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Unit of study_

PSTY5201: Psychodynamic Principles and Frameworks

Semester 1, 2021 [Normal day] - Remote

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

Unit code PSTY5201
Academic unit Brain and Mind Science
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
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None
Corequisites
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None
Assumed knowledge
? 

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.

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Anthony Korner, anthony.korner@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Online task Discussion board
Discussion Board participation opening in weeks 3, 7 and 11.
30% Multiple weeks Refer to Canvas
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO11 LO10 LO9 LO8 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Tutorial quiz Quiz
3 quizzes consisting of multiple choice and short answer questions.
10% Week 05 4 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO4 LO6 LO5
Assignment Draft essay
Draft essay from a prescribed list of topics or of student's interest
10% Week 08 2000-3000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10 LO11
Assignment Final essay
Essay (final): submission expected to have incorporated feedback provided
50% Week 12 2000-3000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO11 LO10 LO9 LO8 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2

Assessment summary

  • Quiz: Consists of multiple choice and short answer questions covering the first 3 weeks of the semester. There is no time
    limit on responding when doing the quiz although the quiz will be open for one week only.
  • Discussion board: These will be open in weeks 3, 7 and 11 and will each remain open for a minimum of 2 weeks. Each student is expected to make a post of no less than 250 words including one or more references. Each student is also expected to make a response to one of the other student’s posts of no less than 150 words.
  • Essay: A draft essay from a prescribed list of topics or on a subject of the student’s interest from within the field will be
    submitted as a formative submission It needs to be appropriately referenced with no less than 10 references cited. Students will be given written feedback. The final essay submission is expected to have incorporated feedback that has been provided. A length of 1-3 thousand words is required.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.’

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

All assignments must be submitted by the due date. Students are expected to manage their time and to prioritise tasks to meet deadlines. Requirements for passing all units of study: 1. Students must submit a genuine attempt for every assessment and earn an average mark of at least 50% for the unit as a whole. - If a student has attempted and failed an assessment they may be given the opportunity for resubmission typically within a week of receiving their mark. This resubmission may be the same or an alternative task to the original and the maximum mark obtainable for a resubmission is 50%. 3. Academic honesty must be demonstrated in all forms of assessment. Similarity detection software (i.e. Turnitin) will be used for all submitted written work (case reports, essays and treatise). The “Academic Writing and Plagiarism” section overleaf elaborates on this and explains further. Submission guidelines and word limit requirements: All written assessments must be submitted as per the “Submission instructions for assignments” in this unit of study outline. If you are seeking special consideration it must be requested within 3 days of the due date of the assessment and subsequently approved If an extension is either not sought, not granted or is granted but work is submitted after the extended due date, the late submission of assessment will result in an academic penalty as follows • Late assignments that have not been granted extensions and are of a standard to receive a pass or higher mark will attract a penalty of 5% of the maximum mark per day (or part thereof) late including weekend days (e.g. if the assignment is worth 40 marks, the penalty is 2 marks per day late) until the mark reaches 50% of the maximum mark (e.g. 20 marks if the maximum is 40 marks). • Assignments that are not of a pass standard will not have marks deducted and will fail regardless. • Assignments submitted more than 10 days late without prior approval from the unit of study coordinator will not be accepted and will be given a zero (0) mark. The word limit for written assignments includes all headings, table content, figure legends and in-text citations but not the reference list. list. Content that exceeds the word limit by more than 10% will not be marked. Scholarly referencing is required for all assignments along with a complete reference list (bibliography) in the same format. Some suggestions may include Harvard, APA and Vancouver. You must use one specific style, and state what is in your reference list sub-heading e.g. “Reference List in Harvard Style”.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 1. Psychotherapy assessment; 2. Therapeutic alliance and interpersonal skills Seminar (1 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Week 02 Interpersonal neurobiology and transference Seminar (1 hr) LO2 LO5 LO6
Week 03 Psychodynamic treatment framework and working with affect Seminar (1 hr) LO2 LO3 LO8 LO11
Week 04 Psychodynamic technique and intersubjectivity Seminar (1 hr) LO3 LO6
Week 05 1. Ethics in psychotherapy; 2. Supervision Seminar (1 hr) LO8 LO9
Week 06 Historical context of psychoanalytic therapies Seminar (1 hr) LO11
Week 07 Trauma and dissociation Seminar (1 hr) LO7 LO11
Week 08 Self and countertransference Seminar (1 hr) LO11
Week 09 Memory and attachment Seminar (1 hr) LO6 LO11
Week 10 1. Traumatic attachment; 2. Growth of self Seminar (1 hr) LO6 LO7
Week 11 1. Play; 2. A hierarchy of engagement Seminar (1 hr) LO6 LO11
Week 12 1. Integration of trauma; 2. Working in the system Seminar (1 hr) LO6 LO10 LO11
Week 13 Reflections on psychodynamic principles and framework Seminar (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10 LO11
Weekly Weekly grand rounds (1 hr/week) Lecture (13 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10 LO11
Online weekly modules (Pre-readings and online lecture recordings) Independent study (130 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10 LO11

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

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.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

We value your feedback about any aspect of the unit of study and your experience as a student of Sydney Medical School. To help ensure our courses meet your needs and maintain a high standard, we welcome your feedback at any time and we ask you to complete the Mid-Semester Evaluation Survey and the unit of study Evaluation Survey at the end of the semester. You can also rate any component of the unit using our star rating system found at the bottom of many pages as you progress through the unit. Your ratings and comments are anonymous and specifying what you liked and didn’t like about any of the learning materials, assessment items, discussion forums, feedback etc will help us to target our improvement efforts. Please note that your participation in this unit of study permits de-identified information about your learning experience and interaction with learning resources to be used for the purpose of improving the student learning experience.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.