CPS5004 · Psychodynamic assessment of children and adolescents

Overview

This unit is designed to present an introduction to the conceptual framework and guidelines for the methodology of the psycho-dynamic assessment of psychological disturbance in children and adolescents. It will introduce you to disturbances in normal psychological development and the clinical concepts of assessment that are based on psychodynamic and developmental principles. It will consider interviewing and observational methods with children and adolescents that enable psychological data to be collected and understood. It will also demonstrate the complex task of integrating information from several different sources to provide a diagnostic assessment of the individual nature and degree of disturbance presented, and the extent to which that interferes with the child's normal development and functioning.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Assessment in this unit includes hurdle assessment tasks. Failure of any hurdle assessment task may result in failure of the unit.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. Analyse and discuss the link between psychodynamic theory and developmental concepts relevant to the assessment of children and adolescents;
2. Identify and apply concepts to interpret the meaning of the child's/adolescent's behaviour;
3. Recognise and interpret the process occurring between child and clinician and analyse the data this provides;
4. Examine and justify how the assessment process leads to a psychodynamic and developmental diagnostic formulation;
5. Identify and evaluate features of optimal case management. That accounts for the indications or contra-indications for child psychotherapy and other treatment options.

Workload

In this unit there will be 12 hours of teaching and learning activities per week comprising a mix of teacher-directed and self-directed learning, including readings, video resources, online discussions, interactive tutorials, a reflective journal, and written assessments. In addition, you will attend and participate in the half day weekend workshop.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.