Course coordinator
Ms Louise Leotta
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- Herston
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- Herston
- Coordinating unit
- UQ Medical School
This Practicum course provides the opportunity to develop clinical skills in treatment settings. The emphasis of the fourth placement is developing specialist art therapy treatment skills with an emphasis on dealing with treatment resistance and complex presentations; managing defences, lack of engagement and low motivation for change, decompensation, suicidality, substance abuse and self-harm risks. Art Therapy Field of Study requirements will be met by this course.
Welcome to the course PXMH7110 Practicum 4 in Art Therapy, aﾠcourse for the Masters in Mental Health (Art Therapy).
The aim of this course is to provide you withﾠopportunities to develop specialist art therapy practices through supervised work consisting of 150/200 hours of placement.ﾠNote: total hours accumulated over the program must reach 750 hours to be eligible for professional registration.ﾠThere is an expectation that you will initiate and implement art therapy activities whilst on placement and have prospects to address complex presentations at your placement site. Activities will be developed and conducted in consultation with the on-site supervisor however, you need to be able to demonstrate your capacity/potential to take initiative, work autonomously and respond appropriately to varying circumstances.
You will be required to attend a weekly supervision group to assist with the integration of theory and practice. The weekly supervision group will offer a place for reflective practice related to placement. The class will address specific needs and questions relating to student experiences and provides a forum for learning and reporting back. Opportunities to present cases in more depth and gain feedback will be provided. There will be anﾠemphasis on deepening understanding, exposure to more advanced art therapy treatment practices and complex treatment circumstances. In addition, art making will be used as a tool for: reflective functioning;ﾠthe formation of emergingﾠart therapist identity;ﾠexternalising questions; and expanding clinical understanding of client/trainee art therapist interactions.
It is a course requirement that you keep a visual and written reflective journal, these will be entered onto the PXMH7110 Learn.UQ (Blackboard) online journal (please see assessment section of the ECP for further information).
Please let the course coordinator know promptly if experiencing any difficulties so the course coordinator and you can work together to ensure placement and class experiences are rewarding.
Course requirements
Assumed background
It is assumed that you are either concurrently enrolled in or have previously completed PXMH7106 and PXMH7116.
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
PXMH7101, PXMH7102, PXMH7107, PXMH7103, PXMH7104, PXMH7108 and PXMH7109
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
PXMH7038
Course contact
School enquiries
Medical School Student and Academic Administration Team
Timetable
Additional timetable information
Attend weekly classes with local group for PXMH7109ﾠplus fortnightly Tuesday 17:00 - 17:45pmﾠK Floor,ﾠMental Health Centre, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital
Case Presentations will be conducted via Zoom Thursday 8 May and/or Thursday 15 May so they can be easily recorded (date and time to be confirmed)ﾠ
Workshop Exploring Professional Identity (Proposed date: 27/05/25 time to be confirmed)
Aims and outcomes
This course is designed to enable you to implement knowledge developed during skills courses and Art Therapy Practicums 1, 2 & 3 in an appropriate mental health practice environment. You will undertake 200 hours of art therapy practice, of which a minimum of 50ﾠhours takes the form of mental health services to clients and a minimum of 10 hours of supervision. During this practicum, You are expected to demonstrate your ability to provide art therapy services under minimal supervision. You will show your skills to work both collaboratively and autonomously. The focus of the fourth placement is to develop specialist individual and group therapeutic skills and build capacity to address complex presentations. You will participate in weekly supervision provided by the University. Placement and university supervision will provide opportunities for you to deepen understanding and reflective functioning.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Under minimal supervision, develop and maintain relationship with a client or group of clients
LO2.
Under minimal supervision demonstrate appropriate knowledge of therapeutic practices to develop specialist art therapy and mental health skills, some work may be carried out online
LO3.
Under minimal supervision demonstrate appropriate skills to engage in art therapy with clients and address complex presentations, some work may be carried out online
LO4.
Under minimal supervision develop and maintain relationships that consider specific needs, values, perspectives and culture of client group/s
LO5.
