Leader: Dr Wendy Crouch

Offered

Clayton Second semester 2008 (Day)

Synopsis

The focus of this unit is on clinical intervention in the field of clinical child psychology. These interventions include infant-parent psychotherapy, play therapy, behaviour therapy, cognitive-behavioural therapy, supportive therapy, psychodynamic therapy, family therapy, group therapy, liaison and secondary consultation with kindergartens, schools and other agencies. In addition some specific topics such as: psychopharmacology, cross-cultural issues, childhood chronic illness, trauma and critical incidents are included in the seminar topics, and students are expected to demonstrate their knowledge of these in their clinical case discussions and written assessment tasks.

Objectives

At the end of the subject students would be expected to have:

1. Increased their theoretical knowledge of a variety of therapeutic approaches for children, adolescents and families;
2. Developed their skills in conducting therapy with children and adolescents, and
3. Gained experience in the planning, running and evaluation of group therapy with children or adolescents.

Assessment

1. Log book documenting observation/practical work (hurdle requirement); A 3500 word report of the therapy of a child or adolescent conducted as part of the internship (60%); the evaluation of a group program conducted during clinical placement 2500 words (30%); Class participation (10%).

Contact hours

Two hour seminar and 2 hours of private study per week for 13 weeks plus 7.5 hours of observation/practical work per week for 23 weeks.

Prerequisites

Completion of Years 1 and 2 of the DPsych (Clinical) and of DPSY7141