DPSY7131 - Advanced clinical psychology: General - 2019

0 points, SCA Band 1, 0.000 EFTSL

Postgraduate - Unit

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Faculty

Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

Organisational Unit

School of Psychological Sciences

Chief examiner(s)

Professor Peter Norton

Coordinator(s)

Associate Professor Nikolaos Kazantzis

Unit guides

Offered

Clayton

  • Second semester 2019 (On-campus)

Co-requisites

Must be enrolled in Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology

Synopsis

The content of seminars will cover the practice of psychological therapies with a sound evidence base. Learning will consolidate existing knowledge of psychopathology and focus on extending this knowledge within a tailored therapeutic approach. Cases will be discussed using conceptualization methods that are problem focused (i.e., presenting symptoms and precipitating/ perpetuating/ predisposing/ protective factors), those that span multiple diagnostic categories, and those that theoretical concepts from treatment models with empirical support (e.g., relationship history, attachment style, core beliefs, schema, rules/ assumptions, and values).

A further focus is the development of advanced therapeutic skills. This unit aims to enable the trainee to use evidence-based interventions guided by case conceptualization methods, emphasizing evidence-based specific (e.g., active collaboration, empiricism, Socratic dialogue) and non-specific elements (e.g., empathy, positive regard, alliance, active client participation, and feedback), and in a manner that is also tailored to client attributes. An emphasis on self-reflection and self-practice will be included throughout.

Outcomes

At the end of the unit, students will be able to:

  1. Organize features of cases to construct problem focused, disorder specific, and comprehensive case conceptualizations for complex case presentations;
  2. Assess client strengths and aspects that require special consideration when engaging clients, tailoring therapeutic relationships and interventions;
  3. Create therapeutic environments that foster client engagement during sessions, and that maximize client engagement with between session work;
  4. Construct, deliver, and evaluate comprehensive case presentations including comprehensive case conceptualizations and treatment plans;
  5. Plan tailored therapeutic intervention for clients with severe personality disorders and multiple diagnoses;
  6. Contribute to constructive case consultation;

Assessment

Group Therapy Proposal (50%)

Self-Practice / Reflection Journal (30%)

Participation (2 x Case Presentations) (10%)

Seminar Discussions (5%)

Case Discussions (5%)

Weekly Learning Tasks, 1 hour in between-session role plays, learning journal (Hurdle)

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study