1st basic course: Systemic work in child and youth welfare

New basic course from SEPTEMBER 2026!

For organizational reasons, the course unfortunately cannot take place at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences!

However, our project partner, the ISA in Chemnitz, would like to offer you the following alternative option without university involvement (no university certificate):

A basic course titled “Systemic Compact – Solution-Focused Communication” can be organized on the following dates in 2027:

1st session: January 21–23, 2027

2nd session: February 25–27, 2027

3rd session: April 15–17, 2027

Duration: 9 days for 1,200 EUR, including certification

Location: Görlitz

These days can receive recognition for a DGSF consultant course (so-called “lateral entry”; this course will most likely take place in Dresden).

If you are interested, you can register here: https://isa-chemnitz.de/systemisch-kompakt-loesungsfokussierte-gespraechsfuehrung/

info@isa-chemnitz.de

This one-year continuing education program, designed to be taken alongside work, consists of the basic course “Systemic Work in Child and Youth Services—Educational Assistance” and can be seamlessly continued with the advanced course “Systemic Counselor.” The program leads to a certificate from the DGsP umbrella organization and is also recognized by the DGfB. An advanced course with DGsF recognition is available. The modules are scheduled to take place in person and, when announced or required, online.

  • Target group

    Specialists (psychologists, educators, social workers, social and remedial educators) in "educational support" facilities, youth welfare offices, counseling facilities.

  • Admission requirements
    • Degree as a state-recognized educator, state-recognized social worker or social pedagogue, psychologist (others on request)
    • Professional field of work in which the implementation of systemic ideas and approaches is possible or may become possible
    • For the transition from the basic course to the advanced course: Participation in the advanced course must be approved informally by the course instructors.
  • Objectives of Continuing Education

    By teaching systemic thinking and systemic methods, the participants' professional competence in the field of "educational support" is expanded. The implementation of systemic work in daily professional practice is accompanied by a process.

  • Content of the Continuing Education Program
    • Fundamentals of the systemic approach
    • Systemic conversation with children, adolescents, parents and other participants (questioning techniques: e.g. context questions, resource-oriented/circular/hypothetical/paradoxical questions, questions about differences and exceptions, reinterpretations, miracle questions, scaling, PELZ model)
    • Order clarification and order patterns (e.g. coercive context)
    • Genogram, photogram, resource wheel
    • Attitude: appreciation, solution and resource orientation, impartiality, curiosity, not knowing, neutrality
    • Reflective team
    • Initial interview
    • Appreciative understanding of family systems
    • Appreciative exploration for children "Treasure hunt" - finding resources Interventions
    • Relationship building
    • Importance of rituals
    • Representational work (family board, sculpture, resource animals)
    • Externalizing
    • Hypnosystemic approaches
    • MiniMax interventions: simple linguistic interventions
    • Help plan discussion, goal definitions (SMART, motto goals, etc.)
    • Parent coaching, dealing with adolescent violence
    • Working with stories and metaphors
    • Biographical methods (e.g. Time Line) - past, present and future as a resource
    • Systemic programs ("I can do it") and games
    • Resilience and salutogenesis
    • Child endangerment, families with addiction problems and mentally ill parents
    • Reflection on implementation with children and parents
    • Ending the help
  • Methods and self-learning components

    A wide variety of methods :

    • Teaching, demonstrations, role plays, small group work, video sequences (including Arist v. Schlippe, Haim Omer, Insoo Kim Berg, Steve de Shazer), reflection and, of course, practicing, practicing, practicing!

    Participants will be provided with extensive teaching material as well as course and photo documentation.

  • Instructor

    Instructor at the Institute for Systemic Work in Chemnitz (ISA Chemnitz)

    Contributors:

    • Rita Freitag, Diplom Social Pedagogue (FH), Systemic Consultant, Therapist (DGsP, SG), Supervisor (DGSv), Training Therapist (SG), Hypnotherapist (according to M.E.G. standards), systemic lecturer (DGsP), instructor in counseling and therapy (DGSF), instructor in supervision (SG)
    • Matthias Freitag, Diplom Psychologist, Systemic Counselor and Therapist (SG), Training Therapist (SG), Instructor in Counseling and Therapy (DGSF), Systemic Lecturer (DGsP), Instructor in Counseling and Therapy (DGSF), Instructor in Supervision (SG)
    • Other instructors
Anke Zenker-Hoffmann
Diplom in Business Administration
Anke Zenker-Hoffmann
Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences
02763 Zittau
Külzufer 2
Building Z VI, Room 205
2nd upper floor
+49 3583 612-4706