Courses

Courses offered

Core Courses
Course Number	Course Name
MSFT 6001	Overview of Marriage and Family Therapy
MSFT 6002	Cultural Consideration and Application of Marriage and Family Therapy with Asian Chinese Families
MSFT 6003	Working with Welfare Families and the Larger System
MSFT 6004	Children and Adolescents in the Family
MSFT 6005	Marriage and Sexuality
MSFT 6006	Family Therapy with Psychosomatic Families
MSFT 6007	Practice Research in Human Services
MSFT 6008	Ethics for Marriage and Family Therapists
Elective Courses
MSFT 6022	Group Psychotherapy
MSFT 6028	Sex Therapy
MSFT 6033	Domestic violence
MSFT 6034	Working with couples
MSFT 6035	Special topics in marriage and family therapy 1
MSFT 6036	Special topics in marriage and family therapy 2
MSFT 6037	Special topics in working with specific target group 1
MSFT 6038	Special topics in working with specific target group 2
MSFT 6039	Essentials for systemic clinical practice
MSFT 6040	The psychodynamic foundation of psychotherapy
Clinical Internship
MSFT 6010	Clinical internship: applying theory to practice I
MSFT 6011	Clinical internship: applying theory to practice II
MSFT 6012	Clinical internship: applying theory to practice III
MSFT 6013	Clinical internship: applying theory to practice IV
MSFT 6014	Clinical internship: applying theory to practice V
Clinical paper
MSFT 9001	Clinical Paper (2 modules)

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Core Courses

Students will take a total of EIGHT compulsory modules that orientate them to the theories and practice of marriage and family therapy in the field. All courses offered by HKUFI are designed to fulfill the coursework requirement for AAMFT membership application.

MSFT 6001: Overview of Marriage and Family Therapy (1 module)

This course is a fundamental introduction to theoretical concepts in the field of marriage and family therapy. The course will provide an extensive review of the theoretical foundations of the various schools and paradigm shifts in the field of marriage and family therapy from modernism to post-modernism. Major theories such as cybernetics, general systems theory, and the theories for change will be examined in relation to different schools of thought and research findings. The focus will be to unify conceptual threads that integrate different approaches including Bowenian, structural, and narrative. Techniques from various models that are applicable to marriage and family therapy with Asian families will also be addressed.

MSFT 6002: Cultural Consideration and Application of Marriage and Family Therapy with Asian Chinese Families (1 module)

How to apply a psychotherapy approach that originated from the West to families in the East has been one of the most important questions confronting both practitioners and trainers working on this side of the world. Using live case demonstrations and videotaped sessions covering a variety of trans-generational issues from children to elderly, this course will concentrate on the therapeutic encounter between therapists and families from different Asian regions, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, and Mainland China. The objective is to break down abstract clinical and cultural concepts into concrete movement and interactions as observed in each family session. Empirical data on the therapeutic process with Chinese families will be analyzed and explored.

MSFT 6003: Working with Welfare Families and the Larger System (1 module)

The Hong Kong society is undergoing a lot of demographic, social, economic and political changes. While a majority of families manages to cope with these adequately, other families, most of which come from the lower-economic strata, are unable to cope well with these changes and manifest problems of malfunctioning and disharmony. These call for professional intervention and present challenges to service providers and human service practitioners. In working with these families, it is important to address issues related to these families and to see how much they are affected by the larger system. Social service policies and related philosophy as well as roles of the various sectors in implementing these services will be examined. Innovative modalities and approaches in service delivery will also be introduced.

MSFT 6004: Children and Adolescents in the Family (1 module)

This course focuses on a family-oriented approach in working with children and adolescents who have behavioral and emotional problems. The course is divided into two parts: the first part will focus on theories of child development and its normal and abnormal manifestations, and the second part will concentrate on the clinical applications of these concepts in working systemically with children and adolescents and their families. The course aims to equip the practitioners with an understanding of various theories, including that of child development, attachment theory, object relations theory, and techniques to deal with a variety of problems that afflict children and adolescents.

MSFT 6005: Marriage and Sexuality (1 module)

The field of marriage counseling is developing rapidly due to changes in the life cycle such as increasing pressures of daily life, electronic communication, transformation of gender roles, and the increasing number of divorce rates, cross-cultural relationships, and same-sex couples. This course will examine historical developments to marital therapy and new approaches in couple work. Issues such as love, marriage, intimacy, growing old together, sex, and sexual dysfunction will be discussed. Biological, cognitive, social, emotional, and cultural influences on human sexuality will also be addressed within the context of couple relationships.

