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Course profile

Clinical Skills in Psychotherapy 4: Working with complexity (PXMH7114)

Study period
Sem 2 2024
Location
Herston
Attendance mode
In Person

Course overview

Study period
Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
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 fourth psychotherapy skills course you will develop your skills in assessment of mental health issues in people with complex presentations and will develop skills in formulation and treatment planning for psychotherapy interventions with complex presentations. Psychotherapy Field of Study requirements will be met by this course.

Semester 2 offering is in-person (or on-campus) and is the normal study mode for this course. Semester 1 offering is for international students only and has restricted access, with Head of School permission required for enrolment. Students requesting external enrolment in Semester 1 must contact med.enquiries@uq.edu.au

This course addresses the challenges of managing clinical complexity. We will explore why complex clinical presentations often defy conventional approaches and prove difficult to manage. Together, we will develop creative and innovative methods to deliver mental health services to individuals who struggle to access traditional mental health and psychotherapy options.

Course requirements

Recommended prerequisites

We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:

PXMH7111 and PXMH7112

Incompatible

You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:

PXMH7049

Course contact

Course staff

Lecturer

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

Additional information will be provided via Learn.UQ.

Aims and outcomes

This course focuses on dealing with clinical complexity. We will examine aspects of why complex clinical presentations are so difficult to manage and hard to apply the tried and trusted clinical approaches. We will work towards creative, innovative ways to provide appropriate mental health services to people who find it difficult to access traditional mental health and psychotherapy services. 

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

LO1.

Critically engage with contemporary approaches to people with complex and hard to treat mental health disorders.

LO2.

Critically engage with contemporary approaches to vulnerable people with structural barriers to appropriate mental health care.

LO3.

Demonstrate capacity to assess and, where appropriate, initiate and sustain psychotherapy for people with complex and treatment resistant presentations.

Assessment

Assessment summary

Category Assessment task Weight Due date
Essay/ Critique Learning from complexity
  • Hurdle
  • Online
40%

26/08/2024 1:00 pm

Presentation Complex clinical challenges
  • Hurdle
60%

Week 13

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

Learning from complexity

  • Hurdle
  • Online
Mode
Written
Category
Essay/ Critique
Weight
40%
Due date

26/08/2024 1:00 pm

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03

Task description

Write a 2000-word essay reflecting on your experience of engaging with interviews conducted with clinicians who have navigated and learned from clinical challenges. Conclude your essay with a clear statement about what insights and lessons you will incorporate into your own practice.

Hurdle requirements

You must complete and submit all assessment items to pass the course.

Submission guidelines

Submission instructions will be provided via Learn.UQ.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Late submission

Assessments submitted after the due date without an approved extension will receive a late penalty.

Complex clinical challenges

  • Hurdle
Mode
Activity/ Performance
Category
Presentation
Weight
60%
Due date

Week 13

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03

Task description

Identify a complex clinical problem in mental health and psychotherapy that presents a challenge to you or other clinicians. This could involve a specific social or cultural population, a diagnostic group, or a feature of the clinical presentation. You should:

  1. Describe the problem in detail.
  2. Identify its central characteristics.
  3. Summarise what is known about this problem from research and clinical literature.
  4. Propose strategies for clinicians and services to overcome barriers to achieving good outcomes for these clients or potential clients.

You will present your findings in a 30-minute presentation to your peers, followed by a 30-minute discussion focused on resolving barriers to effective outcomes.

Hurdle requirements

You must complete and submit all assessment items to pass the course.

Submission guidelines

Submission instructions will be provided via Learn.UQ.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Late submission

Assessments submitted after the due date without an approved extension will receive a late penalty.

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.

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.

3 (Marginal Fail) 45 - 49

Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes

Course grade description: Fails to submit some assessment requirements and/or clear deficiencies when submitted assessment material is evaluated against marking criteria.

4 (Pass) 50 - 65

Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes.

Course grade description: Has met but not exceeded minimum assessment criteria.

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.

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.

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.

Additional course grading information

You 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

Theᅠassessment tasks in this course evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conductᅠunless otherwise indicated by the Course Coordinator. If indicated by the course coordinator to use AI, students must clearly reference any use of AI in each instance. A failure to reference AI use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Refer to the following guide regarding referencing ofᅠAI: Overview - ChatGPT and other generative AI tools - Library Guides at University of Queensland Library

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.

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Learning period Activity type Topic
Multiple weeks
General contact hours

Interviews about working with complexity

Learning outcomes: L01, L02

General contact hours

PXMH7114 orientation

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03

Seminar

Why is it so difficult to change?

Learning outcomes: L01, L02

Seminar

Living at the Borders

Learning outcomes: L01, L02

Seminar

Student Presentations 1

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03

Seminar

Student Presentations 2

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03

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:

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.