Engage in clinical supervision to deepen understanding and reflective capacity, some supervision may be carried out online
LO6.
Demonstrate appropriate relationships with staff and effectively communicate with other professionals and/or family members
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Placement |
Practicum
|
Compliance Hurdle |
24/02/2025 - 17/06/2025
(AEST) |
| Reflection | Reflective Journal | 50% 10 posts 300/400 words each |
7/04/2025 - 9/06/2025
(AEST) |
| Presentation | Case Study Presentation | 50% |
8/05/2025 - 15/05/2025 |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
Practicum
- Hurdle
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Placement
- Weight
- Compliance Hurdle
- Due date
24/02/2025 - 17/06/2025
(AEST)
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06
Task description
You will undertake 150/200 hours in a work environment that provides the opportunity to work with people face to face or online seeking help for concerns that may include mental health problems. You will have an onsite placement supervisor and are required to engage in a minimum 7.5/10 hours of supervision with the on-site supervisor or one hour of supervision for every 20 hours of practice. In addition, you will participate in weekly university supervision classes. See Learning Activities for further information regarding contracts, logs, evaluation reports and meetings with student, on-site supervisor and university course coordinator. If you have any concerns about the appropriateness of their workplace or placement setting, you should contact the course coordinator to discuss. Any alternative plan to meet the learning objectives of the course will need the permission of the course coordinator.
Criteria & Marking:
- Student has a practicum in an appropriate setting that provides the opportunity to work with people seeking help for concerns that may include mental health problems. The placement or an alternative arranged with the course coordinator provides the opportunities to meet the learning objectives of the course.
- Student provides off site supervisor a signed placement contract.
- Student provides logs, appropriately verified, that demonstrate minimum 150/200 hours of work including 37.5/50 hours of direct practice and an end of placement evaluation. A student attains and passes this placement when they have been assessed as Fully Achieved on the Final End of Semester Evaluation Report. Mostly-Fully Achieved is relevant where placements have limited access/opportunity to offer in depth learning in a maximum of one of the criteria.
- Student provides a signed mid-placement and end of placement report to off site supervisor.
- Student provides appropriate evidence of 7.5/10 hours of direct supervision of practice at placement site and appropriate participation in weekly group supervision at university.
Hurdle requirements
You must satisfactorily complete this assessment task (as described above) to pass the course.Submission guidelines
Submission requirements are described in the Placement Booklet and Learning Activities.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Please find information about applying for an assessment extension here.
Late submission
You are required to submit assessable items on time. Late penalties apply where assessment is submitted after the deadline. For example, an assessment submitted 1 hour late will be penalised 10%; an assessment submitted 30 hours late is penalised 20% (due to being late by one 24-hour period plus part of another 24-hour period). This means that if an assessment item is submitted 7 calendar days late, your mark will be zero after late penalties are applied. Please refer to the UQ policy on late submission.
Reflective Journal
- Mode
- Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written
- Category
- Reflection
- Weight
- 50% 10 posts 300/400 words each
- Due date
7/04/2025 - 9/06/2025
(AEST)
Task description
You are required to complete a weekly journal of self-reflection, related to field placement experiences. This is a self-evaluation process - a personal journey of learning and deepening awareness. You will use references to deepen your understanding or to support your experiences. The marking is according to how well you have taken the opportunity to reflect on your learning and experiences throughout the semester.
Criteria & Marking:
1. Student has engaged in self-reflection through a minimum of 10 written journals uploaded to the Learn.UQ (Blackboard) submission point. Each entry is required to be 300-400 words in length and incorporate visual/art-based reflection. The journal entries are accessible, comprehensible and use a consistent referencing style.
2. Journal entries are focused on learning, relationships, experiences, insights, case examples and reflections relating to working in mental health care setting and the use of Art Therapy. Journal entries use references and literature to deepen understanding and/or support experiences.
3. Student is able to discuss their feelings, thoughts, behaviours, actions, knowledge and skills in the role of an emerging Art Therapist and use written and art-based practices to critically reflect on their personal and professional use of self.
