Rue Faucigny 2
CH-1700 Fribourg
Tel.++41-26-3007653/-55
Fax.++41-26-3009712
- General Description
- 1. Primary Aims and Purpose of the Family Institute
- 1.1. Research
1.2. Educational Formation
1.3. Post-Graduate Programs
1.4. Documentation System
1.5. Public Relations Work
1.6. Counseling/Therapy
- 2. Future Outlook
1. Primary Aims and Purpose of the Family Institute
The Institute for Family Research and Counseling at the University of Fribourg was founded in the summer of 1993 by the cantonal government of Fribourg and opened its doors to the public on October 1, 1993. The institute is headed by Prof. Dr. M. Perrez (Director), one of the founding fathers of the institute, and Dr. G. Bodenmann (Coordinator), who are supported by a "directorium" (made up of Professors in the fields of ethnology, economy, psychology, law and theology), an advisory council (comprised of experts specializing in family-related issues), and a scientific committee (made up of well-known researchers in this area). The aim of the Family Institute is to create an interdisciplinary forum targeting those issues which are of importance to the family as well as to promote post-graduate programs, research and counseling in this area (see figure 1).
Figure 1: Profile of the Family Institute, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
FAMILY INSTITUTE EDUCATIONAL FORMATION subject-specific and interdisciplinary educational oppor-tunities in the field of family issues.
RESEARCH subject-specific and interdisciplinary family research.
PROGRAMS subject-specific and interdisciplinary further education programs for practicians.
PUBLIC RELATIONS radio programs;
conferences;
publications;
documenations.
COUNSELING
&
THERAPYIndividual, couple and family therapy. Crisis intervention.
One of the most important dimensions concerning the aims of the Family Institute is the promotion of interdisciplinary cooperative work. Since it was founded, the five following disciplines have consistently been integrated in the institute's structure: ethnology, economy, psychology, law and theology. Consequently, by representing the majority of those faculties found at the University of Fribourg, the Family Institute offers a broad spectrum, allowing a rich, interdisciplinary forum in the field of family-related issues. With the support of the University of Fribourg rectorship, the higher education council and individual patrons, the Family Institute has continued to grow since its creation and has developed a diverse palette of scientific activities in the area of family studies, the primary focus being placed upon interdisciplinary courses, post-graduate programs and public relation work.
1.1. Research
At the present time, a wide range of research projects exploring diverse themes within the realms of family and intimate relationships are being carried out at the Family Institute, both from an individual and interdisciplinary perspective. Work being done in the field of law primarily focuses upon family law, with a special emphasis placed upon guardianship, upbringing, divorce and adoption regulations. Ethnological research addresses such themes as intercultural communication, the dissolution of marriages in different cultures and family relationship patterns found in the Mediterranean countries. Psychological research projects place an emphasis upon divorce prediction and prophylaxis, first-time parenthood, marriage among the elderly and the role which stress and coping plays among couples and within the family unit. Finally, research conducted from a theological perspective focuses upon marital models and, in particular, the influence of religion upon the understanding of marriage in African countries.
In addition to the elaboration of interdisciplinary projects within the realms of mono-parental families in transition and the relationship between the different generations within a family, an interdisciplinary project concerning the evaluation of child care outside of the family (children of seven years of age and younger) was proposed in 1995 by the Canton of Lucerne. The primary aim of the project was to study the phenomenon of external child care by focusing upon social change, the existing possibilities of child care outside of the home in Switzerland and in other European countries, the psychic and social consequences of different types of child care options for the different family members as well as the conditions of attaining such child care. The study included a stock-taking and evaluation of the potential child care offers as well as an economical analysis of the relevant costs. As a result of this analysis, considerations and recommendations concerning the situation of child care outside of the home were able to be made. A similiar project commissioned by the Canton of Winterthur is currently underway.
1.2. Educational Formation
In addition to relevant events concerning family issues within each specific discipline, the Family Institute also offers interdisciplinary seminars, which have thus far included the themes of divorce, adoption and mediation.
The seminar held on divorce explored such topics as explanations concerning the prevalence of divorce in Western nations, an intercultural comparison of how divorce is perceived in different countries (ethnology), the predictability of divorce by means of psychological parameters, the effects of divorce upon the couple and children involved (psychology), the current as well as an outline of the new divorce laws (law) and how divorce is perceived by the Catholic Church (theology). The seminar held on the theme of adoption addressed the following topics: An introduction to the research on adoption in the realm of psychology, a description of adoption laws, the official adoption agreement, coping on the part of the biological mother, the concept of secrecy in adoption (law), the services offered by an adoption center as well as the process undertaken by adults in search of their biological parents.
The conference held entitled 'Divorce Intervention: Prevention, Mediation and Therapy' was carried out with the cooperative work of lawyers, psychologists, psychotherapists and theologians. During the conference, different models concerning dealing with divorce were discussed. In addition to divorce prophylaxis trainings, possible strategies taken from a religious standpoint within the realm of divorce intervention were proposed.
1.3. Post-Graduate Programs
The Institute for Family Research and Counseling is particularly active in the field of further education programs. During two-day courses, diverse themes relevant to the family are theoretically presented, research findings discussed and practical skills exercised.
