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

  Couples and Family Therapy Practice 2

• Unit Code

  COU6429

• Year

  2015

• Enrolment Period

  1

• Version

  1

• Credit Points

  15

• Full Year Unit

  N

• Mode of Delivery

  On Campus
  

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Description

Within an agency context, this unit aims to develop advanced clinical skills relating to the assessment of presenting dynamics and relational processes, choice of appropriate interventions, and evaluation of the outcome of the session. There will be an emphasis on the application of psychodynamic and attachment informed theoretical approaches to couple and family therapy. Principles of practice relating to infant mental health and working with children in families will also be addressed.

Non Standard Timetable Requirements

Taught in an agency context.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass 4 units from COU5210, COU5303, COU6113, COU6403

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

1. Compose and present clinical observations outlining relational dynamics and unconscious processes, based on the process of the therapy session.
2. Critically appraise the structure of the therapeutic process with couples and families from first contact to termination.
3. Formulate intervention approaches in relation to a range of commonly presenting couple and family relationship issues taking into account social-contextual, cross cultural, international and gender variables.
4. Generate possible interventions, drawn from recent clinical and theoretical developments.
5. Illustrate via demonstration a focus on the goals and perspectives of each client within the system, while operating from psychodynamic and systemic frameworks.
6. Plan and complete specialist couple and family assessments utilising perspectives from psychoanalytically and attachment informed theoretical frameworks.

Unit Content

1. Recent theoretical developments in psychoanalytically and attachment informed clinical applications within the field of couple and family therapy.
2. Current approaches, methods and frameworks for clinical practice specific to the theoretical approaches taught in the course.
3. Advanced clinical skills development; focus on therapeutic practice and process in relation to a range of couple and family relationship presenting issues.
4. Client perspectives and the therapeutic process in systemic practice, across a range of contexts.
5. Develop practice in relation to working with children in families, and to the principles of specialist clinical practice in infant mental health.

Additional Learning Experience Information

The emphasis of the unit will be on clinical supervision rather than didactic content. Students will work with video and the one-way screen in conducting simulated interviews, including both role play and (where possible) use of actors, to develop both their clinical skills and their capacity to critically evaluate the process of intervention.

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

• Bramley, W. (2008). Bewitched, bothered and bewildered: How couples really work. London: Karnac.
• Gurman, A. S. (Ed.). (2010). Clinical casebook of couple therapy. New York: Guilford Press.
• Solomon, J. (2011). Disorganized attachment and caregiving. New York: Guilford Press.
• Mares, S., Newman, L. K., Warren, B. (2011). Clinical skills in infant mental health: The first three years (2nd ed.). Victoria, Australia: ACER Press.
• Madsen, W. C. (2006). Collaborative therapy with multi-stressed families. New York: Guilford Press.
• Ludlam, M. & Nyberg, V. (Eds.).(2007). Couple attachments: Theoretical and clinical studies. London: Karnac Books.
• Johnson, S.M. (2011). Emotionally focused couple therapy with trauma survivors: Strengthening attachment bonds. New York: Guilford Publications.
• Keitner, G. I., Heru, A. M., & Glick, I. D. (2010). Clinical manual of couples and family therapy. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Pub.
• Solomon, M. F. & Siegel, J. P. (Eds). (1997). Countertransference in couples therapy. New York: Norton.
• Lieberman, A. F. & Van Horn, P. (2008). Psychotherapy with infants and young children: Repairing the effects of stress and trauma on early attachment. New York: Guilford Press.

Journal References

• Journal of Marital and Family Therapy
• Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy
• Family Process
• Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy
• Psychoanalytic Dialogues

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