SHORT-TERM TRAINING PROGRAM ON MARRIAGE AND FAMILY COUNSELING

• General knowledge block: 6 credits
• Basic and advanced consulting skills block: 2 credits
• Counseling and therapy block: 8 credits

No.	Course name	Number of credits	Number of credit hours
			Theory	Practice
1	Family life cycle and psychological characteristics	2	15	15
2	Marriage and family counseling in the context of Vietnamese culture	2	15	15
3	Sex in a marital relationship	2	15	15
4	Advanced consulting skills	2	10	20
5	Systemic therapy in marriage and family counseling	2	10	20
6	Solution-focused therapy in marriage and family counseling	2	10	20
7	Narrative therapy in marriage and family counseling	2	10	20
8	Supervision of marriage and family counseling practice	2	5	25

1. Number of credits: 2
2. Language of instruction: Vietnamese
3. Instructor Information:

• Full name: Tran Thu Huong
• Title: PhD
• Work unit: Faculty of Psychology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU

4. General Objective

5. Course output standards:

• 1. Knowledge:
• Learners have basic knowledge about the marriage life cycle: Concept of marriage life cycle, theories, perspectives on marriage life cycle, stages of marriage life cycle and family issues
  2. Skills
• Learners apply knowledge to research, identify, evaluate and make recommendations for support and intervention in family problems.
  3. Attitude (personal moral qualities)

• Learners develop appropriate, positive attitudes toward family issues when providing counseling services.

6. Testing and evaluation method: multiple choice/essay
7. References

8. Course content summary

9. Detailed content
   1. Common issues

• The concept of marriage life cycle
• Some theories about the marriage life cycle
  2. Couple relationship life cycle and psychological characteristics

• Premarital stage
• Marriage stage
  • Newlywed stage: Getting married
  • The stage when the family has the first child
  • Stage of family with children going to school
  • The stage when the family has grown children, moves away and prepares for retirement
  • Elderly couple stage
• Stages of termination of marriage relationship
  • Separation, divorce
  • Widow
  • The stage of death of spouse in old age

• 3. Practice identifying psychological issues in each marriage life cycle
• Presentation of consultation case
• Identifying the stages of a marriage relationship
• Outstanding psychological characteristics
• Psychological problems of marital relationship
• Lessons learned and recommendations related to consultation practice

1. Number of credits: 2
2. Language of instruction: Vietnamese
3. Instructor Information:

• Full name: Tran Thu Huong
• Title: Associate Professor, PhD
• Work unit: Faculty of Psychology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU

4. General Objective

5. Course output standards:

• 1. Knowledge:
• Present and analyze the basic aspects of the cultural context model when conducting counseling for couples with psychological difficulties (violence, conflict ...); socio-cultural factors affecting the couple relationship. Such as social age of marriage, education, employment status, income, premarital childbirth, number of children, single living trend, conception of gender roles in traditional and contemporary society, social networks, domestic violence, social stress, mental health.
  2. Skills

• Ask questions, empathize, use scales, and analyze the relationship between sociocultural factors and the couple's psychological difficulties.
  3. Attitude (personal moral qualities)
• Respect and accept cultural diversity, behavior, and sexual orientation in customers.

6. Testing and evaluation method: multiple choice/essay
7. References

• Almeida, R.V. & Durkin, T. (1999). The cultural context model: Therapy for couples with domestic violence, Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, Vol. 25, No. 3, 313-324.
• Poulsen, S. S. & Thomas, V. (2007). Cultural issues in Couple Therapy, Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy, 6(1-2): 141-152.