MSFT 6006: Family Therapy with Psychosomatic Families (1 module)

This course will specifically focus on families coping with psychosomatic illness as they relate to the Chinese culture as well as other cultures. Clinically relevant issues related to the conceptualization, assessment and treatment of psychosomatic conditions will be introduced and critically examined in the context of family. The transactional patterns of families whose members suffer from eating disorders, anxiety attacks, school phobias, psychologically induced asthma, rheumatism or other psychosomatic complaints will be addressed. The treatment philosophy will be to make family members the healers for the patients by a process of family empowerment.

MSFT 6007: Practice Research in Human Services (1 module)

In order to build indigenous practice knowledge appropriate to the local setting, this course will offer students a range of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. Approaches to intervention research, social research and development, clinical research with couples and families, single-subject design, case study, qualitative approaches, use of narratives, and process studies will be explored. The objective is to equip students with an understanding of research in general and research on marriage and family therapy.

MSFT 6008: Ethics for Marriage and Family Therapists (1 module)

This course will examine in depth the issues involved in confidentiality, legal responsibilities and liabilities, and professional ethics in the practice of marriage and family therapy. The role and functions of the professional organization, licensure or certification legislation will be covered. Issues involving independent practice and the importance of inter-professional collaboration will also be addressed.

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Elective Courses

(* Not all elective courses will necessarily be offered in a given year)
Students are required to take FOUR elective modules. They may take no more than one module offered in other fields of study under the M.Soc.Sc. (Behavioral Health, Counseling, Mental Health, Social Service Management, Social Work) program. The module must be relevant or equivalent to those offered by the M.Soc.Sc.(MFT) program. All applications will be considered on an individual basis and prior approval has to be obtained from the Program Directors concerned before enrollment. Students are encouraged NOT to enroll for elective modules offered by other programs in the first year of study. Some of the elective courses are listed below:

MSFT 6022: Group Psychotherapy (1 module)

This course aims at enhancing the practical skills and sensitivity in conducting group psychotherapy with different clientele in a variety of service settings. It will introduce the effects of group psychotherapy, insight-oriented group treatment and behavioural techniques involving the learning of communication and problem-solving skills in effectively conducting group psychotherapy.

MSFT 6028: Sex Therapy (1 module)

The objectives of this course are to equip trainees with:
(a) knowledge on sexual behavior, physiology and psychology changes of both sexes throughout the sexual arousal and mating process
(b) knowledge on sexual orientation and sexual variations
(c) knowledge on common sexual problems of men and women
(d) skills in providing basic sex counseling and therapy to men and women with sexual problems at the primary care level and identifying couples in need of secondary/tertiary care so as to make appropriate referrals.

The topics covered will be: Normal genital anatomies of men and women; sexual physiology, psychology and behavior at different stages of life and the sexual arousal and mating process; an overview on sexual orientation and sexual variations; common sexual problems in men and women and their management and resources in the community for men and women with sexual problems.

MSFT 6033: Domestic violence (1 module)

Violence and abuse in the family has become a growing concern in contemporary society. This course will compare studies in China as well as abroad that address issues relating to domestic violence and its effects on marriage and family dynamics. The course will also highlight counselling techniques for perpetrators and victims of domestic violence both in group and family sessions.

MSFT 6034: Working with couples (1 module)

This course will introduce the basic process of couple therapy in the context of several major couple therapy models. It will further examine the interpersonal variables related to marriage and divorce, followed by an exploration of theories and current research on couple therapy, marital relationships and related interventions for dealing with a variety of marital and divorce issues.

MSFT 6035: Special Topics in Marriage and Family Therapy 1 (1 module)

The course helps students to think in systems terms across a diverse range of presenting issues. Topic areas may include family secrets in family therapy, child and adolescent depression, Chinese philosophy and psychotherapy, adjustment issues in post-divorce families, step parenting, transgenerational families etc.

MSFT 6036: Special Topics in Marriage and Family Therapy 2 (1 module)

MSFT 6037: Special topic in working with specific target group 1 (1 module)

The course focuses on systemic therapeutic interventions in working with a specific group of clients, such as gamblers, persons with mental handicap or autism, children with ADHD, etc.

MSFT 6038: Special topic in working with specific target group 2 (1 module)

The course focuses on systemic therapeutic interventions in working with a specific group of clients, such as gamblers, persons with mental handicap or autism, children with ADHD, etc.

