Graduate Diploma in Child Psychotherapy Studies

Course code: 2281 + Course abbreviation: GradDipChildPS + Total credit points required: 48 + 2 semesters full-time, 4 semesters part-time

Study mode and course location

Off-campus (Clayton)

Course description

This course, offered by the School of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, is directed primarily towards health, welfare and education professionals working with children and adolescents with emotional and behavioural problems and who wish to upgrade and develop their skills and understanding in the area. It aims to increase the participants’ knowledge of psychoanalytic and developmental theory and the application of these to the treatment of children and adolescents with psychological difficulties, and to consider how this knowledge may be applied in their own workplace. This course does not provide specialist clinical training.

Course objectives

On completion of the course participants will be able to: 1. critically examine and understand the theoretical concepts of psychoanalytic and development theory and their application to the understanding of disturbed children and adolescents; 2. demonstrate a capacity to integrate this knowledge and understanding of psychoanalytic and development theory; 3. apply this knowledge and understanding of psychoanalytic and developmental theory to clinical material; 4. have culturally responsive skills in reflection on, and recording of, observations of infants, children and adolescents in both clinical and naturalistic settings; 5. have a capacity to process and use personal experiences and observations and organise them in a written form; and 6. identify areas of further development in regard to practical skills or research interests that may lead to further training.

Course structure

Students must complete the following units:

First year

DCP0001 Psychoanalytic and developmental theories I
DCP0002 Normal developmental observation
DCP0003 Psychoanalytic and developmental theories II
DCP0004 Psychodynamic assessment of children and adolescents

Second year

DCP0005 Principles of child psychotherapy
DCP0006 Principles of adolescent psychotherapy
DCP0007 Principles of short-term therapy and crisis work
DCP0008 Principles of working with parents

Assessment

Assessment will comprise regular and final assignments and interactive assessment via a residential workshop and threaded discussion groups via the internet.

Contact details

Mrs Jeanette Beaufoy, Austin Health: telephone: +61 3 9496 4118; email: jeanette.beaufoy@med.monash.edu.au

Postgraduate course administrator, Monash Medical Centre: telephone: +61 3 9594 1478; email: psychological.medicine@med.monash.edu.au or visit www.med.monash.edu.au/spppm/pgrad/

Course coordinator

Ms Jeanette Beaufoy

Previous page | Next page | Section contents | Title and contents