PA121-5-SU-CO:
Critical Analysis of Psychodynamic Theory and Practice
2025/26
Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies
Colchester Campus
Summer
Undergraduate: Level 5
Current
Monday 20 April 2026
Friday 26 June 2026
15
21 August 2023
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
FDA LX51 Therapeutic Communication and Therapeutic Organisations,
BA C847CO Psychodynamic Practice,
BA C848CO Psychodynamic Practice (Including Foundation Year),
BA C849CO Psychodynamic Practice (Including Year Abroad),
BA C850CO Psychodynamic Practice (Including Placement Year)
In this module specialist clinical situations and practice issues will be introduced by and developed by visiting professors/lecturers from the Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies.
Students will have the opportunity to explore clinical work in specialised areas and to critically consider theoretical issues emerging often out of clinical practice. Visiting professors or lecturers will emphasise the critical context for their work or presentation making it clear which aspects of theory and/or practice are being critically engaged with and why. For example, these may include: working with difficult clients; trauma narratives for refugees, lateness in psychotherapy, the use of silence, researching Sado-Masochism, intergenerational experiences of loss and bereavement and the countertransference of the therapist.
You will use the experience of thinking critically about these presentations to develop the skills of critical analysis which will be applied in the assessment. The assessment involves identifying a chapter or journal paper related to a topic of interest to you, and to which you can apply psychodynamic ideas critically and/or which you can evaluate on the basis of its truth claims. The skills learned in this module were supported in PA223 and PA225, and will help prepare you for the transition into your third year of study where they can be applied to your Long Essay or Dissertation.
The aims of this module are:
- To enhance psychodynamic thinking and practice in specialist areas.
- To develop the critical mindedness of students in preparation for their third year Dissertation/Long Essay.
Learning Outcomes
- To familiarise students with greater depth and breadth in the psychodynamic field
- To familiarise students with interventions in specialist areas
- To develop further understanding of transference and countertransference phenomena, and their applications
- To understand and develop skills in critical analysis of theory and practice
- To prepare for the BA Year / third year
Key Skills
- Reading a scientific paper, critical analysis, academic research skills
Employability Skills
- Library skills, Reading skills, Note-taking, problem solving
No additional information available.
Learning and Teaching Methods
The teaching of this module consists in a series of lectures in which visiting professors/lecturers will present a range of clinical issues. The lectures will be followed by a discussion. In addition there will be an introduction to critical analysis at the beginning of the module.
Mode of Delivery: This module will be a Face to Face on campus
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Critical Essay |
26/05/2026 |
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 Chenyang Wang, email: cwangab@essex.ac.uk.
from Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies
Student Administrator, 5A.202, telephone 01206 87 4969, email ppsug@essex.ac.uk
No
No
No
Dr Anthony John Faramelli
Goldsmiths
Lecturer in Visual Cultures
Available via Moodle
Of 23 hours, 0 (0%) hours available to students:
23 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
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