EDF5561 · Clinical case formulation

Overview

Case formulation is a capstone skill for psychologists. It is a process for applying theory and research findings to practice, understanding clients' issues, establishing and maintaining a therapeutic relationship, and developing intervention plans. In this unit, you will be introduced to an evidence-based framework for case formulation, which provides guidelines for synthesising information from multiple sources, identifying risk, managing relevant ethical issues, selecting applicable theory, and determining the most appropriate empirically supported interventions for clients with various presenting issues, in various contexts, across diverse groups and the lifespan. Through case-based discussion in large and small groups, you will develop higher order thinking and verbal skills suitable for professional entry psychology. You will also reflect on your own values and beliefs and how these may impact the therapeutic relationship and intervention delivery. Guided rehearsal of interviewing skills necessary for gathering clinical information and administering interventions will also be provided. The case formulation framework provided in this unit will help you integrate skills and knowledge from concurrent and later units, and is suitable for use in placements and future professional work.

Offerings

Assessment

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

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

Requisites

Learning outcomes

1. understand how to conduct professional intake interviews
2. synthesise information from multiple sources to develop an integrative case formulation
3. determine the most appropriate evidence based interventions for various presenting issues, diverse population groups and across the lifespan
4. engage in self-reflection to understand the impact of your own values and beliefs when working with clients.

Workload

The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per teaching period comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Usually, you can expect to engage with: A.On campus delivery • 24 hours of scheduled learning delivered on campus via weekly/regular directed learning activities; and • the remaining hours to be allocated towards self-directed/independent study B. Flexible delivery • 24 hours of scheduled learning of which 6 hours will be delivered on campus and 18 hours will be delivered online via a combination of synchronous and asynchronous directed learning activities; and • the remaining hours to be allocated towards self-directed/independent study Scheduled learning activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

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