PA121-5-SU-CO:
The Lived Body: From Social Theory to Therapeutic Encounter
2026/27
Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies
Colchester Campus
Summer
Undergraduate: Level 5
Current
Monday 26 April 2027
Friday 02 July 2027
15
28 July 2026
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)
This module foregrounds embodiment and lived experience of the body in exploring and understanding psychodynamic theory and practice.
Through paired theoretical and practice orientated sessions, students will have the opportunity to explore clinical and practice based work in relation to key issues in embodiment and the underpinning psychoanalytic, psychosocial, and social theory. A range of visiting academics and clinicians will examine a range of contemporary theoretical and practical issues including for example, self-harm, eating disorders, the practice and politics of touch, circumcision, fashion and dress, pregnancy and maternity, and skin. The module will emphasise critical, theoretically grounded discussion of the lived experience of embodiment and it’s enactment in practice across a range of clinical, caring, and educational, spaces.
Students will use the experience of thinking critically about these issues to develop the skills of critical analysis and thinking between theory and practice, that will be explored in the assignment and will prepare them for third year modules, dissertation, and the use of theory in practice the workplace.
The aims of this module are:
- To enhance psychodynamic, psychoanalytic, and psychosocial thinking in the space between theory and practice.
- To facilitate critical discussion of the lived experience of embodiment in theory and practice.
- To encounter and work critically with contemporary literature in psychoanalytic and psychosocial studies.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Demonstrate a deeper understanding in the psychodynamic field.
- Demonstrate critical discussion of contemporary issues in psychodynamic, psychoanalytic and psychosocial theory and it’s application to practice.
- Demonstrate a further understanding of the lived experiences of embodiment for professionals and those that they work with in theory and practice.
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.
This module will be delivered via:
- A series of interactive lectures and seminars in which visiting professors/lecturers will present a range of clinical issues. The lectures will be followed by a discussion.
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 |
|
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
No external examiner information available for this module.
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).
* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.
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