PSTY5201: Semester 1, 2021

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Units PSTY5201 Semester 1 2021 [Online]

Unit of study_

PSTY5201: Psychodynamic Principles and Frameworks

Semester 1, 2021 [Online] - Westmead, Sydney

Overview

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 ?	None
Corequisites ?	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:
Tutorial quiz	Quiz 3 quizzes consisting of multiple choice and short answer questions.	10%	Week 05	4 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Draft Essay Draft essay from a prescribed list of topics or of student's interest	10%	Week 08	2000-3000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Final Essay Essay (final): submission expected to have incorporated feedback provided	50%	Week 12	2000-3000 words
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

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.

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.

Learning support

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.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Psychotherapy Assessment, Therapeutic Alliance and Interpersonal Skills	Online class (11 hr)
Week 02	Interpersonal Neurobiology and Transference	Online class (11 hr)
Week 03	Psychodynamic Treatment Framework and Working with Affect	Online class (11 hr)
Week 04	Psychodynamic Technique and Intersubjectivity	Online class (11 hr)
Week 05	Ethics in psychotherapy, Supervision	Online class (11 hr)
Week 06	Historical context of psychoanalytic therapies	Online class (11 hr)
Week 07	Trauma and Dissociation	Online class (11 hr)
Week 08	Self and Countertransference	Online class (11 hr)
Week 09	Memory and Attachment	Online class (11 hr)
Week 10	Traumatic Attachment, Growth of Self	Online class (11 hr)
Week 11	Play, A Hierarchy of Engagement	Online class (11 hr)
Week 12	Integration of Trauma, Working in the System	Online class (11 hr)
Week 13	Reflections on Psychodynamic Principles and Framework	Online class (11 hr)
Weekly	Weekly grand rounds (1 hr/week)	Online class (13 hr)

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

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.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

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
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

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.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

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