PA239-5-FY-CO:
Advanced Practice-Based Psychodynamic Observation and Reflective Practice

The details
2024/25
Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies
Colchester Campus
Full Year
Undergraduate: Level 5
Current
Thursday 03 October 2024
Friday 27 June 2025
30
18 October 2024

 

Requisites for this module
PA128
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

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)

Module description

This module aims to enhance and further strengthen students’ theoretical and practice-based understanding of psychodynamic observation, to further support students in developing employability skills required in the care sector and to continue developing a psychodynamic approach to reflective practice.


Students will learn to apply their growing grasp of psychodynamic theory to everyday professional encounters and to develop their appreciation of the role of unconscious and emotional communication in working life.


Students will be asked to undertake their own observations initially in the community and later in their placement, to write these up and present them in seminars. They will hone their perception and receptivity in terms of detail and develop their sensitivity to what they observe and the importance of noticing their own emotional responses. It will enable them to reflect on their own process in observations and in groups and to become more self-aware.  They will become increasingly alert to the conscious and unconscious ways in which their capacity to observe and participate in learning is influenced by their experiences, and the way their own self-awareness affects their capacity to provide therapeutic care to others.

Module aims

The aims of this module are:



  • To enable students to understand the application of psychodynamic concepts and insights to all aspects of human experience.

  • To deepen their capacity to use psychodynamic observation as a key skill in therapeutic care practice.

  • To develop employability skills related to psychodynamic assessment and case presentation and reflective practice.

  • To further support students in developing employability skills required in the social care, education and health sectors.

  • To enable students to work within their chosen field of interest.

  • To enable students to apply learning from their programme directly into the workplace.

  • To continually reflect upon their abilities and performance in this role.

  • To establish a reflective space for acknowledging and processing the emotional and psychological implications of the material studied on this course.

  • To develop the capacity for self-reflection and an awareness of the influence of one’s own processes and personal experiences.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:



  1. Demonstrate a deeper understanding of psychodynamic observation theory including its application to organisations.

  2. Demonstrate greater ability to observe detail and to perceive subtle indications of emotional and unconscious dynamics.

  3. Demonstrate awareness of the use of psychodynamic observation in work with clients.

  4. The capacity to apply psychodynamic thinking to everyday professional encounters.

  5. Have gained a deeper knowledge and experience about their chosen care sector.

  6. Had a further opportunity to apply their learning within a work setting.

  7. Have gained further experience of direct work with clients, the issues and dilemmas raised by this alongside the enriching aspects of therapeutic work. Direct work will be supervised by staff in placement.

  8. Have sustained a working relationship with colleagues on placement and their placement supervisor.

  9. Demonstrate a more sophisticated level of understanding and insight in their application of psychodynamic ideas to work-based practice.

  10. Use their reflective journal to process their experiences.

  11. Further develop a conscious use of self (self-awareness) in professional relationships.

  12. Become increasingly reflexive and recognise the relationship between self-awareness and therapeutic care.

  13. Demonstrate an enhanced understanding of key concepts and ideas in reflective practice.

Module information

No additional information available.

Learning and teaching methods

The module will be delivered via:

  • Seminars lasting 2hrs per week

Seminars will concentrate on the discussion of observation presentations. Students will be asked to undertake their own observations in the workplace, to write these up and present them in seminars.  Later in the term, to support and underpin this practice, there will be a series of three Theory Seminars.

  • Assignment support, reviews and reflective groups.

The reflective groups are facilitated by teaching staff but they will be in a distinct role within the groups as facilitators and not as tutors. They will introduce the purpose of the group, their own role and they will keep time.  Each Reflective Group will occur within the teaching day.  It will last for 50 mins.  Afterwards there will be 10 minutes to consider the experience.

Bibliography

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   Observation Commentary  25/04/2025  50% 
Coursework   Reflective report  09/05/2025  50% 

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

Coursework Exam
100% 0%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Chris Nicholson, email: cnich@essex.ac.uk.
Student Administrator, room 5A.202, email ppsug@essex.ac.uk, telephone 01206 874969

 

Availability
No
No
No

External examiner

Dr Anthony John Faramelli
Goldsmiths
Lecturer in Visual Cultures
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 20 hours, 14 (70%) hours available to students:
6 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.

 

Further information

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