Module Directory

Throughout TCTO we want you to be thinking about the link between the learning you do at university, and its impact on your practice. It's also important to make the link the other way: what does your practice tell you about the usefulness of the theories you are learning about at University? Finally, we want you to develop your skills in thinking about your practice, as you take up your role each day.

The four "golden threads" of TCTO are:-

• Being aware of what you are feeling , and the sources of those feelings;


• Being able to make use of “self” to reach a deeper understanding of “other”;


• Being familiar with psychodynamic language in order to be able to conceptualise
  this deeper understanding;


• Being able to use this understanding to then work therapeutically.

As you progress through this module try to hold these in mind, and use them as a guide. There is no formal teaching. The onus is on you to make the links and develop your practice. To help you:-

1. We ask you to keep a weekly reflective journal.


2. We ask you to have fortnightly meetings with a mentor of your choice.


3. There will Zoom seminars each term to take stock of how the mentoring is going.


4. We will also have occasional discussions directly with the mentors.

The module is assessed by two essays: a case study, and a reflective report.

The aims of this module are:

• To link theory to everyday working practice


• To utilise your mentor to support you in bringing your learning into the organisation.

By the end of this module, students will be expected to have an advanced capacity to: 

• utilise a mentor to support learning 


• communicate effectively with colleagues and with clients 


• apply theory to practice 


• work effectively in an institutional setting, in which collaboration is the basic aim as well as therapeutic process 


• understand how to practice psychodynamically from within one’s role in the organisation  


• consider clients collaboratively and to develop therapeutic strategies  


• adopt a reflective attitude in the workplace 


• understand of how a psychodynamic way of thinking can be applied to a single client


• learn through practice, which is at the heart of the programme

Key Skills 

• Developed capacity for reflective practice 


• Developed awareness of interpersonal relationships in the workplace 


• Capacity for psychodynamic formulation in relation to one client  

Employability Skills 

• Developed capacity for reflective practice 


• Developed awareness of interpersonal relationships in the workplace 


• Developed capacity for thoughtful and therapeutic communication   


• Developed capacity for collaborative teamwork

• Weekly work-based meetings with mentor 
• Working practice in role and related activities, under mentor’s supervision 
• Theoretical linkage and reflection on work experience within and across seminars, but especially in relation to observations (for the Case Study) and reflective groups  
• Seminars on case study and reflective report writing