Clinical and Forensic Placement A1

Overview

The placement units in this degree are integrated into a placement program that runs across the years of the program: The Postgraduate Clinical Psychology Program at Swinburne University of Technology is designed to meet the growing demand for professionals with a high level of training in clinical skills, and who are trained to provide therapeutic interventions with people suffering from a range of clinical disorders. The program subscribes to the “scientistpractitioner” model of clinical psychology. The core features of this model are a respect for evidence and ongoing critical appraisal of one's own practice. At Swinburne, we encourage trainees to adopt a broad scholarly definition of what constitutes evidence relevant to clinical practice, an active critical approach to the existing evidence base, and an analytical mind-set in relation their own practice. Clinical training at Swinburne is based on the problem formulation and hypothesis testing approach. The emphasis of this approach is on developing an optimal individualized formulation of each client or clinical challenge. Intervention choices and monitoring strategies flow directly from this formulation, which in turn will explicitly develop as treatment progresses. Accordingly, graduates of the program will be able to:
-Reach a detailed program formulation on the basis of both standardized and unstandardized assessments
-Design and conduct appropriate individual, group and family treatment intervention programs, with ongoing monitoring, and revision of problem formulation and interventions where necessary
This initial placement is undertaken at the Swinburne Psychology Clinic under the close supervision of clinical academic staff of the University or Clinical Associates of the University. The focus of this work is on the assessment and treatment of individual cases with less complex and less severe presentations. This placement is closely tied to the knowledge and skills developed in the two foundation subjects, PSY80081 Counselling Theory and Skills and PSY80075 Advanced Psychological Assessment, and the co-requisite subject PSY80074 Adult Psychopathology.

Learning outcomes

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Assessment

Content

The minimum requirements for this placement are defined in terms of total placement days (47 = 376 hours) and also face to face client contact hours (150). Total placement hours include client contact hours, group contact hours, supervision hours, plus workshop attendance, time spent reading relevant background literature, writing up client case notes, report writing, assessing individuals for inclusion in group programs, developing group programs and evaluating their effectiveness, administrative duties, and professional development activities. Timetabled elements of Clinical and Forensic Placement A1 are attendance at fortnightly group supervision sessions and monthly professional development seminars. Further detail about these timetabled sessions is provided in the first week of semester at a formal orientation session.