Submission guidelines
The online journal is available Via the Learn.UQ (Blackboard) site - Assessment
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Please find information about applying for an assessment extension here.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
You are required to submit assessable items on time. Late penalties apply where assessment is submitted after the deadline. For example, an assessment submitted 1 hour late will be penalised 10%; an assessment submitted 30 hours late is penalised 20% (due to being late by one 24-hour period plus part of another 24-hour period). This means that if an assessment item is submitted 7 calendar days late, your mark will be zero after late penalties are applied. Please refer to the UQ policy on late submission.
Case Study Presentation
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Presentation
- Weight
- 50%
- Due date
8/05/2025 - 15/05/2025
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L06
Task description
You will complete a de-identified case presentation that offers a vivid portrait of your work with a client, family or group in a Mental Health/School or Non-Government Organisation placement setting. The presentation should provide client/s history, description of practice setting and the process of the work you have done. The presentation will demonstrate your understanding of the client/s complex needs, the outcome or current state of the intervention. The oral presentation is accompanied by PowerPoint/Prezi/Visual Presentation which includes relevant diagrams, artworks and treatment information that demonstrate treatment relationship, complex presentations, clinical decisions, interventions conducted, including art therapy intervention, presenting situation and environmental factors. The presentation draws on and references appropriate art therapy interventions and evidence-based treatments that are relevant and clinically appropriate for the client/s and the presenting situation/environment.
You will be allocated the date of their case presentation at the beginning of the semester. You are required to submit a copy of the slides to the marker via email before group supervision class, on or before the presentation date. The class will participate in a 20min reflective discussion after each 20min case presentation.
Verbal Presentation: This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Visual Presentation: This assessment task evaluates your abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). You are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Criteria & Marking:
1. A formal case presentation that describes the context of the work, a summary of the client/s story and presenting concerns, assessment, formulation, provision or confirmed diagnosis, the treatment plan/goals and the interventions used by the student and others with the de-identified client/s. Where relevant, the student can provide measurement of treatment effect and outcomes using approved assessment, outcome data and client/s feedback.
2. Student demonstrates the development of specialist art therapy treatment skills required for complex treatment presentations. Student discusses art therapy interventions that are relevant to client/s presentation. Student shows their problem-solving skills for challenges that arose in the client work. Student demonstrates reflective capacity and is able to discuss their case study with fellow students and assessor in the follow-up discussion.
3. Student demonstrates that they have incorporated the client/s story, development, culture and identity into their formulation, treatment planning and interventions. The presentation draws on and references appropriate art therapy interventions and evidence-based treatments that are relevant and clinically appropriate for the client/s and the presenting situation/environment.
4. 20-minute case presentation is clearly articulated in a sequential order that tells a story to the listener. The accompanying visual presentation complements the oral communication, is well compiled, formatted and uses consistent academic style & referencing throughout. It includes diagrams, tables, visual images. The presentation demonstrates ethical practices using appropriate language and terminology suitable to practice environment.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Please find information about applying for an assessment extension here.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
You are required to submit assessable items on time. Late penalties apply where assessment is submitted after the deadline. For example, an assessment submitted 1 hour late will be penalised 10%; an assessment submitted 30 hours late is penalised 20% (due to being late by one 24-hour period plus part of another 24-hour period). This means that if an assessment item is submitted 7 calendar days late, your mark will be zero after late penalties are applied. Please refer to the UQ policy on late submission.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 34 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Fails to submit assessment andﾠdemonstrate most or all of the basic requirements of the course; attains an overall mark of less than 35% |
| 2 (Fail) | 35 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Some assessment items submitted but material submitted shows major deficiencies when evaluated against assessment criteria and major part of assessment is incomplete or not submitted; attains an overall mark of at least 35% but less than 45% |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: Demonstrates deficienciesﾠin understanding when submitted assessment material is evaluated against marking criteria; attains an overall mark of at least 45% but less than the overall pass mark of 50% Please note: Students will be unable to achieve a grade above 3 if they do not complete all assessment items, regardless of overall course performance. |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 65 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Adequately demonstrates understanding,ﾠaddresses required criteria and has met the minimum requirement for all assessment; attains the overall pass mark of at least 50% but less than 66% Please note: To achieve a grade of 4 or above, students mustﾠcomplete and submit all assessment items. |
| 5 (Credit) | 66 - 75 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: <p>Adequately demonstrates competent understanding, addresses required criteria and has met minimum or above requirements for all assessment; attains an overall mark of at least 66% but less than 76%</p> |
| 6 (Distinction) | 76 - 85 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Effectively demonstrates substantial understanding, addresses required criteria and meets or exceeds minimum requirements for all assessment;ﾠattains an overall mark of at least 76% but less than 86% |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 86 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Effectivelyﾠdemonstratesﾠextensive understanding with outstanding achievement on assessment items when evaluated against marking criteriaﾠand meets or exceeds minimum requirements for all assessment; attains an overall mark of at least 86% |
Additional course grading information
Students must complete and submit all assessment items to pass the course.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
Please note that all submission dates for assessments are in Brisbane time - Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST).