8. Course content summary

9. Detailed content
   1. Cultural context model in marriage and family counseling

• Cultural concept
• Cultural Interaction
• Women as Culture Bearers
• Cultural Context Model: Separating Cultural Circles for Men and Women
  2. Sociocultural factors affecting marital relationships
• Social age of marriage
• Employment status
• Education
• Income
• Giving birth
• Gender
• Social stress
• Gender-based violence
  3. Tools and scales to assess sociocultural aspects of family,
• Clinical Question
• Scale
  • Social stress scale
  • Gender role scale
  • Violence scale in couple relationships

• 4. Practice case analysis
• Presenting the song
• Analyze the socio-cultural context of customers
• Lessons learned and recommendations for practice

• Full name: Nguyen Van Luot E-mail: luotnv@vnu.edu.vn
• Title: Associate Professor, PhD
• Work unit: Faculty of Psychology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU

4. General goals
The course provides students with basic knowledge about sexual aspects in couples, marriages and other extramarital relationships; factors affecting sex in couples and marriages; decline and treatment/consultation of sex in marriage. Thereby, helping students to have a comprehensive understanding of knowledge about sex in couples' relationships, helping couples have a healthy and happy sex life.
5. Course output standards:
After completing the course, students will be able to
- About knowledge: equipped with basic general knowledge about sex in intimate relationships at different stages from the stage of choosing a partner, love and sex; sex in marriage and other intimate relationships.
- Skills: analyze and evaluate sexual life in formal and informal couple relationships; practice some sex therapy/treatment in intimate relationships.
- Regarding attitude (personal moral qualities): trained to form appropriate attitudes about sexual life in intimate relationships.
6. Testing and evaluation method: multiple choice/essay
7. References
1. Nguyen Van Luot – Tran Van Tinh – Bui Phuong Thao (2021). Lecture series on Sexual Psychology (internal circulation). Faculty of Psychology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU Hanoi.
2. Khuat Thu Hong, Le Bach Duong, Nguyen Ngoc Huong (2009), Sex in contemporary Vietnamese society: easy to joke about but hard to talk about, World Publishing House.
3. Richard Parker, Peter Aggleton (2007), Culture, Society and Sexuality (collection), translated by CCIHP, Culture - Information Publishing House published in Vietnam in 2013.
4. Lehmiller, J. (2014). The Psychology of Human Sexuality, Wiley Blackwell, p.196 – p.224.
5. LeVay, S., Balbwin, J., & Balbwin, J. (2019). Discovering Human Sexuality, 4th edition, Oxford University Press, p. 191 – p. 224.
8. Summary of course content (About 250 – 300 words)
The course provides students with a general understanding of sexuality in intimate relationships. It examines sexuality in the early stages of a relationship, including attachment and partner selection; love, sexuality and couple happiness; sexuality in marriage; sexuality in unstable relationships; factors that influence sexuality in couples; sexual deviations and how to counsel and treat sexuality in intimate relationships.
9. Detailed content
9. 1. Starting a relationship: commitment and partner selection
1. Attachment
+ Attachment theory
+ Attachment in childhood and adulthood
+ Individual differences in attachment;
+ Individual differences in mate selection strategies
2. Choosing a partner
+ How do people choose their partners?
+ Criteria for choosing a partner;
+ Gender differences in criteria for choosing a partner;
+ Gender differences in mating strategies
9. 2. Love, sex and marital happiness
1. Love (structure and nature of love)
2. Does better sex lead to better relationships?
3. Do good relationships lead to better sex?
4. Sex and couple's satisfaction
9.3. Sex in marriage
1. Sex in marriage
2. Factors affecting sex in marriage
3. Is adultery due to sexual factors?
4. What to do to improve sexual satisfaction in marriage
9.4. Sex in other relationships
1. One night stand
2. Couples for sexual reasons (friend with benefits)
3. Sex in open relationships
4. Using dating apps to find sex
9.5. Factors affecting sex in couple relationships
1. Sexual standards
2. Sexual communication
3. Sexual skills and knowledge
4. Cultural and social factors
5. Biological factors
6. Socio-demographic factors
9.6. Sexual Disorders
1. What is sexual dysfunction/decline?
2. Types of sexual dysfunction and causes
3. Types of sexual disorders and causes
9.7. Sex Therapy
1. General introduction
2. History of sex therapy
3. Theoretical foundation for sex therapy
4. Sex therapy (behavioral therapy; cognitive-behavioral therapy; couples therapy).

