Systemic practice and family therapy training

Please note, all our courses run face-to-face and students are expected to travel to Birmingham. Please note we are not a hybrid course

The Association for Family Therapy, as the professional accrediting body, appreciates that all courses must exercise imagination whilst remaining rigorous within the contexts of the AFT criteria (BLUE and RED BOOK) for accredited courses.

Please note: We are currently transferring over to BSMHFT. Please do not use the BWC payment details on the application form pre 09/07/2025.

The correct payment details have been added to the new application form added below.

Systemic Practice and Family Therapy Training Application Form

Bursary & Invoice Details Application Form

Employer Invoice Information Form

Year 1 Foundation Level in Family Therapy & Systemic Practice AFT accredited 

Focuses on theories and practices that enable practitioners to understand problems, recognise resources and create and maintain solutions. Local and national speakers on a range of topics across the age range and agency base. The course is usually held at Midland’s Art Centre (MAC), Birmingham. 

The course runs on Tuesdays from 2pm to 7:30pm from October to May. 

Foundation Level Brochure

Foundation course closing date Friday 18th July 2025.

Year 2 Intermediate Level Intermediate skills in Family Therapy & Systemic Practice AFT accredited

Focuses on participants’ own agency work with families and other relationship systems. The emphasis is on conceptual and practical skill development and includes coursework. 

Entry requirements are successful completion of an AFT accredited Foundation level Systemic training. A prior professional qualification and/or significant experience of working therapeutically directly with a wide range of clients. Please complete the Apel form if you do not hold a prior Professional Qualification. Please note you may be contacted if further information is required.

The course is usually held at Midland’s Art Centre (MAC), Birmingham. The teaching component of the course is held on Wednesdays from 9:15am to 4:00pm and runs from October to May.

Intermediate Course Brochure

Intermediate level closing date: Friday 18th July 2025.

Years 3 & 4 MSC in Systemic Psychotherapy validated by the University of Birmingham & AFT accredited

A two-year part-time course validated by the University of Birmingham as a Masters in Systemic Psychotherapy. The course leads to qualified status through the Association for Family Therapy as a Systemic Psychotherapist, and eligibility to apply for UKCP registration through AFT.

Entry requirements are successful completion of an AFT accredited Intermediate level Systemic training. A prior professional qualification and/or significant experience of working therapeutically directly with a wide range of clients, evidence of ongoing Systemic CPD since completion of prior level training and or embedding of systemic theory into practice. Please complete the Apel form if you do not hold a prior Professional Qualification or wish to Apel onto MSC.

The course is held on Thursdays from 11am to 7:30pm and takes place at Parkview Clinic and Finch Road where, in addition to a programme of academic study, course members see clients under live, recorded and reported supervision. Trainees have an honorary contract as a Systemic Family Therapist in Training in our community and inpatient Child Adolescent Mental Health Service.

Please note we have a biannual intake and our next intake for the MSC is September 2026. 

Masters Course Brochure

MSC forms and guidelines

Applications closed. The next intake is September 2026 with applications opening in December 2025.

1-year training programme in Systemic Supervision, Advanced Diploma in Systemic Supervision AFT accredited 

The Advanced Diploma in Systemic Supervision forms part of the Birmingham Training Programme in Systemic Psychotherapy and Systemic Practice. This one-year course is designed to facilitate trainees to achieve registered status defined in the 3rd edition of the AFT, RED BOOK as follows:

A registered supervisor is a qualified Family and Systemic Psychotherapist who is registered or eligible to register with UKCP as a Family and Systemic Psychotherapist and can:

  • Supervise the clinical work of those people training for qualified family therapy status on an accredited course.
  • Provide supervision to qualified family therapists as part of their continuing professional development (as described in UKCP registration criteria).
  • Provide supervision of teams and staff working with families and networks or individuals wishing to work with a systemic orientation.

The course is held on Mondays (10am-5pm) and Tuesdays (9am-4pm), comprising of 4 days in level 1, 4 days level 2 and 10 days level 3. The course starts in January.

Supervisions course forms and guidelines

Contact

For further details/enquiries, please contact Jade Edwards via 0121 333 9999 or 0121 333 9955 ext 6939 or email: bwc.systemictherapytraining@nhs.net - Please return all applications to this email address.