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Systemic Family Therapy – Cooperation with ÖAS (Österreichische Arbeitsgemeinschaft für systemische Therapie und systemische Studien)

What is Systemic (Family) Therapy?

In Austria, the 23 recognised psychotherapeutic schools will in future be grouped into four process clusters (basic orientations): Psychodynamic psychotherapy, humanistic psychotherapy, behavioural therapy and systemic psychotherapy.

In very brief terms, systemic family therapy is based on the theory that problems fundamentally arise and are maintained in relational contexts and are therefore communicative. These interactive processes generate ideas in the person concerned about themselves and others, which ultimately cause suffering and hinder change or further development and positive social interactions. Solutions are sought, created and invented in an appreciative attitude towards all those involved in the social environment by identifying resources, narratives and social discourses in different settings (individual, couple and family therapy).

A variety of systemic, partly circular questioning techniques and systemic methods of narrative work, externalisation, reflection, disturbance, solution orientation, self-reflective dialogue, the use of the “Reflecting Team” or the Outsider Witness Group, work with visualising techniques such as family sculptures and constellations, the prescription of “homework”, closing interventions or rituals as well as therapeutic work with metaphors and much more are used. Overall, the constructivist/constructionist attitude of the systemic psychotherapist plays an essential role.

In addition, many techniques are taught to become therapeutically helpful with larger systems – couples therapy, family therapy, group therapy, child therapy in the presence of attachment figures and much more. These techniques help to focus on the interaction between people and their needs, because it is well known that the sum of the parts is different from the “whole” and requires different theories and interventions.

Teaching Therapists, Supervisors & Lecturers

As we know, self-perception and the perception of others differ. In our self-description, we are the following:

An active, interested, curious, humorous, inquisitive team of teaching therapists with a good mix of ages (from late 30s to mid-70s) who not only try to live the “spirit” of systemic family therapy, the associated view of humanity and the underlying epistemological and system-theoretical theories in their work with clients/patients, but also want to convey this in a lively and practical way to young training colleagues. Each teaching therapist is on the one hand an “all-rounder” in systemic work, but also has his/her hobbyhorses and specialisms. Overall, we are able to provide students with a good representation of the diversity of theory and methods through the team of teaching therapists. A colourful bouquet of professional diversity and plenty of room for human individuality.

In addition to the coordination team, you will get to know the following ÖAS teaching therapists in the course of your studies or in the compulsory elective subject Systemic Family Therapy or become mentors and good companions on your path to becoming a psychotherapist. Of course, we also regularly invite national or international guest speakers on specific topics.

Univ.-Doz. Dr Corina Ahlers

Systemic family therapist
Lecturer, lecturer, teaching therapist, supervisor
Specialisation: Separation and patchwork, research in the field of transcription and interpretation of psychotherapy conversations
CV Corina Ahlers (PDF, in German)
mail@corina-ahlers.at

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Andreas Höher

hoeher@oeas.at

More information will be available soon…

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MMag.a Barbara Höllrigl, MSc.

Systemic family therapist
Teaching therapist, lecturer
Specialisation: anxiety disorders, grief/death/loss/meaning, family and structural constellations
CV Barbara Hoellrigl (PDF, in German)
mail@barbarahoellrigl.at

“The deconstruction of obstructive/burdensome “realities”, that things change their appearance when we start to look differently, allows us to experience freedom – both in our inner and outer relationships. Supported by appreciation, humour and curiosity, I allow myself to be guided by my context- and resource-oriented view in order to develop new perspectives together in a dialogue-based process.”

