matter, such as sexual development, dating and online relationships.
- Preserving your own relationships with spouses, partners and extended family and nurturing yourself as a parent through this demanding phase of the life-cycle.
Parenting through Your Separation
8th June/ €30.00 /5:00 – 7:30pm
Separation presents parents with the difficult challenge of taking care of their child’s/children’s needs whilst dealing with their own issues of grief, loss and anger over their marital or relationship breakdown. Parents are often at a loss as to how to support their child/children through this trying time often whilst negotiating parenting arrangements with their ex-partner.Children may often feel invisible and are lost as to how to preserve their relationship with both parents.
This workshop aims at supporting parents think about how best to manage parenting within this new reality. Topics explored shall include:
- Understanding your child’s experience of separation
- Negotiating what your child needs or doesn’t need to know about the relationship breakdown
- How to talk to your child about new living arrangements
- Communication with the other parent
Parents that have gone through or are going through a separation will have the opportunity to meet other parents who are sharing their experience. This workshop is a unique opportunity to discuss how best to help their child/children through this demanding life event.
Finding Love Second Time Around: Making it Work
6th July / €50.00 per couple /5:00 – 7:30pm
Every one of us yearns to be loved and be in a meaningful relationship. Unfortunately, at times this is not how things turn out and a failed relationship or marriage leaves us disappointed, hurt and scared of new relationships. Yet most of us go on to try to find love again and build a relationship with a new partner. It is so important to make it work this time round, especially after knowing the pain of a break-up. Things may be even more complex especially when there are children from previous relationships who also need to adapt to the new family set-ups.
This event aims at helping you make your new relationship work. Couples are invited to join us for a workshop that will explore the following topics:
- Learning from previous experiences
- Maintaining a healthy communication style
- Successfully managing relationship with ex-partners and children
- Building trust and strengthening fun and intimacy in the relationship
88, Triq Hal-Saflieni, Paola