PSY6207 · Health psychology and behavioural medicine

Overview

This unit provides an advanced level introduction to the growing field of health psychology. Building on your knowledge of psychopathology and psychological therapies, the focus here is the application of health psychology principles and interventions to a variety of clinical health contexts. You will be provided with an overview of health and illness in Australia and the key theoretical frameworks for conceptualising health behaviour. Exercises will guide you to consider and reflect on the impact of biases, privilege and social determinants on health and service delivery in the diverse Australian population. Psychological issues related to acute illness and injury, pain management, and chronic illness and disability across the life span will be explored and the related clinical interventions will be highlighted and practiced. You will learn about psychological issues related to a number of key disorders and diseases. There will also be a focus on how we communicate with and work alongside other health professionals, to improve collaborative care for clients. Over the course of the unit, you will be expected to integrate health psychology principles and procedures with their knowledge of clinical psychology and demonstrate competence in providing holistic formulations of and treatment approaches to clinical issues.

Areas of study: Psychology

Offerings

Assessment

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

Assessments in this unit are competency-based. Competency is assessed against a criterion-referenced rubric. Failure to pass any hurdle assessment tasks 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

Learning outcomes

1. Describe the role of a clinical psychologist in health settings and professional issues related to working in a multi-disciplinary team
2. Discuss how factors such as social determinants, privilege and biases affect rates of disease and illness and service delivery in the diverse Australian population.
3. Apply the main models of health behaviour and behaviour change
4. Use relevant empirical literature and conceptual models of client problems to plan and implement interventions
5. Competently provide holistic and integrated formulations of clinical presentations within health settings
6. Evaluate specific clinical tools and techniques that might be applied in health settings

Workload

Nine seminars of three hours spread across the semester Three applied sessions of two hours Preparation / self-directed study: One hour per week for seminars, two hours for the applied session and twelve hours preparation for assessment tasks.

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