Approaches to Therapy I
This unit offers students an overview of two major therapeutic schools of thought: Psychodynamic and Family/Systemic Therapy. It explores the history, theoretical underpinnings and characteristic practices of each approach. Strategies used in each approach are identified and applied. A critique of the overall efficacy of each approach is undertaken.
Learning Outcomes
- Identify the milestones in the historical development of psychodynamic theory
- Critique the different approaches of psychodynamic theory
- Demonstrate, analyse and evaluate the application of the psychodynamic theories in practise
- Analyse the implications of and application of transference and countertransference
- Identify the milestones in the historical development of family systems theory
- Critique the different approaches of family systems
- Demonstrate, analyse and evaluate the application of the family systems theories in practise
- Analyse the implications for therapeutic practice of privileging the relationship in Family Therapy
Content Areas
- The Roots of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
- Object Relations Theory: Klein and Winnicott and Jungian Psychology
- Self Psychology and the Conversational Model
- Intersubjectivity and Relational Theory
- Transference, Countertransference and Interpretation
- Empathy and the Therapeutic Relationship in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and Counselling
- Historical Introduction
- Structural Approaches
- Experiential Approaches
- Bowen and Transgenerational Patterns
- Milan and Post Milan
- Narrative and Brief Solution-Focused Approaches
Unit Duration and Workload
This unit involves a total of 36 hours of face to face delivery or self-directed study including educator contact in flexible delivery modes, generating a further 120 hours of self-study per unit including research and related study activities, including assessment. This translates as 13 hours per week for the unit.