PSYCHOL 7136 - Advanced Child & Adult Intervention

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2017

This unit aims to develop students' skills in professional practice and communication; in evidence-based and cross-cultural (indigenous) practice with adults, children and families. On completion of this unit students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and clinical skills in CBT, other evidence-based intervention and indigenous cultural interventions modalities for adults, children and families, as well as the ability to critically evaluate their own clinical psychology practice. Students will be able to plan, deliver and evaluate an intervention, and to consult, maintain clinical records, and provide written and oral reports. They will have demonstrated knowledge and understanding of, and a commitment to fulfilling, the National Standards for Mental Health workforce and the ethical, professional and legal responsibilities of a practising psychologist.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code PSYCHOL 7136
    Course Advanced Child & Adult Intervention
    Coordinating Unit Psychology
    Term Semester 2
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Prerequisites PSYCHOL 7131
    Restrictions Available to M Psych (Clin) and PhD/MPsych (Clin) students only or by permission of Head of School
    Course Description This unit aims to develop students' skills in professional practice and communication; in evidence-based and cross-cultural (indigenous) practice with adults, children and families.
    On completion of this unit students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and clinical skills in CBT, other evidence-based intervention and indigenous cultural interventions modalities for adults, children and families, as well as the ability to critically evaluate their own clinical psychology practice.
    Students will be able to plan, deliver and evaluate an intervention, and to consult, maintain clinical records, and provide written and oral reports. They will have demonstrated knowledge and understanding of, and a commitment to fulfilling, the National Standards for Mental Health workforce and the ethical, professional and legal responsibilities of a practising psychologist.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Diana Dorstyn

    Additional Academic Staff:
    Dr Linley Denson
    Ph - +61 8313  4128 
    Email - linley.denson@adelaide.edu.au
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    At the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

    1 Apply knowledge and clinical skills in the practice and application of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
    2 Demonstrate competence in selecting and conducting an empirically-based intervention for a common psychological disorder
    3 Develop self-awareness of professional performance
    4 Integrate interpersonal counselling skills into clinical practice.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1,2,4
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1,2,3,4
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1,2,3,4
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    1,2,3,4
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    3,4
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Wright, J.H., Basco, M.R., & Thase, M.E. (2006). Learning cognitive-behavior therapy: An illustrated guide. American Psychiatric Publishing Inc: Arlington, VA, USA.
    Recommended Resources
    Guest lecturers will provide additional reading material prior to or at each session
    Online Learning
    This course may use MyUni for one or more of the following:

    - Communication with students via Announcements and Discussion Board
    - Submission of assessment
    - Access to resources such as additional readings
    - Self-directed learning activities

    Link to MyUni:
    https://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Lectures will be supported by group discussion related to the lecture content. This will include clinical case scenarios to guide and trouble-shoot the application of different evidence-based psychological treatments to various disorders across the lifespan.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    Seminars: 3 hours each week for 12 weeks = 36 hours
    Mid semester exercise: ACT & mindfulness SDL, including written self-report = 20 hours
    Video assessment (includes preparation time & written self-report) = 10 hrs
    Independent reading and supervised practice during Semester 2 clinical placements: up to 90 hours
    Learning Activities Summary
    Lectures will be held weekly on a Tuesday morning from 9 am – 12 noon. The following is a provisional program. The final program will be advised at semester commencement.

    Week Topic Lecture
    Week 1 Psychodynamic therapies Adult intervention
    Week 2 Mindfulness with adults (SDL) Adult intervention
    Week 3 Mindfulness with children Child intervention
    Week 4 Schema Therapy (part 1) Adult intervention
    Week 5 Schema Therapy (part 2) Adult intervention
    Week 6 Interventions in the child protection system Child intervention
    Week 7 Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (part 1) Adult intervention
    Week 8 Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (part 2) Adult intervention
    Week 9 Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (part 1) Adult intervention
    Week 10 Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (part 2/SDL) Adult intervention
    Week 11 CBT/ACT with children Child intervention
    Week 12 Indigenous care Child & Adult intervention
    Disclaimer: This program is provisional and subject to change
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment for the Advanced Child and Adult Intervention Course comprises of two assessment tasks: 1) a practical, video recording of a therapy session in conjunction with a self-evaluation; and 2) self-directed learning exercises involving the practice and delivery of a mindfulness technique in addition to knowledge of ACT.

    Assessment Task Assessment Type Weighting Learning outcome(s) being addressed
    Self Directed Learning – mindfulness/ACT exercises Formative 0 2,3
    Practical assignment (video recording + self rating exercise) Summative 100 1,2,3,4



    Assessment Related Requirements
    Redemption assignments will be set for any missed class, to assist the student in making up the missed learning opportunity.
    Assessment Detail
    The aim of these assessments is provide students’ ongoing feedback to assist in the development of their clinical practice skills.

    The Practical Assignment involves conducting and videotaping 20 minutes of an evidence-based intervention, selected by the student, with a role-played (pseudo) adult ‘client’. Students will also undertake a self-rating of their videotaped therapy segment.

    A self-directed learning activity (SDL) will be set in conjunction with the Mindfulness and ACT lectures. All students are expected to complete the SDL.

    Further details of both assignments will be provided at the commencement of Semester 2.
    Submission

    The School of Psychology undertakes to adhere to the University’s Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy, Procedure 6a, which requires that assessments are returned within 4 weeks of the deadlines for submission.

    Extension of time for an assignment may be granted at the discretion of the Course Coordinator, to whom students should apply in writing (i.e. email) before the due date and time.

    No requests for extensions will be considered if made after the due date and time.

    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    GS8 (Coursework Grade Scheme)
    Grade Description
    CN Continuing
    FNS Fail No Submission
    NFE No Formal Examination
    F Fail
    NGP Non Graded Pass
    P Pass
    C Credit
    D Distinction
    HD High Distinction
    RP Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Students will have the opportunity to resubmit any assessment that receives a fail grade

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
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