Dr in psychology, systemic psychotherapist

Thinking about the training of future psychotherapists

Since 2017, a certificate issued by a High School or University is required by law

Belgian to practice psychotherapy. Psychotherapy is a form of health care treatment that uses, in a logical and systematic way, a coherent set of psychological means (interventions, acts), which are anchored in a psychological and scientific frame of reference, and which require interdisciplinary collaboration. . (Art. 68/2/1§1 of the law of 2016). Psychotherapy is therefore at the same time a science, an art and a craft.

In this communication, we will present the Belgian context of training in systemic psychotherapy. We will see how two logics — experiential and scientific — come together to provide quality training.

Clinical psychologist. Doctor in Psychological Sciences. Associate professor at the University of Mons (UMONS -Belgium), she teaches clinical psychology and psychotherapy. Initially trained in the psychoanalytical approach and psychotraumatology, she then completed a third cycle in marital and family psychotherapy and systemic intervention (CEFORES - Belgium). Academic manager of the University Certificate in Systemic Psychotherapy at the University of Mons, she is pursuing training as a trainer in family therapy at the Center for Family and Human Systems Studies (CEFS - Brussels). Since September 2022, she has also been in charge of the Atelier Systemique, a new training school in marital and family psychotherapy and systemic intervention in collaboration with CEFS and UMONS. She has a practice in crisis clinics and in various fields (psychiatry, alcoholism, oncology, geriatrics), supervises teams and has worked for 15 years in a psychological consultation center. Author of numerous scientific publications, her latest book 'Brief Interventions and Therapies', co-written in particular with Stephan Hendrick, has just been published by Editions Mardaga (2022).

An evolving paradigm

The systemic approach occurs in a context of rupture with the psychiatric paradigm of the time. Until then, the intervention essentially focused on the suffering individual. The pioneers of the current which will lead in particular to the creation of a new psychotherapeutic approach (family therapy) are developing various proposals aimed at integrating the patient's network of belonging, so as to work at the level of the system and not only of the individual. . The evolution of this new paradigm will go through several phases (first-order; second-order and third-order cybernetics). Along the way, healthcare institutions will welcome therapists trained in this approach both for conducting family therapies and for supervising the functioning of their teams. Today, the systemic approach proposes in particular to meet the challenges manifested by contemporary societal changes and emerging disorders through various specific and specialized currents based on evidence-based data and in close dialogue with other psychotherapeutic practices. existing. This intervention will aim to draw up a synoptic panorama both of the evolution of the discipline and of its places and methods of intervention and of the assets that it can contribute to shed light on societal and clinical issues.

Doctor of Psychological Sciences. Visiting professor at UCLouvain (Belgium) where he teaches systemics and at the Haute Ecole Léonard de Vinci (Belgium). Initially trained in the psychoanalytical approach, he completed a third cycle in family and systemic therapy (CEFORES-Belgium). He is currently pursuing training in integrated psychotherapeutic clinics. His areas of research focus on addictions; conspiracy and the relationship between psychology and art. He has twenty years of practice in various fields (addiction, psychiatry, youth assistance) and currently works as a team supervisor and in private practice where he sees couples and families.

Stimulating colleagues: How to promote qualitative research in systems?

Raising the awareness of clinical and psychotherapist colleagues to the systemic approach is one thing. Raising awareness of clinical research of systemic obedience (but not only!) is another challenge.

In an interactive moment, we propose to discuss the ethical importance of the evaluation of our clinical and psychotherapeutic management systems in order to continuously improve the care given to patients. We will see that the qualitative research approach is not so far from the clinical approach. On the contrary, it complements it and promotes the reflexive awareness of the practitioner.