1. Number of credits: 2
2. Language of instruction: Vietnamese
3. Instructor Information:

• Full name: Nguyen Thi Anh Thu
• Academic title/degree: Doctor
• Title: Lecturer
• Work unit: Faculty of Psychology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU

4. General Objective

5. Course output standards:

• 1. Knowledge:
• Master basic consulting skills
• Identify the client's problem
  2. Skills
• Ability to apply consulting skills in case practice
  3. Attitude (personal moral qualities)

• Have an attitude of respect and acceptance towards customers
• Respect the rules of professional ethics

6. Testing and evaluation method: multiple choice/essay
7. References

• Tran Thi Minh Duc (2009), Psychology consultation textbook, National University Publishing House, Hanoi.
• Nguyen Tho Sinh (2006), Basic psychological counseling, Labor Publishing House, Department of Science Resources.
• Tran Thi Minh Duc (2010), Counseling skills for children in conflict with the law, Lucky House Publishing House, Department of Science Documentation.

8. Course content summary (About 250 – 300 words)

9. Detailed content
   1. Basic counseling skills (through specific exercises)

• Listening Skills: Experience Your Own Listening Ability
• Feedback Skills: Practice Feedback Skills
• Questioning Skills: Practice Questioning Skills
• Empathy Skills: Practice Empathy Skills
• Silence Handling Skills: Practice Silence Handling Skills
  2. Identify the client's problem
• Client consultation goals
• Identify the client's problem
• Consultation case analysis
  3. Consultation Instructions
• Practice and discuss consultation cases
• Share experience in consulting practice

1. Number of credits: 2
2. Language of instruction: Vietnamese
3. Instructor Information:

• Full name: Nguyen Thi Minh Hang
• Title: Associate Professor, PhD
• Work unit: Faculty of Psychology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU

4. General Objective

5. Course output standards:

• 1. Knowledge:
• Present and analyze the fundamental basis of the birth and development of systems theory, the basic views of systems theory on difficulties in marriage and family relationships.
  2. Skills

• Establish goals for marriage and family counseling according to systems theory, establish processes and practice therapy techniques.
  3. Attitude
• Respect and be sensitive to the cultural aspects of the client when applying systemic therapy in marriage and family counseling.

6. Testing and evaluation method: general test of the whole program
7. References

8. Course content summary

9. Detailed content
   1. Basic arguments of family systems theory

• The birth and development of therapy
• Basic arguments
  • Individual differences
  • Family trio
  • Emotional process
  • Projection process
  • Emotional separation
  • Multi-generational transfer
  • Sibling status
  • Social stress
• The position of systemic therapy today
  2. Establish goals, processes and therapies
• The goal of systemic therapy in marriage and family counseling
• Establish a consultation process
• Therapies
  • Process questions
  • Family tree analysis
  • Neutralize the trio
  • Ego Position – Individual Differences

• 3. Practice case analysis
• Presenting the song
• Analyze customer problems from a systems theory perspective
• Establish goals, procedures, and practice therapy
• Lessons learned and recommendations for practice

1. Number of credits: 2
2. Language of instruction: Vietnamese
3. Instructor Information:

• Full name: Bui Thi Hong Thai
• Academic title/degree: Associate Professor, PhD.
• Title: Lecturer
• Work unit: Faculty of Psychology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU

4. Course Objectives

5. Course output standards:

• 1. Knowledge:
• Understand the philosophies and fundamentals of solution-focused consulting
• Identify the techniques to use and how to conduct each consultation session
• Recognizing Ethical and Gender Issues in Couples Counseling
  2. Skills

• Develop appropriate consultation objectives with a solution-focused perspective for the specific situation
• Solution-focused interviewing techniques can be applied in counseling sessions.
• Implement a solution-focused consultation process
  3. Attitude (personal moral qualities)

