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Unit of study_
PSTY5201: Psychodynamic Principles and Frameworks
2024 unit information
This unit provides an introduction to psychodynamic psychotherapy principles, the psychodynamic model of care and how to apply these to setting up a therapeutic framework in a model of health delivery that is person-centred, recoveryfocussed and trauma-informed. This unit is suitable for graduate students studying psychology, mental health nursing, psychiatry and for interested clinicians from general medicine and allied health Students will be introduced to basic concepts in the development of self, reflective capacity, attachment theory, trauma theory and trauma-informed care and the basics of interpersonal neurobiology that underlie contemporary psychodynamic psychotherapy. Students will gain a basic understanding of the psychodynamic approach to assessment and treatment and its evidence-based applications. Students will gain a basic understanding of the Conversational Model and its application to psychotherapy interventions across the continuum of care in mental health.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Brain and Mind Science
| Code | PSTY5201 |
|---|---|
| Academic unit | Brain and Mind Science |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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None |
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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None |
| Assumed knowledge:
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This unit assumes a working clinical knowledge of basic counselling and mental health, commensurate with a clinician having worked 2 or more years in a setting with general health counselling or mental health clients |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. outline the process and important elements of a psychotherapy assessment and apply these as appropriate in clinical practice
- LO2. understand and be able to develop a clinical formulation emphasizing psychodynamic/developmental principles within a biopsychosocial framework
- LO3. understand and be able to recognise indications for different types of psychotherapy on a supportive-expressive continuum
- LO4. identify patients for whom expressive, psychodynamic psychotherapy is unlikely to be helpful including recognition of, within the clinical domain of Mental Disorders, acute and chronic psychotic disorders; acute depression with severe psychomotor retardation and suicidal risk; severe substance abuse disorders; patients who have significant language/expressive limitations; patients where the level of behavioural disturbance is likely to impede therapeutic efforts
- LO5. describe the common aetiological and protective factors which influence mental development including biological and psychosocial factors, including complex trauma, and apply this knowledge in understanding the presentation of individual patients
- LO6. describe the relational factors that shape the development of self with a particular focus on the interactions of the proto-conversation
- LO7. describe the major forms of attachment and their therapeutic implications
- LO8. recognise the importance of the therapeutic framework and the need to maintain clear boundaries in all forms of psychotherapy
- LO9. identify ethical parameters for the conduct of psychodynamic psychotherapy
- LO10. discuss and apply the principles of therapeutic alliance, trauma-informed and recovery-focused care with patients presenting in primary care settings
- LO11. discuss the major principles of psychodynamic therapy including the role of feeling in mental life; trauma and dissociation and implications for development; the growth of self; transference and countertransference.
Unit availability
This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.
The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
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Semester 1 2024
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Normal day | Westmead, Sydney | |
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Semester 1 2024
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Online | Westmead, Sydney |
Modes of attendance (MoA)
This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.
