| CODE | PSY3504 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Psychotherapeutic Methods 1: Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and the Humanistic Existential Approaches | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Psychology | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The study-unit addresses the major concepts and practices of two contemporary psychotherapeutic systems, namely the Psychoanalytic and the Humanistic-Existential approaches. It traces the development of Psychotherapy from the classical Psychoanalytic models to the more contemporary approaches, and demonstrates how these evolved over time to acknowledge more fully the importance of relationships in the development of the human psyche. Differences between the Humanistic Existential paradigm, which also includes Person-Centred and Gestalt Therapy, are presented, and similarities between these approaches and the more contemporary schools of Psychoanalysis will be drawn. Participants will be challenged to consider, in an in-depth manner, the theoretical underpinnings of each approach, and to understand how psychotherapeutic intervention draws on these fundamental tenets. They will also be provided with the opportunity to conduct formulations based on case studies, and to participate in role-play and/or other exercises where appropriate. Observation of psychotherapy on multimedia will also be possible for some of the therapeutic approaches. Study-unit Aims: This study-unit aims to expose students to the main theoretical tenets and techniques applied in the two main psychotherapeutic approaches addressed in this unit. It will introduce students to the concepts of the therapeutic frame, the therapeutic alliance, case formulation and how these are viewed by the various theoretical frameworks underlying each approach. It will introduce students to the manner in which the various conceptual frameworks inform the implementation of specific therapeutic techniques with regard to diverse mental health difficulties. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Differentiate between the diverse theoretical underpinnings of the two approaches presented; - Appreciate the importance of conducting a formulation that integrates various aspects of the client's life history, symptoms and contextual information whilst drawing from the different theoretical frameworks; - Consider ethical dilemmas in psychotherapy; - Appreciate the importance of the therapeutic frame and the implications of frame breakages for psychotherapy; - Appreciate the importance of building a meaningful and collaborative therapeutic relationship with clients; - Consider issues of gender, class and culture in psychotherapy; - Consider issues related to the person-hood of the therapist, e.g. personal motivation and personality traits of psychotherapists and possible pitfalls emerging from unmet needs. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Evaluate which method/s of psychotherapeutic intervention would be applicable for specific clients and conditions, with reference to research on empirically validated treatment of choice for specific mental health difficulties; - Demonstrate competence in identifying helpful therapeutic interventions with reference to specific case formulation; - Demonstrate the ability to forge links between underlying theoretical tenets and the application of therapeutic techniques emerging from these frameworks. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Text for both approaches - Dryden, D. & Reeves, A. (2013). The handbook of individual therapy (6th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Supplementary Readings Psychoanalysis -Bion, W.R. (1959). Attacks on linking. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 40, 308-315. - Bion, W.R. (1962a). The Psycho-Analytic Study of Thinking. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 43, 306-310. - Casement, P. (2008). On learning from the patient. London: Routledge. - Clarkson, P. & Nuttall, J. (2000). Working with countertransference. Psychodynamic Counselling, 6(3) 359-379. doi: 10.1080/13533330050132125 - Freud, S. (1917). Mourning and Melancholia. The Standard Edition, 14, (pp. 237-258). - Freud, S. (1923). The ego and the id. Standard Edition, 19, 3- 59. - Garland, A. (2001). Reclaiming the rubbish: A study of projective mechanisms, Psychodynamic Counselling, 7:2, 177-185, DOI: 10.1080/13533330110040238 - Gomez, L. (1997). An Introduction to object relations. Free Association Books. - Heimann, P. (1950). On Countertransference. International Journal of Psychoanalysis 31, 81-84. - Klein, M. (1997). Envy and gratitude and other works 1946-1963. London: Vintage. (Original work published 1946). - Mitchell, S.A. (1988). Relational concepts in psychoanalysis. Harvard University Press. - Miller, A. (1981). Prisoners of childhood: The drama of the gifted child and the search for the true self. New York: Basic Books. - McWilliams, N. (1999). Psychoanalytic case formulation. New York: The Guilford press. - McWilliams, N. (2004). Psychoanalytic psychotherapy. New York: The Guilford press. - McWilliams, N. (2011). Psychoanalytic diagnosis. New York: The Guilford press. - PDM Task Force. (2006). Psychodynamic diagnostic manual. Silver Spring, MD: Alliance of Psychoanalytic Organizations. - Racker, H. (1968). Transference and countertransference. London: Maresfield Reprints. - StClair, M. (1996). Object relations and self psychology: An introduction. CA, US: Thomson Brooks/Cole Publishing Co. - Winnicott, D.W. (1949). Hate in the countertransference. Journal of psychotherapy practice and research 3(4),349-356. The Humanistic-Existential Perspective - Clarkson, P. & Cavicchia, S. (2013). Gestalt counselling in action (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. - Gillon, E. (2007). Person-centred counselling psychology: An introduction. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. - Mearns, D., Thorne, B., & McLeod, J. (2013). Person-centred counselling in action (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. - Tinsely, H.E.A., Lease, S.H., & Giffin Wiersma, N.A. (2015). Contemporary theory and practice in counselling and psychotherapy. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. - van Deurzen, E. & Adams, M. (2016). Skills in existential counselling and psychotherapy (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. |
||||||||
| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-Requisite Study-Unit: PSY1610 | ||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
|
||||||||
| LECTURER/S | Tania Farrugia Mary Rose Gauci Marta Sant |
||||||||
|
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
|||||||||