• Respect the client
• Sensitivity to ethical and gender issues in couples counseling

6. Testing and evaluation method: general test of the whole program
7. References

• de Shazer, S., & Berg, I. K. (1997). “What works?”: Remarks on research aspects of solution-focused brief therapy. Journal of Family Therapy, 19, 121–124.
• Gale, J., & Newfield, N. (1992). A conversation analysis of a solution-focused marital therapy session. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 18(2), 153–165
• Gingerich, W., & Eisengart, S. (2000). Solution-focused brief therapy: A review of the outcome research. Family Process, 39, 477–498.
• Jordan, K., & Quinn, W.H. (1994). Session two outcome of the formula first session task in problem- and solution-focused approaches. Journal of Family Therapy, 22, 3–16.
• Murray, CE, & Murray, TL (2004). Solution-focused premarital counseling: Helping couples build a vision for their marriage. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 30(3), 349-358.

8. Course content summary

9. Detailed content
   1. General knowledge about marriage and family counseling focuses on solutions

• The philosophy of solution-focused consulting
• The Basic Rules of Solution-Focused Consulting
• Identifying client types and the role of the counselor
• The «family tree» diagram of the solution-focused consultation session
• Set consulting goals from a solution-focused perspective
• Practice on the situation
  2. Questioning techniques in solution-focused counseling
• Types of questions to ask before the first consultation session
• Types of goal-building questions
• Exception types of questions
• Types of response questions
• Effective Question Types
• Types of questions about meaning
• Practice question types on scenarios
  3. Solution-focused consulting process
• Getting acquainted phase and tasks to be done
• First session: what to do and skills to use
• Next sessions: things to do and skills to use
• Design homework for the couple after each session
• Practice analyzing a couples counseling session
  4. Practice solution-focused couples counseling
• Some notes on conducting couples counseling sessions
• Some ethical and gender aspects in couples counseling
• Practice consultation case

1. Number of credits: 2
2. Language of instruction: Vietnamese
3. Instructor Information:

• Full name: Nguyen Ba Dat
• Title: PhD
• Work unit: Faculty of Psychology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU

4. General Objective

5. Course output standards:

• 1. Knowledge:
• Present and analyze the fundamental basis of the birth and development of narrative theory, the basic views of narrative theory on difficulties in couple relationships, and changes in customers' psychology.
  2. Skills

• Establish goals for couples counseling according to narrative theory, establish procedures, and practice counseling techniques of therapy.
  3. Attitude
• Respect and be sensitive to the cultural aspects of the client when using narrative therapy in couples counseling.

6. Testing and evaluation method: multiple choice/essay
7. References

8. Course content summary

9. Detailed content
   1. Basic arguments of narrative theory

• The birth and development of theory
• Basic arguments
• Current status of the theory
  2. Establish goals, processes and therapies
• Narrative Theory Consulting Goals
• Establish a consultation process
• Counseling therapies
  • Tran recounts the story of an individual or couple.
  • Establish the meaning of the story
  • Edit story
  • Decide and act based on the newly created story

• 3. Practice case analysis
• Presenting the song
• Customer Story Analysis
• Establish goals, processes, and practice of counseling therapy
• Lessons learned and recommendations for practice

COURSE OUTLINE
SUPERVISION OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY COUNSELING PRACTICE

The module on supervising the practice of marriage and family counseling supports learners in connecting and applying knowledge and skills to the practice of couple counseling, thereby enabling learners to organize and provide marriage and family counseling services to clients in an appropriate Vietnamese cultural context.

After completing the course, students will be able to:

Micheal. Nichols (2009), Basics of Family Therapy, Pearson Publishing.

The supervision module for marriage and family counseling consists of three parts. The first part supervises learners in identifying client expectations, defining problems and counseling goals through specific cases when learners provide counseling services; the second part supervises learners in selecting theories and integrating counseling skills into providing services to clients; the third part supervises learners in handling sensitive issues related to the code of ethics of psychological counseling in couples counseling.