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 ~ Managing faculty: Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

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 graduates should be critical thinkers and in addition be able to pursue lifelong learning and self directed professional development; they will be educated about the specific attitudes, knowledge and skills needed to effectively work in the area of child and adolescent mental health; be able to demonstrate the application of psychoanalytic and development theory to the practice of child psychotherapy, adolescent therapy, parent therapy and developmental observation; have a broad understanding of the cultural differences that exist in our community and have culturally responsive skills in reflection on, and recording of, observations of infants, children and adolescents in both clinical and naturalistic settings and will be able to identify areas of further development in regard to practical skills or research interests that may lead to further training.

Course structure

Course requirements

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 http://www.med.monash.edu.au/spppm/pgrad/

Course coordinator

Ms Jeanette Beaufoy