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Alexander Jäger-Waldau (formerly Dergovics)

Systemic family therapist
Lecturer, teaching therapist
Specialisation: Hypnosystemic approach, focus areas: Depression, anxiety, psychosomatics
CV Alexander Jäger-Waldau (PDF, in German)
mail@alexander-dergovics.at

“Therapy is a purposeful experience. Using the understanding of oneself in relation to external and internal systems to stimulate helpful solution processes.” “Therapy is often a matter of tipping the first domino.” (Milton H. Erickson)

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Mag.a med.vet. Mag.a pth. Katharina Janowitz

Systemic family therapist
Lecturer, teaching therapist
CV Katharina Janowitz (PDF, in German)
katharina.janowitz@chello.at

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Robert Koch, MSc


Systemic family therapist
Lecturer, Teaching Therapist, Systemic Family Therapy, Supervisor
CV Robert Koch (PDF, in German)
psychotherapie.koch@me.com

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Michaela Leon

Systemic family therapist
Teaching therapist
CV Michaela Leon (PDF, in German)
Michaela.leon@leonlaw.at

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Dr Imre Marton Reményi, MAS MSc

Systemic family therapist
Lecturer, lecturer, teaching therapist
CV Imre Marton Remenyi (PDF, in German)
office@remenyi.at

“Systemic therapy is the key to self-determined personal development for a fulfilled life.”

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Klaus Schmidsberger

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Hedwig Wagner, qualified social worker

Systemic family therapist
Supervisor
Specialisation: crisis intervention, sex therapy, supervision
CV Hedwig Wagner (PDF, in German)
hedwig.wagner@chello.at

“Systemic family therapy focuses on interactions and communication, prioritising respectful support for clients in achieving achievable goals.”

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Mag. pth. Wolfgang Werzowa BSc.

Systemic family therapist
Lecturer, teaching therapist in training
wolfgang@werzowa.at

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Elfriede Feichtinger, Herbert Gröger, Katharina Hinsch, Michaela Mühl, Andrea Schmid or other teaching therapists from the ÖAS, ÖAGG or LASF can also be chosen for part or all of the 80 hours of individual self-experience.

Elfriede Feichtinger

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Herbert Gröger

More information will be available soon…

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Katharina Hinsch

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Andrea Schmid

More information will be available soon…

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Management Team of the Method Systemic Family Therapy

Dr Gerda Mehta (Head of Curriculum ÖAS)

Head of the elective subject Systemic Therapy

Lecturer, supervisor, teaching therapist

Specialisation: above all process orientation and (de)construction, support so that everyone can find and follow their own path, at their own pace, etc. What is important to her is the in-between, the framing of processes so that people can create together.

E-mail: mehta@aon.at

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Univ.-Prof.in Dr Jutta Fiegl

Vice Rector, Head of Faculty, Dean

E-mail: jutta.fiegl@sfu.ac.at

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What does the Cooperation with ÖAS mean?

The compulsory elective Systemic Family Therapy or Specialised Course with its methodological focus is carried out by the following cooperation partners:

Austrian Working Group for Systemic Therapy and Systemic Studies for the Method of Systemic Family Therapy (ÖAS)

This means that the assignment of lecturers, the subject-specific study programme as well as the formal training criteria for certification and entry in the official list of psychotherapists of the Federal Ministry of Health are carried out via the ÖAS.

Web: www.oeas.at

Information on the WPF Systemic Family Therapy - How does the training programme work?

The SF elective subject or the subject-specific training via the ÖAS-SFU comprises the following steps and requirements:

In principle, training via the ÖAS-SFU is divided into 2 sections, namely a “first” and “second” subject-specific section. You will receive a separate student handbook from the ÖAS, which will provide you with guidance on the requirements of your degree programme for what lies behind you and what still awaits you in your learning process.

The “first” section covers the semester period of B5 and B6 in the SFU degree programme and the “second” section begins when you are awarded the status “in training under supervision” by the ÖAS. This second phase usually coincides with the M1-M4 semester.

In total, the following content and training hours must be completed via the WPF or ÖAS study book over both sections:

1. personal development: at least 220 hours
(individual self-experience = ELSE: 80h group self-experience: 140h)
100 hours are integrated into the SFU curriculum, are organised by the SFU and are included in the tuition fees. An additional 40 hours of group self-awareness and 80 hours of individual self-awareness are to be organised externally and paid for separately (both parts to be organised externally are to be organised via the ÖAS or teaching therapists for systemic family therapy – offer on the ÖAS homepage)
100% attendance is compulsory for all self-awareness seminars.

