Basic Psychodynamic & Organizational theory, skills & principles of practice (Children and Adolescents)

• Credit value: 30 credits at Level 7
• Assessment: a 5000-word essay (100%)

This module builds on the main principles of psychodynamic theory, exploration of psychodynamic concepts and underlying philosophy, with a specific emphasis on psychoanalysis of children and adolescents. It continues the main principles of organisational theory and thinking, so as to enhance understanding of practice in an organisational context and prepare for the Group Relations Conference which you will attend at the beginning of Year 3 (MSc in Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy).

The provision of group relations conferences on this programme is currently under review as part of a wider syllabus review and may be subject to change.

indicative module Syllabus

• Building on concepts of psychodynamic theory (unconscious, repression, resistance, transference, defences, inner world etc)
• An introduction to the work of Freud, Klein and Winnicott
• Human growth and personality development
• Developmental perspective on understanding of specific emotional disorders in childhood and adolescence
• Furthering understanding of organisational ideas (organisation as a system, concepts of role, boundary, leadership etc)

By the end of this module, you will:

• have a critical understanding of the foundations of theoretical and practical principles of psychodynamic counselling/therapy
• have a basic understanding of different theoretical frameworks
• understand healthy emotional development and emotional disturbances
• have developed a high capacity to understand and use psychoanalytic and psychodynamic principles to increase knowledge of both theory and practice, of personality development, of the inner and outer worlds of the client and of the institutional and group influences on personal development.