Master of Psychology Practice (Clinical)
Master of Psychology Practice (Clinical)
Advance your knowledge and skills in the practice of clinical psychology
Be intrigued by the human mind
Overview
Are you a registered psychologist with a passion for working with people with complex psychological disorders? ACAP’s Master of Psychology Practice (Clinical) will give you the knowledge and skills for specialised area of practice in clinical psychology.
The Master of Psychology Practice (Clinical) is designed for registered psychologists and extends knowledge and skills for working with people with complex psychological problems. The aim of this course is to enhance the existing professional psychology skills required to assess, diagnose, formulate, treat, and prevent psychological problems and mental illness across the lifespan.
The Master of Psychology Practice (Clinical) course includes a 3-day on-campus workshop (held in orientation week). Additionally there are weekly 3 hour workshops on-campus and/or online and individual and group supervision on-campus and/or online (based on student preference).
This course is conditionally accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).
This course has been accredited by the Navitas Professional Institute (NPI) under its self-accrediting authority.
What you'll learn
Expertise in human behaviour forms the foundation of all our courses including our Master of Psychology Practice (Clinical).
EXPLORE WITH AN APPLIED FOCUS:
Foundations of clinical psychology
Clinical psychology practice 1 & 2
Ethical, legal and professional issues in clinical psychology
Essential clinical psychology practices
Applied clinical psychology skills
Course structure
This course is comprised of 6 units, which are level 600 units.
The course duration is 1 year full time or up to 3 years part time. For more information on the recommended course sequence click here.
Level: 600 level core
Credit points: 6
Unit Description:
This unit introduces students to the competencies required of clinical psychologists and the foundational knowledge and skill base required to demonstrate these, including the scientist practitioner model as it applies to clinical psychology, case formulation, differential diagnosis, and treatment planning. It considers a range of contemporary theories of complex psychological disorders, including developmental, systems, and biopsychological models, as well as the social determinants of health, and how these contribute to the assessment and management of individuals with complex psychological disorders.
Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of this unit the student should be able to:
- Demonstrate the ability to independently locate and use relevant and reliable sources of information, including the research and practice literature, and apply it to the practice of clinical psychology.
- Demonstrate advanced and integrated critical understanding of influential psychological theories of complex psychological problems, including social determinants, and developmental, systems and biopsychological models of health.
- Demonstrate the ability to design evidence-based treatment plans based upon case formulations of complex psychological problems.
- Demonstrate advanced knowledge and understand of ethical, legal and professional issues in relation to complex psychological disorders.
- Apply advanced knowledge of key cultural groups (including First Nations Australians) and culturally competent practices to the assessment and management of people with complex psychological problems
- Apply principles of effective communication practice across contexts and different modalities, such as technology-mediated psychological practice
Level: 600 level core
Credit points: 12
Prerequisites: PSYC6172 Clinical Psychology: Core Skills and Professional Issues
Corequisites: PSYC6172 Clinical Psychology: Core Skills and Professional Issues
Unit Description:
The main objectives of PSYC6152 Clinical Psychology Practice 1 and PSYC6162 Clinical Psychology Practice 2 are to assist students in working towards the required placement, supervision, research and clinical skills development for competency in psychological assessment and intervention, applying evidence-based research to practice, as well as to enhance each student’s developing identity as a clinical psychologist.
Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of this unit the student should be able to:
- Conduct psychological practice in an ethical, culturally sensitive, and professional manner with clients with severe and / or complex psychological problems
- Apply advanced knowledge of a range of psychological theories and associated evidence to developing differential diagnoses, case formulations and treatment plans for the assessment and management of clients with severe and / or complex psychological problems
- Participate effectively as a member of the team supporting clients with severe and / or complex psychological problems
- Participate effectively in supervision, demonstrating advanced reflective practice skills to enhance learning and practice
- Demonstrate advanced understanding and application of the psychological and related literature to inform the response to a practice related question in the placement setting
Level: 600 level core
Credit points: 6
Prerequisites: PSYC6172 Clinical Psychology: Core Skills and Professional Issues
Unit Description:
This unit is one of the core coursework units for students in the Master of Professional Psychology and the Master of Psychology (Clinical). This unit introduces students to key theory and practice relevant to working with diverse groups and populations including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders peoples. Students will develop their skills towards becoming a culturally safe mental health care practitioner by engaging in in depth self awareness, reflection and development. This unit will thereby engage students in culturally safe case formulation and treatment planning in common areas of presentation among diverse groups. This unit contains a focus on supporting diverse groups using a range of modalities and approaches.
Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of this unit the student should be able to:
- Apply advanced and integrated knowledge of psychology to safe and ethical psychological practice in empirically valid and culturally responsive ways
- Apply advanced and integrated knowledge of research methods and ethics to develop appropriate strategies to answer questions arising from practice
- Employ culturally responsive, valid, and reliable psychological assessments and sensitively communicate findings to a range of audiences
- Integrate, interpret and synthesise assessment information with their knowledge to develop culturally responsive and empirically supported case conceptualisations, diagnoses, and interventions for diverse clients
- Expertly apply personal and professional judgment to safely and appropriately initiate a sustainable career and contribution to the practice of professional psychology
Level: 600 level core
Credit points: 6
Prerequisites: PSYC6172 Clinical Psychology: Core Skills and Professional Issues
Corequisites: PSYC6172 Clinical Psychology: Core Skills and Professional Issues
Unit Description:
This unit will focus on developing skills in the delivery of evidence-based interventions with complex psychological problems. In particular there will be a focus on the appropriate selection of an intervention approach and its tailoring to the individual based upon a case formulation that considers important contextual factors and comorbidity.
Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of this unit the student should be able to:
- Demonstrate advanced and integrated knowledge of psychology and mental health for the prevention, assessment, diagnosis, formulation, and treatment of psychological disorders and mental illness across the life span
- Demonstrate the ability to select and apply appropriate research strategies to answer questions arising from clinical psychology practice
- Demonstrate the ability to conduct culturally sensitive assessments of psychological disorders and mental illness across the lifespan using valid and reliable approaches
- Demonstrate the ability to integrate, interpret and synthesize assessment information with their knowledge of psychopathology and mental health to develop culturally sensitive case conceptualization, diagnoses, and treatment plans for psychological disorders and mental illness across the life span
- Expertly apply their knowledge and skills to implement culturally sensitive evidence-based psychological assessment and intervention approaches for the prevention and management of psychological disorders and mental illness across the life span
Level: 600 level core
Credit points: 6
Prerequisites: PSYC6172 Clinical Psychology: Core Skills and Professional Issues
Corequisites: PSYC6172 Clinical Psychology: Core Skills and Professional Issues
Unit Description:
This unit will focus on key practices and philosophies that underpin clinical psychology. This includes providing a culturally safe environment, including awareness of trauma in both assessment and intervention, strengths and recovery based approaches, monitoring and evaluating treatment effectiveness, and adjusting practice to suit different modalities. Finally, the implications for managing difficulties in treatment will be explored. These ideas will be applied in the context of working with specific clinical populations.
Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of this unit the student should be able to:
- Apply advanced knowledge of practices such as trauma informed care, strengths and recovery based approaches to the assessment and management of people with complex psychological problems
- Apply advanced knowledge of effective practices for monitoring progress and evaluating outcomes of clinical psychology practice, and approaches to managing common difficulties in work with individuals with complex psychological problems
- Understand principles of effective practice when working with a variety of complex clinical presentations
Level: 600 level core
Credit points: 12
Prerequisites: PSYC6172 Clinical Psychology: Core Skills and Professional Issues
Corequisites: PSYC6172 Clinical Psychology: Core Skills and Professional Issues
Unit Description:
The main objectives of PSYC6152 Clinical Psychology Practice 1 and PSYC6162 Clinical Psychology Practice 2 are to assist students in working towards the required placement, supervision, research and clinical skills development for competency in psychological assessment and intervention, applying evidence-based research to practice, as well as to enhance each student’s developing identity as a clinical psychologist.
Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of this unit the student should be able to:
- Conduct psychological practice in an ethical, culturally sensitive and professional manner with clients with severe and / or complex psychological problems
- Apply advanced knowledge of a range of psychological theories and associated evidence to developing differential diagnoses, case formulations and treatment plans for the assessment and management of clients with severe and / or complex psychological problems
- Participate effectively as a member of the team supporting clients with severe and / or complex psychological problems
- Participate effectively in supervision, demonstrating advanced reflective practice skills to enhance learning and practice
- Demonstrate advanced understanding and application of the psychological and related literature to inform the response to a practice related question in the placement setting
Download Course Guide
Pathways for future study
Upon graduation you can then complete a Psychology Board of Australia approved registrar program required for clinical psychology area of practice endorsement.
