School enquiries
Medical School Student and Academic Administration Team
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 course focuses on the clinical skills needed to engage with patients. In this first psychotherapy skills course you will further develop your skills in assessment of mental health issues and will develop skills in formulation and treatment planning for psychotherapy interventions. Psychotherapy Field of Study requirements will be met by this course.
This course marks an important step towards securing a good basis for effective and sensitive mental health practice. It has a focus on ensuring high quality clinical skills in assessment and treatment planning both for standard mental health care and for psychotherapy. We will also work to refine the skills and awareness necessary to develop a strong working alliance with those who seek help from you and your colleagues. You will work in weekly seminar/tutorials with an experienced clinician and tutor, and your fellow students, to strengthen the learning experience. The assessmentsﾠare clinically focussed. We look forward to working with you this semester.
Course requirements
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
PXMH7025
Course contact
Course staff
Course coordinator
Ms Lisa Hardy
Lecturer
Dr Jaya Valvoi
Dr Jaime Yasky
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Tutorials
Tutorials will be on Zoom beginning on Thursday 27th February, 2025 5:30-7pm. You are expected to attend each tutorial and should let the Course Coordinator, Lisa Hardy, know if you are unable to attend. You are expected to attend in person these workshops, they will not be recorded
ZOOM LINK
https://uqz.zoom.us/j/88289107798
A link will also be emailed to students prior to the commencement of semester.
The seminars will examine clinical skills in building and maintaining alliance, standard mental health assessment, formulation and treatment planning as well as psychotherapy approaches (psychoanalytic, cognitive and behavioural, and systemic family therapy) to these key tasks.
They will be led by experienced clinicians and teachers with passion for clinical excellence who bring hard won skills from their own practice blended with the knowledge of theory and research in these areas.
Workshops
There will be 2 days of in-person workshops at Herston, Brisbane all day on Thursday 13th and Friday 14th March 2025. Workshop leaders include Dr Jaya Valvoi, Dr Jaime Yasky, Ms Alex Tregenza and Lisa Hardy. You are expected to attend these workshops and if you are unable to attend you should contact Lisa Hardy to discuss. The workshops will not be recorded.
We look forward to working with you, contact us if you have any concerns.
Lisa Hardy
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to provide students with knowledge and skills in engagement, diagnosis, formulation and treatment planning that will support collaborative and effective mental health practice.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Demonstrate knowledge and skills to engage with consumers to collaboratively address their mental health needs
LO2.
Demonstrate knowledge and skills to use industry standard assessment, formulation and treatment planning approaches
LO3.
Demonstrate knowledge and skills to use evidenced-based psychotherapeutic approaches to assessment, diagnosis and treatment planning.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay/ Critique | Clinician role in building working alliance | 20% |
27/03/2025 1:00 pm |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Case Report: standard mental health approach | 40% |
1/05/2025 1:00 pm |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Case Report: psychotherapy | 40% |
29/05/2025 1:00 pm |
Assessment details
Clinician role in building working alliance
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
27/03/2025 1:00 pm
Task description
"Clinicians are usually enthusiastic and effective at using Bond but neither as enthusiastic nor as effective at using Goal and Task in building a working alliance." Assess the validity of this statement using evidence drawn from clinical literature, research studies and, where possible, from your own practice.
Criteria & Marking:
1. Student has assessed the validity of the statement about clinician use of the components of the concept of working alliance.
2. Student has used an appropriate mix of published literature, both clinical and research, and considered their, or others' personal clinical experience.
3. Essay is written in a style appropriate to the question, is free from spelling and grammatical errors, uses academic referencing when use is made of the work of others and is 1500 words (+/- 10%).
Submission guidelines
Submission for this assessment is via Turnitin.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Approval by course co-ordinator. Please find information about applying for an assessment extension here.
Late submission
Please refer to the UQ policy on late submission.
Case Report: standard mental health approach
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
1/05/2025 1:00 pm
Task description
Case report that presents a vivid portrait of your work with a client in a MH setting. It should describe the findings of your assessment, formulation and treatment planning. Where appropriate, you should report on the process of the work you have done together and your understanding of the outcome or current state of the work. This is a formal report using a format that is appropriate to your work environment. It should demonstrate developing competence in assessment, formulation, collaborative treatment planning. 1500 words 40%.
Criteria & Marking:
- The report describes the assessment, formulation and treatment planning that was done in collaboration with the client and, as appropriate, the report describes the process of any ongoing work and articulates changes you have made to your initial assessment.
