Systems and Contexts 1

Code

MEDS4096

School

School of Medicine

Level

4

Credits

30

Semesters

Autumn UK

Summary

This module changes focus from the individual to the individual within a couple, family or other small group system and introduces students to the theoretical foundations of working with larger modules, such as families, couples and groups. Students consider the nature of problems for which multi-person interventions are most appropriate. The module progresses to the application of clinical psychology theory and practice to develop the skills of assessing, formulating and intervening indirectly through third parties such as other family members, care staff, and multi-disciplinary teams.

Relationship to External Bodies Approved by Health & Care Professions Council. Accredited by British Psychological Society.

Target Students

Students registered on the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology.

Classes

• One 4-hour-30-minute lecture each week for 13 weeks

Learning in this module is delivered through lectures, student led and tutor led seminars, reflective practice groups, clinical presentations, group and individual tutorials, personal study and group learning

Assessment

• 100% Assessment 1: Written essay questions

Assessed by end of autumn semester

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and understanding of:

· Multi-person systems (couples, families, small groups) and their inter-dependency.

· The theoretical bases of assessment, formulation, intervention and evaluation in couple, family and group modalities.

· Theoretical models of indirect work, for example, through consultation or intervention with persons other than the identified patient/client.

· The main intervention strategies used in clinical practice with couples, families and groups

· Group therapy

· Group Dynamics and group-as-a-whole approaches

· Presentation of clinical problems across a range of settings and client groups.:

Intellectual skills – the ability to:

· Take account of both the individual and the multi-person system (couples, families, small groups) in making sense of case material.

· Transfer approaches from individual work to multi-person systems.

· Combine these individual approaches critically with models of couples and family functioning, family development, group process and systems models

· Incorporate the perspective of clients, their families, direct care staff and other key professions into

formulation and treatment planning.

· Synthesize and generate new approaches to specific problems for individuals by integrating individual and couple, family and group theory.

Professional and Practical skills – the ability to:

· Assess, formulate, intervene and evaluate progress of families and groups using secondary and indirect resources at an advanced level.

· Critically apply the integrative and trans-theoretical frameworks acquired in previous modules to work with clients in more complex contexts (such as multi agency work) in order to shape practice and provide services to people hitherto excluded because direct or individual interventions are less effective or make less efficient use of resources.

· Form therapeutic and professional alliances with multi-person systems and teams.

· Provide effective assessment, formulation and intervention to couples and families.

· Help individuals through indirect intervention.

· Intervene through teaching, training and consultation.

· Analyse group material and process and consider their own functioning as a group member.

· Deliver group treatment programmes

Transferable skills – the ability to:

· Adapt knowledge of evidence-based models of change to multi-person and indirect work contexts

· Working with members of other professions

· Working effectively within a team

Conveners

• Sarah Wilde