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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2024/2025

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences : Psychology

Undergraduate Course: Clinical Psychology in Action (PSYL10184)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course will provide an introduction to the area of Clinical Psychology with the aim of increasing students' knowledge of clinical psychology in practice. This will include an understanding of the role of a clinical psychologist and the areas, clients and difficulties that clinical psychologists work with. It will familiarise students with a range of models and interventions used in clinical psychology, and how psychological theory and research is applied in this field.
Course description The course will cover an introduction to the theoretical, professional and ethical considerations in clinical psychology. The course will coverpresent a brief history of clinical psychology and then address, the core competencies of a clinical psychologists, including ethics and professional guidelines, discussed alongside models of working in the field. Key debates and current issues in clinical psychology will be covered, including formulation/ diagnosis, mental health/ emotions theories and the limitations of the evidence base and clinical psychology practise.

Theoretical models, assessment, formulation and treatment and research will be covered in relation to a range of different client groups - including adult, child and neuropsychology - and a range of difficulties, including anxiety, depression and brain injury. This will include the practical application of the theory and research and an introduction to developing formulations, through a range of case studies. Wider application of clinical psychology theory and research will also be considered including new models of working, leadership & influence, consultation and systemic practise in clinical psychology.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: Psychology 2A (PSYL08011) AND Psychology 2B (PSYL08012)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2024/25, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  0
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 20, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 176 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 70 %, Coursework 30 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Essay (30%) (1000 words)
Exam (70%) (Answer 2 x approx 1000 word essay-style questions)
Feedback 1. In class feedback exercises (e.g. quizzes) will be used to check understanding.

2. Opportunity to raise questions with Dr Hepburn during weekly in-class Q&A/discussion periods, as well as through online discussion board and office hours.

3. Students will take part in discussions as part of lectures, in which they are all expected to read key readings and engage in critical discussion about them. The students will receive oral feedback during the seminars (and everyone should benefit from this feedback)

4. Feedback will be provided on mid -term essay
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May)2:00
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the role of a clinical psychologist, including core competencies and areas of work.
  2. Critically evaluate key professional and ethical debates and issues in the field of clinical psychology 
  3. Describe and critically evaluate current theories, models and research in the area of clinical psychology
  4. Demonstrate an understanding of key factors (including individual, developmental, systemic and cultural) for the development, maintenance and treatment of psychological difficulties
  5. