OpenEd Job Posting 088

Teaching Opportunity | Course Instructor – Family Therapy and Mental Health

Open Learning and Educational Support (OpenEd), University of Guelph is recruiting for instructor(s) with a passion for teaching, and the academic knowledge and experience to develop and facilitate online synchronous continuing education courses for the Advanced Certificate in Couple and Family Therapy Studies. The selected candidate(s) will develop and instruct Family Therapy and Mental Health in July 2023. The timeline for commitment would be April – September inclusive of course development, course dates and grading timelines.

Course dates are scheduled for:

  • Day 1: Friday July 7, 2023 9:00 – 4:15 PM
  • Day 2: Saturday July 8 2023, 9:00 – 4:15 PM
  • Day 3: Friday July 14, 2023 9:00 – 4:15 PM
  • Day 4: Saturday July 15, 2023 9:00 – 4:15 PM
  • Day 5: Friday July 21, 2023 9:00 – 4:15 PM

Certificate Description

Explore the major theories, central concepts and foundational approaches of couple and family therapy practice.

Through interactive teaching and learning processes—including whole class and small group discussions, role-playing, research, assignments, and reflection from your own personal experience—you are better equipped to translate theory into practical methods for your practice.

While a strong focus is placed on the historical development of systemic therapy, you have many opportunities to study and compare a wide variety of therapy models, such as Cognitive-Behavioural, Experiential, Bowenian, Contextual, Structural, and Strategic.

Position Description

We are looking for instructor(s) to develop and facilitate one course in the Advanced Certificate in Couple and Family Therapy Studies Program. Instructors are contracted to instruct per course based on expertise, experience and availability. As an OpenEd instructor, you support student learning, develop course content (content, activities and assessments) in alignment with provided learning outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

  • Develop a course structure including all curricular and assessment elements
  • Prepare course outline, assessment structure with rubrics as per the standards and requirements of the department
  • Develop and update learning activities including quizzes, exercises, case studies, and discussion activities that reinforce learning, in consultation with OpenEd staff
  • Work collaboratively with OpenEd staff according to established timelines
  • Respond to OpenEd staff in a timely manner (24-48 hours) to support course administration
  • Select, prepare and identify course content including but not limited to reading lists, materials list, slides, visuals, and activities in alignment with course learning outcomes
  • Facilitate the course online based on a set schedule
  • Create a supportive and engaging online community that fosters student learning
  • Share real-world experiences and provide examples that demonstrate your expertise in the topic area and meet the needs of the learners
  • Utilize the online learning management system as part of course facilitation
  • Respond to and support students in a timely manner (24-48 hours)
  • Participate in meetings, orientations and trainings as requested to support course administration and instructor orientation
  • Grade all assessments following the rubric/grading criteria and provide appropriate feedback on submitted work
  • Provide student feedback in a timely manner throughout the semester with final grades being completed within two (2) weeks of the course end date
  • Re-read or re-grade assessments, attend appeals, and participate in cases of academic misconduct, which may occur after the end date of the course, as required
  • Manage files and comply with University of Guelph Policies and Procedures to maintain a safe, engaging and supportive learning and working environment

Course Description

Family therapists have finally found a place at the table of regulated healthcare. This puts us more directly into dialogue with medical mental health practitioners. These clinicians speak their own language, a derivation of the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases, known as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The purpose of this course is to familiarize you with the DSM-5 and its language for the major disorders of thinking (schizophrenia), feeling (anxiety, depression, bipolar) and behaving (personality). The impact of mental illness on family functioning and the current literature regarding effective couple and family approaches to treating these mental health problems will be explored.

Here you will see integration of couple and family therapy approaches with individual psychodynamic, psychiatric and biomedical approaches. Psychotropic medications, often an adjunct treatment to these particular problems, will be examined. The instructor will facilitate the course with slides, didactic presentations, video, and experiential exercises. You will actively engage in the material with your own didactic presentations, small group work, self-directed study and written assignments.

This course is designed for counsellors, therapists, social workers, mental health workers, and pastoral care/faith-based and other practitioners seeking to build or enhance their practical skills and theoretical foundation in couple and family therapy, as well as those exploring therapy as a career.

This course is typically recognized by CAMFT and AAMFT as a couple/marriage and family therapy or studies course.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course you will be able to:

  • Use the DSM-5 to look up any diagnosis and obtain a list of symptoms and behaviours associated with it, and describe the general process of mental health diagnosis
  • Understand the effect of mental illness on family and individual life cycle development, roles, and family functioning
  • Demonstrate familiarity with the current literature on effective family interventions for mental illness, and be able to maintain professional development in this field
  • Demonstrate a basic knowledge of psychotropic medications and support their use as an adjunct to therapy with clients with mental illness
  • Develop a practice model which integrates an awareness of mental illness with couple and family therapy

Qualifications

  • RMFT-Supervisor Designation; membership of the Canadian Association of Marriage and Family Therapy is preferred
  • A graduate university degree from an accredited institution with expertise in the subject area
  • At least three years of work experience in family and couple therapy psychotherapist with experience in emotionally focused therapy
  • Curriculum development and training/facilitation experience
  • Teaching experience, ideally in an online environment, and an interest in adult learning and development
  • Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to effectively communicate with students using tools such as email and web-conferencing (Zoom)
  • A strong curiosity and a desire to learn
  • A commitment to meeting timelines and the ability to balance competing priorities to ensure they do not interfere with developing and delivering the course
  • A level of confidence with computer technology and the ability to master a learning management system (D2L Brightspace)
  • Demonstrated subject-matter expertise related to equity, diversity, and anti-oppression, including the ability to speak from personal experience and engage students in the central concepts and learning to promote social justice and empower positive change

How to Apply

If you are interested in this position, please respond by sending a resume/CV with a cover letter that outlines your education and experience, how you meet the stated qualifications, and why you want to teach in this online continuing education course.

Resumes must be submitted by Sunday, May 7, 2023 at 11:59 PM to:

Mariel Mading
Open Learning and Educational Support
University of Guelph
mmading@uoguelph.ca

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