- The report demonstrates developing competence in assessment, formulation, collaborative treatment planning
- Student has submitted a report that describes a mental health assessment process with a client. It is around 1500 words (+/- 10%) and is in formal report, appropriate to the work environment.
Submission guidelines
Submission via Turnitin.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Approval by course co-ordinator. Please find information about applying for an assessment extension here.
Late submission
Please refer to the UQ policy on late submission.
Case Report: psychotherapy
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
29/05/2025 1:00 pm
Task description
Case report that presents a vivid portrait of your work with a client or family. It should describe, using one of the psychotherapy approaches studied in the course i.e. psychoanalytic, cognitive, behavioural, and systemic, the findings of your assessment, formulation and treatment planning, the process of any work you have done together and, where possible, an understanding of the outcome or current state of the work. This is a formal report using a format that is appropriate to your work environment. It should demonstrate developing competence in psychotherapy focussed assessment, formulation, collaborative treatment planning. 1500 words 40%.
Criteria & Marking:
- Student has submitted a report that describes the assessment of an individual or family. It is around 1500 words (+/- 10%) and is in formal report, appropriate to a work environment.
- As appropriate, the report describes the psychotherapy focussed assessment, formulation and treatment planning that was done in collaboration with the client/s.
- The report demonstrates developing competence in psychotherapy assessment, formulation, collaborative treatment planning.
Submission guidelines
Sumission via Turnitin on Learn.UQ (Blackboard).
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Approval by course co-ordinator. Please find information about applying for an assessment extension here.
Late submission
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: Failure to submit any assessment requirements; 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 or major part of assessment is incomplete; 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: Fails to submit all assessment requirements and/or clear deficiencies 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:ﾠStudents 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: Has met but not exceeded minimum assessment criteria; attains the overall pass mark of at least 50% but less than 66% Please note:ﾠTo achieve a grade of 4 or above, students must complete and submit all assessment items. |
| 5 (Credit) | 66 - 75 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Has consistently exceeded the minimum assessment criteria on some assessment items but met only minimum criteria on others; attains an overall mark of at least 66% but less than 76%. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 76 - 85 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Has consistently exceeded minimum assessment criteria and has substantially exceeded minimum requirements on at least some items; attains 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: Has consistently demonstrated outstanding achievement on assessment items when judges against marking criteria; attains an overall mark of at least 86%. |
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
Submission
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (24 Feb - 02 Mar) |
Tutorial |
Introduction to PXMH7111 An overview of PXMH 7111 and introductions. |
Week 2 (03 Mar - 09 Mar) |
Tutorial |
The role of alliance in psychotherapy practice The role of therapeutic alliance in practice. |
Week 3 (10 Mar - 16 Mar) |
Workshop |
Clinical skills in assessment Mental health assessment, assessment for psychotherapy and skills for building working alliance PLEASE NOTE - There is no Thursday night tutorial on 13th March 2025 (workshop week). |
Week 4 (17 Mar - 23 Mar) |
Tutorial |
Standard mental health assessment 1 Skills in standard mental health assessment, formulation and treatment planning |
Week 5 (24 Mar - 30 Mar) |
Tutorial |
Standard mental health assessment 2 Standard mental health assessment, formulation and treatment planning ASSESSMENT 1 Due Thursday 27th March, 2025 13:00hra. |
Week 6 (31 Mar - 06 Apr) |
Tutorial |
Standard mental health assessment 3 Skills in standard mental health assessment |
Week 7 (07 Apr - 13 Apr) |
Tutorial |
Review standard mental health assessment Integration of learnings regarding standard mental health assessment. |
Week 8 (14 Apr - 20 Apr) |
Tutorial |
Reviewing assessment in psychoanalytic therapy Assessment, formulation and treatment planning in psychoanalytic therapy MID SEMESTER BREAK FOLLOWS - NO TUTORIAL 24th April, 2025 |
Week 9 (28 Apr - 04 May) |
Tutorial |
Reviewing assessment in CBT Assessment, formulation and treatment planning in cognitive and behavioural therapy ASSESSMENT 2 Due Thursday 1st May 13:00hrs. |
Week 10 (05 May - 11 May) |
Tutorial |
Reviewing assessment in systemic therapy Assessment, formulation and treatment planning in systemic family therapy - Lisa Hardy and Alex Tregenza |
Week 11 (12 May - 18 May) |
Tutorial |
Reviewing assessment for psychotherapy Revisiting tutorial content. |
Additional learning activity information
ASSESSMENT 3 Due WEEK 13 Thursday 29th May 1300hrs.
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.