Family therapy

Supervisors

Maria McCarthy and Sarah Jones

Department

Consultation and Liaison Mental Health Service, Royal Children's Hospital

Email

maria.mccarthy@rch.org.au

Objectives

At the end of this elective, the student should:

1. Have gained an understanding of the theoretical framework for family therapy: family systems; medical family therapy; medical systems; child-focused family therapy
2. Be able to apply family systems principles to observation of presentations of children and families
3. Have gained an in-depth understanding of one child and family by studying them within the framework of family therapy theory

Resources and learning opportunities

1. Minimum of 4 hours and maximum of 10 hours in RCH Mental Health Service
2. Observation of one or two family therapy sessions with a child with a medical illness and their family
3. Attendance at relevant ward psychosocial meeting (if appropriate)
4. Access to relevant literature and/or case presentation meeting

Note: Students need to be available to attend on Thursday mornings between 9am and 10.30am if they choose this elective.