Handbook : Unit informationEdith Cowan University

Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science

School: Psychology and Social Science

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

• Unit Title

  Principles of Psychodynamic Practice

• Unit Code

  COU6113

• Year

  2015

• Enrolment Period

  1

• Version

  1

• Credit Points

  15

• Full Year Unit

  N

• Mode of Delivery

  On Campus
  

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Description

This unit concerns the theory of psychodynamic counselling technique. Learning focusses on the method and rationale for psychodynamic consulting room practice. Students are introduced to a range of core clinical competencies: clinical observation, fostering the working alliance, accurately tracking the clients communications, psychoanalytic forms of listening, psychodynamic formulation, psychodiagnostics and the like. Multiple opportunities to learn the practical skills of individual psychodynamic counselling are provided.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded COU5110

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

1. Appraise the basic theoretical and ethical frameworks for counselling.
2. Describe and evaluate the psychodynamic counselling model.
3. Execute at an advanced level, the skills of the different stages of the counselling process.
4. Execute the skills of case management.
5. Review their own values, attitudes, and interpersonal skills as these influence their role as a counsellor.
6. Summarise and critique the research literature on counselling interventions.

Unit Content

1. Applications of the psychodynamic model to specific issues and client groups.
2. Clinical observation skills.
3. Establishing the therapeutic frame - ethics, the setting and contracting.
4. Fostering the working alliance.
5. Listening - active and psychoanalytic forms.
6. Psychodiagnostics.
7. Psychodynamic formulation - conceptualising the case.
8. Psychotherapy process - transfererence, countertransference etc.
9. Skills of case management.
10. The first appointment - history taking, mental status examination, assessment of suitability for treatment.
11. The integration of the skills into the role of the counsellor.
12. The philosophy of psychodynamic counselling.

Additional Learning Experience Information

This is essentially a skill development unit which will utilise modelling, practice, role-play, video replay, and discussion. Lectures and case studies will be used to a lesser extent.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

Text References

• ^ Howard, S. (2010). Skills in psychodynamic counselling and psychotherapy. London: Sage.
• Akhtar, S. (2012). Psychoanalytic listening: Methods, limits, and innovations. London: Karnac Books.
• Spurling, L. (2004). An introduction to psychodynamic counselling. Palgrave: Macmillan.
• Frederickson, J. (1999). Psychodynamic psychotherapy: Learning to listen from multiple perspectives. New York: Brunner Mazel.
• Malan, D. (2010). Individual psychotherapy and the science of psychodynamics. Johannesburg: Hodder & Stoughton.
• Geldard, D. (2005). Basic personal counselling: A training manual for counsellors. Sydney: Prentice-Hall.
• Etchegoyen, H. (2005). The fundamentals of psychoanalytic technique (Rev. ed.). London: Karnac Books.

^ Mandatory reference

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