Routes to training
Discover what the training to become a family therapist involves.
You need a 4-year part-time masters qualification to become a qualified family and systemic psychotherapist.
Then you will be eligible to be registered with the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP), a professional body which holds a national register of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. Only therapists who meet UKCP’s high standards of training can be on their register.
The 4-year training is split into 3 stages:
- Foundation stage in year 1. The qualification may be called a postgraduate certificate in systemic practice.
- Intermediate stage in year 2. The qualification may be called a postgraduate diploma in systemic practice.
- Qualifying stage in years 3 and 4. The qualification may be called a masters certificate and professional qualification in family and systemic psychotherapy.
If you train to an intermediate level, you won’t be a qualified family and systemic psychotherapist or eligible for UKCP registration. But you’ll gain knowledge and skills in systemic practice to enrich your current working role or core profession and help clients to make positive changes in their lives.
Once you’ve done the 4-year training, you’re eligible to become registered with UKCP as a family and systemic psychotherapist by applying through the Association for Family and Systemic Psychotherapy (AFSP) or the Institute of Family Therapy.
Children and Young People’s Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (CYP IAPT) programme
The CYP IAPT programme is a 1-year course you can do to apply for qualifying level training to become a family and systemic psychotherapist. This means you can qualify in 3 years instead of 4.
What experience do you need to apply for training?
Normally, you’ll need to have:
- Completed training in a health and social care profession. For example, you might be a clinical psychologist, social worker, mental health nurse, psychotherapist, occupational therapist or speech and language therapist
- An undergraduate degree or evidence of your ability to study at postgraduate level
- A professional qualification which has taken 2 to 3 years
- Experience of working with health and social services
- Knowledge of child development and psychology
- Successfully completed foundation and intermediate training in systemic practice (or equivalent) to proceed onto qualifying level training
If you don’t have an undergraduate degree or a professional qualification, you may still be able to apply. Ask training providers about their Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) route to applying.
Download our dual qualification guidance (PDF, 216KB) to see other qualifications and skills which might qualify you to apply for training to become a family and systemic psychotherapist.
How do I find a course?
At AFSP, we accredit family and systemic training courses that are delivered by independent providers. We don’t run qualifying training courses ourselves.
Our standards are thorough and rigorous, which offers students reassurance about the quality of training.
Each training provider deals directly with assessing applications for entry onto AFSP-accredited courses. If you want to apply to a specific course, speak to the training provider to discuss the application process.
Frequently asked questions about becoming a family therapist
You can get some insight into family and systemic psychotherapy by reading an introductory text, like An Introduction to Family Therapy: Systemic Theory and Practice by Rudi Dallos and Ros Draper. You could also attend one of our webinars.
Many foundation level courses welcome students to complete the first year as a way of finding out about the systemic approach and training. It’s worth going along to open days at the training providers to find out more.
The requirements for student placements and practice hours vary depending on training providers and the level of training that you do.
The tutors on your course may be able to help you with finding a placement. So be sure to discuss placement opportunities with prospective course providers.
Some students need to find their own placement. You can look through the list of job vacancies in local organisations that work with families and contact them to offer your services. Also, think about your core profession and how you can use your professional skills and networks to help you find a placement.
We know that students have found placements and practice opportunities in the following places:
- Hospices
- Schools
- Children’s centres
- Family centres
- Local charities that support families through challenges. This includes living with a disability, having a family member in prison, homelessness, domestic abuse and being a refugee
- General counselling agencies
- Faith-based organisations that run counselling services, such as mosques, churches and their related services and charities
- GP surgeries
- Organisations that work with young or older people
- Hospital chaplaincy services
It’s important to be clear about what you need from your clinical placement when you approach organisations and contacts. It’s also a good idea to agree a contract for the placement.
Some things to consider when you’re choosing a course are:
- Location.
- If you complete one level of the training at a training provider, you could move to another if this becomes more convenient.
- You can usually take a study break between levels of training.
- Some courses are larger than others.
- Some courses have a particular theoretical learning.
- Some courses are more firmly based in a health service setting or the voluntary sector.
- Qualifying level training, in particular, is a huge investment in time and money and it is worth investigating various courses before making a decision.
Yes, training in systemic and family therapy includes research methods.
Robust and rigorous research underlies clinical practice and theory in family therapy. At AFSP, we support members, trainees and students to undertake quantitative and qualitative research. We publish and disseminate findings through our Journal of Family Therapy, Context magazine, conference and webinars.
In general, foundation and intermediate courses include research. But it’s during the qualifying masters degree that the main training in research methods takes place.
Some courses require, or offer the option to do, a research project dissertation. Others build research into modules. Doctorates in family and systemic psychotherapy research are now becoming more available. Visit our page about doctorates for more information.
If you’re awarded the masters qualification in family and systemic psychotherapy from an accredited training provider, you’ll be eligible to apply for UKCP registration and practice as a family therapist.
However, some NHS trusts may request other qualifications or specific employment experience as part of their job specifications.
There are still many more trained family and systemic psychotherapists than posts available. But posts are continuing to increase and develop, with the majority within child and family and adult mental health services in the NHS. Find out more about working in the NHS.
You may find a job as a qualified family and systemic psychotherapist in social services or the voluntary sector. Qualified family therapists also work in private practice. Find out more about working in private practice.
Some graduates also find opportunities to do family therapy within their original profession.
All psychotherapists who apply for professional registration with UKCP have to do 250 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) over a 5-year period. This includes ongoing supervision, going to training events and attending webinars. Find out more about UKCP reaccreditation requirements.
Many family and systemic psychotherapists go on to train as supervisors. Find out more about supervision.
Some training providers, in partnership with universities, run clinical doctorate programmes, for people who want to do some practice-based research. Find out more about doctorates and PhDs in family and systemic psychotherapy.
Also of interest
Find accredited courses
Browse family and systemic psychotherapy training courses around the UK.
Job opportunities
Have a look at family therapy job adverts to get a sense of what roles involve.