Leader: Ms Lynne Allison

Offered

Clayton Second semester 2008 (Off-campus)

Synopsis

This unit will examine an understanding of the role of parents in their child's development and different ways of working with parents from a psychodynamic and developmental perspective. Consideration will be made of the following ways of working with parents and the similarities and difference in the models: parent therapy; parent and child work combined; short-term and crisis work with parents; parent counselling; parent education; marital therapy/counselling; individual therapy/counselling.

Objectives

On completion of this unit students will be expected to:

1. understand theoretical and clinical concepts of working with parents;
2. have an understanding of the importance of parents' own development as it may affect their role as parents;
3. explore possible ways of working with parents as relevant to their particular needs and those of their child/children; and
4. understand the difficulties that may be experienced by the therapist when working with parents.

Assessment

Regular written assignments
Final written assignment
Interactive assessment via a residential workshop
1. Essay 15%
2. Essay 25%
3. Essay 40%
4. Residential workshop 20%

Prerequisites

DCP0001, DCP0002, DCP0003, DCP0004, DCP0005, DCP0006