2nd internship: 550 hours
Of these, at least 150 hours must be completed at a “relevant” healthcare institution within one year.

3. theory and methods: at least 390 hours
These are offered in 15-hour seminars at weekends (Fri. 16.00-20.00 and Sat. 9.00-18.00) or in the B5 and B6 period as literature seminars (weekly on a weekday – 17.00 to 20.00 or 21.00). Attendance is also compulsory. You need 200 theory hours to acquire the status of “psychotherapist in training under supervision” so that you can start “practice” or practical work at the outpatient clinic. The rest of the theory seminars are completed in the so-called “second” specialisation section” during the M1-M4 curriculum period.

4. internship reflection: 30 hours
These 30 hours are completed parallel to the internship as required, e.g. in open Tuesday supervision groups with Jutta Fiegl, Gerda Mehta or Hedi Wagner or in other SF supervision groups.

5. practice: 630h practice
Practice here means the independent psychotherapeutic treatment of patients under supervision. Approval for the practical activity or “status” is granted in writing by the head of the compulsory elective subject after a personal interview with the student and is initially granted by working in the SFU outpatient clinic for 200 hours.

The status of “Psychotherapist in training under supervision” (assessment and issue by the ÖAS representative) is required:

  • at least 110 hours of personality development, whereby half of the individual self-experience (=40 hours) must be completed.
  • 200 hours of theory or methods
  • a large part of the internships
  • a large part of the internship reflection
  • the bachelor’s degree
  • and the positive assessment of the first two term papers and 2 literature papers by the programme director

The prerequisites for permission to work in the SFU outpatient clinic, which can be granted after the 1st year at the earliest, are

  • Status “in training under supervision”
  • Work as a co-therapist with Dr Mehta in the outpatient clinic
  • Completion of the bachelor’s degree

A total of at least 100 hours of psychotherapy must be completed in the outpatient clinic. Regular attendance at the outpatient clinic sessions is also compulsory. Later, students can also work in their own practice.

6. practice supervision: 220 hours
This takes place in the form of group supervision or video analyses and is legally required to accompany the practice.

7. annual screenings and semester certificates

The following are currently used for semester evaluation:

  • A written assignment in the 1st semester:
    My examination of the systemic perspective (approx. 10-15 pages)
  • At the end of the 2nd semester:
    My examination of the systemic way of working (approx. 10-15 pages)
  • The presentation of the selected literature and the student’s written document serve to evaluate the “literature work” course.
  • In the following semesters, an independently conducted psychotherapy and the corresponding case analysis, which must be submitted at the end of each semester (approx. 10 pages), serve to evaluate the “semester performance”.

At the end of each academic year, there are screening discussions with the director, which offer the opportunity to reflect on what has been achieved and what is still open, mutual feedback and, above all, an exchange between students and those responsible for the course. The written work must already be available for this.

Prerequisites for obtaining the ÖAS certificate in Systemic Family Therapy, with which you can apply to the Federal Ministry to be listed on the list of psychotherapists (professional authorisation):

  • Master’s degree
  • Positive completion of all requirements stipulated in the ÖAS study programme. This also includes the fulfilment of 2 video/audio analyses and a positively assessed case reflection of approx. 10 pages for each semester in status.
  • A fully completed ÖAS student handbook with the respective signatures of the lecturers
  • Presentation of the 630 protocols for independent work as a psychotherapist
  • Presentation of the documents of all completed courses listed in the course catalogue

With the ÖAS certificate, you can then apply to the BMG for entry in the list of psychotherapists.

Registration and Admission

You will need two admission interviews with the course director (from winter semester 2021/22 with Prof Fiegl and Dr Mehta) and a selection seminar.

You also need:

  • Matura, nostrified Matura or university entrance qualification – or admission to the preparatory course
  • Certificate of completion of the Propaedeuticum – admission to the WPF is not possible without a Propaedeuticum certificate!

When you are admitted to the WPF, you also become an ÖAS member. The SFU will pay the annual ÖAS membership fee for you for 3 years, after which you will have to pay this annually yourself until you are entered in the BMG list.

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