Artificial Intelligence
These assessment tasks evaluate students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). You are advised that the use of AI technologies to create responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. If you wish to use AI technology for legitimate academic purposes please consult the course staff and get approval before submitting your essay. Please refer to UQs AI guidelines here.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
Articlesﾠand resources relevant to the course will be uploaded to the Learning Resources section of Learn.UQ (Blackboard).
You will be provided with Placement Guidelines Booklet which contains:
Placement Contract
Clinical Placement Report - Mid Placement Evaluation
Clinical Placement Report -End of Placement Evaluation
Client Contact and Non-Client Contact Log Sheet templates
Client Art Therapy Consent form
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Not scheduled |
Workshop |
Workshop Face to Face Workshop Exploring Professional Identity Learning outcomes: L05 |
Multiple weeks |
Tutorial |
Art Therapy Supervision Group You will attend university supervision group with an experienced art therapist. You will explore and reflect on your practicum experience by engaging in discussion and art making. There are circumstances where your placements may begin earlier and/or finish later than dates listed; in these circumstances the course coordinator will make arrangements to offer student/s supervision. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
Placement |
Practicum You will undertake 150/200 hours of mental health art therapy practice consisting of a minimum of 37.5/50 hours of direct client work and 7.5/10 hours supervision with onsite supervisor. Placement Agreement between UQ & Placement site: completed prior to placement commencing. Placement Contract: to be signed on or before the first day of placement and emailed to the course coordinator. Mid & End of Semester Evaluation Reports: completed and emailed to course coordinator. Evaluation Meeting: mid and possibly end of semester phone call, Zoom or face-to-face meeting/s with on-site supervisor, student and course coordinator (minimum of one meeting). Onsite Supervision: You will meet with an onsite supervisor for a minimum of 7.5/10 hours during the practicum. For each 20 hours you spend at placement, the onsite supervisor will provide a minimum of one hour of supervision to you. The purpose of supervision is for practice reflection, the use of self and therapeutic skill/knowledge, to utilise the expertise of the supervisor, to address the placement learning objectives and to review progress in relation to achievement of these objectives. In circumstances where your placement begins earlier and/or finish later than dates listed; the onsite supervisor will provide supervision for the duration of the placement. Student Logs: you must maintain an up-to-date log of all hours conducted on or relevant to placement. You need to fill out both a Non-Client Contact and Client-Contact Log. Logs must be typed in Word or Excel format. Logs are required to be reviewed by the on-site supervisor & University Lecturer and emailed to the course coordinator. There are circumstances where your placements may begin earlier and/or finish later than dates listed; this must be arranged with course coordinator. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
|
Practical |
Visual & Written Journal You are required to complete and submit online visual and written reflective journal entries related to placement experiences. (See Assessment section of ECP for details) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
|
Case-based learning |
Case Study Presentation You will complete de-identified case presentation (see Assessment Section for further details). Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L06 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.