In 1994, the Family Institute offered a program focusing upon the theme of 'family psychology'. During this cycle, practising psychologists working in the field of family-related matters were given the opportunity to orient themselves concerning the latest research and diagnostic possibilities within this area. In addition, questionnaire procedures, systemic behavior observation techniques and genogram and daily protocole procedures for family diagnostic were introduced. In a second block based upon the above mentioned diagnostic models, empirically founded intervention strategies for couples, parents and families were presented. In addition, the latest approaches in couple therapy as well as training for parents and families with behaviorally disturbed and aggressive children were discussed. In this cycle, a particular emphasis was placed upon preventive models, i.e. stress preventive training for couples and a training program for couples concerning divorce prophylaxis, during which the couples were taught how to maintain a satisfying relationship despite daily stress and multiple pressures.
In addition, an educational block comprised of six units revolving around the themes of school psychology and educational guidance was organized. This block specifically addressed new perspectives on the following topics: school psychology, diagnostic possibilities with children and adolescents, intervention strategies aimed at children with attention difficulties in the classroom, children of divorcing parents, children with learning difficulties (dyslexia, etc.) as well as potential methods for working with parents within the framework of the school system.
This fall, a post-graduate block concerning the clinical aspects of working with families is planned. In the fore of this program will be psycho-educative possibilities of working with those families including a member suffering from schizophrenia, new theories and diagnostic approaches concerning children and adolescents suffering from depression, intervention strategies oriented toward children and adolescents with social competency deficits as well as troubled couple relationships.
The course offers practising professionals the possibility of building a bridge between new, theoretical findings in work with children, adolescents, couples and families and the situations they encounter in their everyday professional lives, as well as the opportunity of learning from local and international experts new intervention methods concerning a variety of disorders.
Beginning in June of this year, a five-year psychotherapy program focusing upon children and adolescents will be offered to psychologists who have completed a university education and who wish to become qualified in working therapeutically with children, adolescents and families. The course is already fully booked and represents the most inquired-about, scientifically founded therapy program in the area of family studies.
1.4. Documentation System
Since 1994, the Family Institute has offered a documentation system which includes all of those institutes in Switzerland concerned with family health and well-being and which provides information concerning contact addresses of specialists dealing with specific problem areas (e.g. difficulties within the couple, difficulties with children and adolescents, family conflicts, psychological disturbances, etc.). At the present time, the available data from the Swiss-German speaking cantons is complete and has been saved on computer files and statistically evaluated. In addition, this data bank is easily and quickly accessible by telephone. A report is currently being analysed concerning the relevant institutions, the quality of care they offer, how they are structured and other related data. The same information concerning the French and Italian-speaking Swiss cantons should be made available in the near future. It is hoped that the documentation system will be completed, updated and verified by the end of 1996.
1.5. Public Relations Work
A further goal of the Family Institute is that of public relations work. In this context, the Institute has for over a year now offered to the general public a weekly program on Radio Fribourg addressing family-related issues from various perspectives (e.g. psychological, economical, ethnological, legal and religious).
In addition, publications have been created (e.g. Family in Crisis: University Fribourg) to meet the needs of those individuals not represented in academic circles.
With this idea in mind, an interdisciplinary conference was organized in 1995 allowing a factual exchange of information concerning divorce, a theme which implicates a variety of disciplines and which is currently a topic of vital importance in our society. The theme was addressed from a legal perspective (an outline of the revised Swiss divorce laws), from an ethnological point of view (different models of marriage dissolution in differnt cultures, in particular West European cultures and those of the Mediterranean), from a psychological perspective (predictability of divorce, the consequences which divorce has on the couple and children involved), from an economical perspective (alimony and consequences for the divorcing couple) as well as from a theological point of view (divorce and remarraige as understood by the Catholic Church). A diverse and active audience from all over Switzerland participated at the conference, resulting in a highly enriching exchange of ideas. It is foreseen that further such interdisciplinary confrences will be organized bi-annualy. The next symposium which is currently being planned revolves around the theme of mediation.
1.6. Counseling/Therapy
The Institute for Family Research and Counseling offers counseling to individuals, couples and families. Test diagnostic, clinical evaluation reports of clients, crisis intervention and therapy are available. Individual, couple and family therapy are conducted based upon behavioralist therapeutic techniques.
In the Fall of 1995, the Family Institute began to offer a preventive training course to the general public with the aim of teaching couples how to better cope with daily and multiple stress (profession, family, household, etc.). The training, which is offered on weekends or once a week and which comprises 18 hours, primarily targets young couples planning on marriage as well as couples in a relationship of longer standing who wish to improve or maintain the well-being of their relationship. The training focuses upon teaching competencies which will allow the couple to better cope with daily stress, to avoid unnecessary stress and to work upon maintaining a satisfying relationship on a long-term basis.
2. Future Outlook
The Family Institute, with the clear aims it has set for itself and the wide variety of activities it has to offer, continues to expand and to grow. The feedback which it has received from the scientific community and from the general public show that the programs which it offers and those areas upon which it focuses are both usefull and appropriate. Above all, the Family Institute will continue to emphasize the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation within the work it undertakes in the areas of research and education.
| Dr. G. Bodenmann / Prof. Dr. M. Perrez |