MSFT 6039: Essentials for systemic clinical practice (1 module)

This course focuses is designed to prepare students for taking the required 500 hours of supervised clinical practice in marriage and family therapy which they will start in the second semester of their first academic year. Students will be trained with the attitude, knowledge and skills necessary for their prospective work with clients from diverse backgrounds. This course is highly recommended for students with limited clinical experience.

MSFT 6040: The psychodynamic foundation of Psychotherapy (1 module)

This is an elective course designed to enable students to acquire an understanding of individual dynamics while working with a systemic perspective. The course will include working with family of origin issues, psychoanalysis, Jungian analysis, and how they can be integrated into family therapy.

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Clinical Internship

Family therapy trainees are expected to complete a minimum of 500 hours of clinical practice, which is divided into FIVE placements consisting of 100 hours each. In addition, they will receive 100 hours of supervision (both dyadic and group) provided by experienced supervisors, with AAMFT approved status or supervisor candidates. Before starting each placement, family therapy trainees and their assigned supervisors will sign a Supervision Contract which outlines goals and objectives of the clinical internship as well as expectations from both parties. Trainees need to enroll in the placement for each semester starting from the second semester of the first year. They are not allowed to register for subsequent placements until they have passed the previous placements.

Clinical Experience Goals

The goals of the clinical experience are to provide opportunities for students to practice and integrate theory, styles, and skills as Marriage and Family practitioners. General goals include:

Professional use of self as a change agent.
Maintenance of an active client caseload and case management.
Knowledge of marriage and family therapy literature and practice.
Integration of marriage and family therapy theories into practice.
Knowledge of code of ethics in marriage and family therapy and utilization in practice.
Enhancement of written and oral communication skills.
Professional presentation.
Active participation in group process.
Appreciation of diversity amongst people.
Ability to collaborate with different professionals.

The five placements are:

MSFT 6010: Clinical internship: applying theory to practice I (1 module)
MSFT 6011: Clinical internship: applying theory to practice II (1 module)
MSFT 6012: Clinical internship: applying theory to practice III (1 module)
MSFT 6013: Clinical internship: applying theory to practice IV (1 module)
MSFT 6014: Clinical internship: applying theory to practice V (1 module)

If trainees request deferment of a particular internship, they are required to apply in writing stating the reasons with necessary documentary support to HKUFI at least ONE month before the start of the internship period, subject to the Faculty's final approval.

Placement at Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic of HKUFI

The clinical internship will be organized in a combination of work at HKU Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic and in agency settings. Of the 500 clinical practice hours, no less than 100 hours and no more than 250 hours need to be completed in placement at the Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic. This experience will involve learning clinical practices, observing and analyzing live case demonstrations, and treating individual clients and families.

Placement at Agencies

Students are expected to complete at least 250 hours of clinical internship at agency settings. The requirements for placement at agencies include:

1. At least TWO different agency settings over the FIVE Clinical Internships
2. Over the FIVE Clinical Internships, students should have direct client contact with ALL of the following categories of client groups :

Children
Adolescents
Couples

Students may either work in their own agencies or arrange to be placed in other settings. Supervision will be rendered by clinical supervisors of the HKUFI.
Placements will be arranged taking into account the experience, interests of the students and consultation from clinical supervisors.

Overseas Clinical Arrangements

The M.Soc.Sc.(MFT) program has links with overseas placement agencies such as the Minuchin Center for the Family in New York, the University of San Diego' Marital and Family Therapy Program, College of William and Mary in Virginia, and the Marlborough Family Service in London. Arrangements for overseas clinical placement can be made with these agencies at the student's own expense. This will give students the exposure and opportunity to gain practical training from renowned training institutes under the supervision of well-known international trainers. The clinical training and supervision hours that students receive overseas can be counted toward the program requirement if they are properly validated by the agencies and recognized by the HKUFI.

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Clinical paper

MSFT9001: Clinical Paper (2 modules)

The purpose of the clinical paper is for the students to capture a particular area of interest in coursework and clinical practice which has been developed throughout the program. Each student is assigned a tutor to supervise his/her paper. For example, they can identify a particular issue, theme or phenomenon in the field, or expand further on a term paper in a course or practice model that they have observed during the course of the study. The area studied has to be concrete, concise and describable from existing clinical data out of Family Institute's data bank. Subsequently, students are to design a plan of action to pursue this matter further so that a clinical paper will be produced in the final year of their study. They may conduct surveys to back up their observations or organize existing clinical data into training approaches.

Clinical Paper Requirements

All students are required to submit a clinical paper in the range between 8,000 and 10,000 words on family and family-therapy related issues by June 30 of their final year of study of the curriculum with the approval by tutors.

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