Becoming Us is part of a world first training for Family Mental Health Professionals being conducted by SPANS, the Society for Pre and Post Natal Services in Zimbabwe. The Becoming Us™ relationship-developmental model provides the perinatal part for a new qualification in Systemic Family Therapy and Family Developmental Counselling, a ground-breaking new professional training course.

The Diploma in Systemic Family Therapy and Family Developmental Counselling in Maternal, Paternal and Child Mental Health course is designed to produce graduates who are equipped with a strong foundation in counselling theory and practice, confident and ready to work with a diversity of clients. Systemic Family Therapy and Family Developmental Counselling helps people in close relationships to better understand and support each other. It enables individuals and family members to express and explore difficult thoughts and emotions safely, understand each other’s experiences and views, appreciate each other’s needs, build on family strengths, and work together to make positive long-lasting changes in their relationships and their lives. Systemic Family Therapy and Family Developmental Counselling has been found to be effective across the life course in helping children, young people, adults, couples and families struggling with a broad range of difficulties and circumstances.

My hope for contributing the Becoming Us™ model and Family Developmental Counselling piece is to meet the needs of the whole family by supporting mother, father and infant mental and emotional health and to and reduce risks for relationship distress and breakdown, including domestic violence.

The SPANS team in Africa are leading the way with this professional training. There is potential to make a significant and lasting difference through the prevention and early intervention initiatives that this training supports.

Makes me wonder what we could be achieving in other parts of the world too. If you’re doing this crucial and sometimes literally life-saving work, thank you!

- Elly