HS782-8-FY-CO:
Clinical Applications 3
2024/25
Health and Social Care (School of)
Colchester Campus
Full Year
Postgraduate: Level 8
Current
Monday 02 September 2024
Friday 29 August 2025
30
04 July 2024
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
DOCTC84036 Clinical Psychology (D Clin Psych)
This module forms part of the third year training of trainees on the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology Programme and further develops trainees competencies and understanding in relation to integrative therapies and community psychology.
The critical psychology topic area draws on critical psychology perspectives. Throughout this module, the emphasis is on developing trainees competencies in relation to the evaluation and critical reflection on a broad range of psychological models and approaches relevant to working within complex settings and with clients with complex problems.
The Community Psychology topic area is aimed at developing the following:
1. The ability to draw on a critical appreciation of Community Psychology values, theories and research to inform psychological practice
2. An understanding of the contribution of socio-structural and institutional forces to psychological problems and well-being
3. An understanding of the inter-relationships between community, organisational and interpersonal change and development
4. An understanding of the debate about whether psychological interventions directed at changing individuals would be better directed at changing society
5. To apply psychological skills and understanding in everyday contexts, working collaboratively with community members
The Critical psychology topic area is aimed at providing trainees with a greater understanding of critical psychological theory and critiques of “mainstream” psychological practice and incorporates teaching and self-study relating to discursive psychology, Foucauldian critique, neoliberalism and issues relating to stigma and discrimination. It will also incorporate teaching from Political Theory, the mental health Service User movement and Sociology.
The Integrative therapies topic area is aimed at supporting trainees to develop a knowledge of and ability to reflect on and evaluate different therapeutic approaches. Additionally, trainees will develop a framework for integrating concepts and techniques from a range of approaches into their practice in creative ways. Finally the topic will offer specialist teaching in integrating systemic and attachment models to work with complex trauma in both individuals and families.
By the end of this module, trainees will be able:
Community Psychology topic area:
1. To develop a coherent sense of professional identity as a clinical psychologist based on an appreciation of community psychology ideas and an integration with other ideas and approaches.
2. To be able to draw on and integrate a wide range of psychological and meta-psychological ideas in planning and executing each individual piece of work
3. To have a knowledge of community level intervention and prevention and their importance as distinct from treatment in relation to mental health problems
4. To have a knowledge of the relationships between social inequalities and social capital, and health
5. To be able to evaluate psychological theory and research critically, and apply it within community contexts
6. To develop an appreciation of the expertise and insight relevant to prevention or reduction of mental health problems which can be found within communities, and of the skills required to utilise them
7. To have an understanding of the similarities and differences between community psychology and other academic, professional and non professional approaches.
8. Further specific outcomes provided in separate lessons plans.
Critical Psychology topic area
1. An understanding of basic critical psychology perspectives relevant to the practice of clinical psychology
2. An understanding of discursive psychology
3. The ability to draw on critical psychology perspectives on stigma and discrimination
4. The ability to critique practices relevant to clinical psychology including the critical appraisal of diagnostic classification systems and the impact of neoliberalism
5. An understanding of Foucauldian / Genealogical analyses (e.g. as applied to the history of depression).
6. An appreciation of the divergent views of mental health, particularly from within the Service User movement
Integrative therapies topic area
1. To advance and reflect upon the knowledge and skills which have already been developed in psychological therapies
2. To have an understanding of therapeutic approaches other than those (psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioural and systemic) which are the subject of a dedicated unit.
3. To begin to learn how to integrate systemic, neurodevelopmental and attachment theory to assess and treat complex trauma in adults and children.
4. To develop a personal framework for the integration of diverse approaches to assessment and intervention.
This module is undertaken in all three terms of year three and comprises three topic areas namely:
1. Integrative therapies
2. Community psychology
3. Critical psychology
In line with the general approach to teaching on the DClinPsych, the module places the emphasis on the application of underlying psychological theory to clinical practice. This third year module, Clinical applications and integrative practice, builds on the knowledge and skills acquired in the first two years of the training and extends trainees' knowledge, skills and values to integrative practice, community psychology and critical psychology.
Throughout this module, the emphasis is on developing trainees' competencies in relation to the evaluation and critical reflection on a broad range of psychological models and approaches relevant to working within complex settings and with clients with complex problems.
The module draws on trainees' experience throughout the first two years of training and offer trainees learning opportunities focused on enhancing competencies relating to flexible application of theory to practice (drawing on integrative practice and perspectives) and on interventions within the framework of community psychology approaches.
Additionally, trainees are further supported in applying perspectives from critical psychology to theories, practice and contexts relevant to clinical psychology.
Community psychology topic area
In addition to seminars using techniques such as small group discussions, problem based learning etc the following strategies will be used where applicable
Practice Learning
Observation tasks on community groups and voluntary organisations and / or engagement with service user community stakeholders
Teaching facilitated by community members, experts through experience and service users
Discussion in supervision of clients social circumstances and their relevance to the identified problem
Adequate time will be allowed during teaching this topic for reflective discussion
Critical psychology topic area
In addition to self study and seminars (for which trainees are required to prepare brief presentations relating to the main topic of the seminar), the following approaches are drawn on
Opportunities to undertake project work in collaboration with service users, ex users, carers and with members of other professions
Discussion of critical perspectives in supervision
Where possible observation tasks reflect on power relations and dominant discourses in the setting, meet members of the user survivor movement, visit user/survivor run services, talk to members of other professions about their perspective on clinical psychology
Look at broader cross cultural and inter disciplinary explanations for mental health problems
Consider critiques of psychological epistemologies, theoretical principals and practices from both within and outside the discipline.
Consider psychology as a discipline in a social, cultural and political context.
Integrative therapies topic area
This topic supports trainees in the development of integrative practice by presenting material in lectures while relating various theoretical approaches to trainees ongoing supervised practice placement experience. Learning is further supported through the use of audio visual material, case discussion and small group activity.
This module does not appear to have any essential texts. To see non - essential items, please refer to the module's
reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Clinical Activity Report 3 (CAR3) |
08/07/2025 |
100% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Jasmeet Kaur, email: jb20603@essex.ac.uk.
External contributors
E: dcpadmin@essex.ac.uk
No
No
No
Dr Magdalena Marczak
Coventry University
Lecturer in Clinical Psychology
Available via Moodle
Of 24 hours, 0 (0%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
24 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.
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