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Family Counselling (4 cr)

Code: BE00DC28-3009

General information


Enrollment
12.03.2025 - 16.04.2025
Registration for the implementation has ended.
Timing
28.04.2025 - 31.07.2025
Implementation is running.
Number of ECTS credits allocated
4 cr
Local portion
0 cr
Virtual portion
4 cr
Mode of delivery
Distance learning
Campus
SeAMK Seinäjoki, Kampustalo
Teaching languages
Finnish
Seats
12 - 40
Degree programmes
Bachelor of Social Services
Teachers
Pia-Christine Sainio
Groups
SOS25A
Bachelor of Social Services, Full-time studies
SOS24B
Sosionomi (AMK)
MSOS25K
Bachelor of Social Services, Multimodal implementation
SOS24C
Bachelor of Social Services, Full-time studies
Course
BE00DC28

Evaluation scale

1-5

Content scheduling

The course will take place from May 5th to July 31st, 2025.
The course begins with an introductory initial exam. This must be passed before proceeding to other sections and tasks of the course.
All assignments for the course must be submitted by July 31st, 2025.
Additionally, there is a final exam on Moodle for the course, which must be submitted by July 31st, 2025 at the latest. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Objective

The student is able to apply a psychosocial approach and methods of professional interaction. The student can describe key working methods and methors used in family counseling and evaluate their suitability in different client situations.

The student is able to describe in which operating environments family guidance is possible. He / she is able to specify the working methods and models used in family guidance. The student understands the principles of the systemic operating model and strives to implement a multidisciplinary approach in the context of family guidance. The student is able to plan a goal-oriented family guidance process.

Content

- family counselling and related concepts
- family counselling settings
- family councellor's role and professional interaction in family counselling
- the process of family counselling, documentation
- systemic model, multidisciplinary
- main methods of family counselling
- evaluation and development of one's action

Location and time

INDEPENDENT ONLINE STUDY

The studies allow for completion according to one's own schedule.

Materials

- Lapsiperheiden ja lastensuojelun sosiaalityö (2024). Kiili, Jaakkola, Anis, Lamponen & Stenvalla (toim.)
- Pulkkinen, Lea (2022). Lapsen hyvinvointi alkaa kodista.
- Klaavu, Juha (2023). Lapsuuden kehityksellinen trauma. Syy arvottomuuteen, häpeään ja syyllisyyteen.
- Traumainformoitu työote (2023). Linner-Matikka, Johanna ja Tiia Hipp (toim.)
- Avola, Pauliina & Viivi Pentikäinen (2019). Kukoistava kasvatus.
- Pöyhönen, Julia & Heidi Livingston (2023) Hyvän vanhemman salaisuus. Teema.
- Trogen, Tiia (2022). Lempeän kasvattajan opas. Aikuisen itsesäätely ja itsemyötätunto.
- Trogen, Tiia (2020). Positiivinen kasvatus.
- Kohtaamisia lapsiperheissä. Menetelmiä perhetyöhön. 2010. Vilen, M., Seppänen, P., Tapio, N. &Toivanen, R. (toim.)
- Perheen parhaaksi: Perhetyön arkea. 2012. Järvinen, R; Lankinen, A; Taajamo,T; Veistilä, M; Virolainen A. (toim.) 2.uud.p. Helsinki: Edita. Luku 6: Perhetyön sisällöt, sivut 112-156.
- Lasten haastattelu lastensuojelussa 2018. Hyvärinen, S. & Pösö T. (toim.).

Teaching methods

The course is conducted online in the Moodle learning environment.
The study is completed independently at one's own pace during the implementation period. The course does not include any joint meetings.

The student will familiarize themselves with the theoretical material and complete online assignments/exams according to the given instructions. The study requires independent work and scheduling.

The course includes an introductory preliminary exam (graded 1-5), which must be passed to continue with the course. At the end of the course, there is a comprehensive final exam on Moodle, which is also graded on a scale of 1-5.

The teacher's lecture materials are available online. The course is divided into sections, each with independent online assignments. The tasks for the previous section must be submitted before submitting the tasks for the new section.

The course covers legislation, literature, websites, and documents related to family counseling. The student will make a visit to an organization that provides family counseling, either alone or, if desired, with a partner or small group. If an on-site visit is not possible, the student will conduct the visit using, for example, Teams.

Employer connections

The student will visit an organization that provides family counseling. The student will arrange the visit independently. The visit can also be carried out with a partner or in a small group if possible. The visit can also be conducted using Teams connections.

Exam schedules

The course will open in Moodle on May 5, 2025, and will be available until July 31, 2025.

At the beginning of the course, the student will take an introductory preliminary exam. The material and the exam are in Moodle. The exam can only be taken once during the course and must be passed in order to proceed to the first section and other assignments. Therefore, passing the introductory exam is a prerequisite for continuing the course.

In the final section of the course, there is a theory-based exam, which is a case assignment and thus an application of knowledge. The Moodle exam can be taken once the other sections and assignments have been completed, but no later than July 31, 2025.

International connections

-

Completion alternatives

-

Student workload

Total 108 h. The workload of the study is designed so that one credit corresponds to an average of 27 hours of student work to achieve the learning objectives. The actual time required varies individually, e.g., due to prior knowledge.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Students
- are able to name differences between social welfare act based and child welfare law based family counselling
- are able to name different stages where family counselling is possible to use
- are able to define the basic principles of psychosocial work and the meaning of professional interaction in family counselling
- are able to name work methods and models used in family counselling
- are able to recognize the features of a systemic approach
- are able to recognize a goal-oriented family counselling process and role of family counselor

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Students
- can describe differences and meanings between social welfare act based and child welfare law based family counselling
- are able to describe different stages where family counselling is possible to use
- are able to use psychosocial work and professional interaction in family counselling
- can evaluate needs of family counselling in different situations
- can apply and analyze methods and models used in family counselling
- are able to plan goal-oriented family counselling process and recognize the features of a systemic approach
- are capable to reflect on their actions and their professional role from perspective of professional ethics

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

- are able to critically assess differences and meanings between social welfare act based and child welfare law based family counselling
- are able to critically assess needs for family counselling and analyze its content when working with families with children
-evaluate their own competence to apply psychosocial work and professional interaction in family counselling
- know how to plan and develop a goal-oriented family counselling process, also taking into account the multidisciplinary and systemic approach
- are capable to analyze work methods and international models used in family counselling and to evaluate their action and their professional role from the perspective of professional ethics

Qualifications

most part of the module Knowledge Base in Social Work

Further information

The foundational studies must be mostly completed.

The course does not require attendance, nor is there any scheduled online teaching. Working on the course requires independent study, perseverance, and working on the online platform. The introductory exam must be passed to continue with the course. No assignments will be accepted after July 31st, 2025.

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