Advanced Psychodynamic Theory, Practice and Organizational Understanding (Children and Adolescents)

• Credit value: 30 credits at Level 7
• Convenor: Viviane Green
• Assessment: a 10,000-word extended case study (100%)

This module builds on the main principles of psychodynamic theory, and explores psychodynamic concepts and the underlying philosophy, with a specific emphasis on psychoanalysis of children and adolescents. During this year there is increased emphasis on diagnostic work, identifying different childhood disorders and technical implications.

indicative module Syllabus

• Building on concepts of psychodynamic theory (unconscious, repression, resistance, transference, defences, inner world etc)
• Developmental perspective on understanding of specific emotional disorders in childhood and adolescence, e.g. emotional and sexual abuse
• Eating disorders, disturbed clients and psychosocial background, etc
• Assessments
• Network around the client
• Furthering understanding of organisational ideas (organisation as a system, concepts of role, boundary, leadership, etc)
• Multi-disciplinary team treatment modalities, e.g. psychiatry, CBT, solution-focused therapy and family therapy

By the end of this module, you will:

• have an advanced critical understanding of the foundations of theoretical and practical principles of psychodynamic counselling/therapy
• understand different theoretical frameworks
• understand healthy emotional development and specific emotional disturbances
• have a high capacity to understand and use psychoanalytic and psychodynamic principles to increase knowledge of both theory and practice, of personality development, of the inner and outer worlds of the client and of the institutional and group influences on personal development.