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Unit of study_
PSTY5204: Practising Psychodynamic Psychotherapy B
2024 unit information
This unit is a continuation of unit 5203. It provides a comprehensive training in STDIP through an extended clinical experience with a second patient from the students own workplace- utilising the essential principles of assessment, psychodynamic formulation, and working through the initial, middle and end stages of therapy. The therapy will consist of 10-15 weekly sessions of 50minutes duration, and should be audio-recorded where possible for supervision which will take place on a weekly basis. The focus in supervision will be on the acquisition of micro-skills of therapeutic engagement and assessment, the psychodynamic formulation, identification and processing of maladaptive coping mechanisms, identification and processing of affective expression, the transference and countertransference. It is trauma-informed - paying attention to empathic resonance, affective language, maintenance of a respectful frame, and a mutually agreed upon contract. The development of the students own reflective capacity, ethical conduct and diligent attention to self-care during the process are also aimed for.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Medicine and Health
| Study level | Postgraduate |
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| Academic unit | Brain and Mind Science |
| Credit points | 3 |
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Prerequisites:
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PSTY5201 and PSTY5203 |
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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. describe the essential principles of STDIP and be able to communicate it to patients
- LO2. discuss the key criteria for applying STDIP, taking into account trauma history
- LO3. demonstrate a good understanding of techniques, process and structure of STDIP
- LO4. demonstrate an awareness of therapist competencies required and patient suitability
- LO5. demonstrate familiarity with a trauma-informed assessment and the phase approach
- LO6. understand the importance of the therapeutic relationship
- LO7. recognise the role of anxiety and coping mechanisms in maintaining homeostasis
- LO8. demonstrate a succinct psychodynamic formulation
- LO9. identify problems, prioritise and arrive at a focus of work with the patient
- LO10. identify transference and countertransference
- LO11. utilise transference interventions
- LO12. recognise the role that coping mechanisms play, develop the capacity to facilitate affect expression and understand the role of relational difficulties in symptom formation
- LO13. use the model satisfactorily in different symptom presentations
- LO14. tailor the model to suit dyadic therapy with parent/infant/child, if relevant to the trainees’ work
- LO15. identify separation anxiety and manage it at different stages of STDIP
- LO16. write a helpful good-bye letter towards the end of therapy
- LO17. demonstrate the capacity to end therapy appropriately and be cognisant of ethics
- LO18. demonstrate an adequate knowledge of psychopathologies commonly encountered
- LO19. demonstrate the required competencies in short term dynamic psychotherapy
- LO20. organise further/on-going treatment, review, or top-up of therapy appropriately
- LO21. write a brief account of the therapy with two patients
- LO22. demonstrate the capacity to write an assessment and a succinct dynamic formulation for each patient
- LO23. write a clinical case history describing an important aspect of the therapy.
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.
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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.
