EDF5561 · Case formulation and counselling skills

Overview

Case formulation is a core capability 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 develop foundational skills in both counselling and case formulation. 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 into psychology. You will also reflect on your own values and beliefs, and how these may impact the therapeutic relationship and the delivery of interventions. Guided rehearsal of interviewing skills necessary for gathering clinical information and administering interventions will also be provided. The unit emphasises professional reflexivity as central to practice. You will reflect on your values, assumptions, cultural positioning, and professional responsibilities, and consider how these factors shape the therapeutic relationship, formulation processes, and intervention planning.

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

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

Learning outcomes

1. synthesise information from multiple sources to develop evidence-informed case formulations using recognised psychological frameworks
2. demonstrate foundational counselling and interviewing skills to establish rapport, gather clinically relevant information, and respond appropriately to client presentations
3. demonstrate professional reflexivity, reflect on personal values, assumptions, cultural positioning, and professional responsibilities with regard to purposeful practice
4. demonstrate foundational knowledge of inclusive and trauma-informed practice to work with diverse groups, presentations, and contexts.

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.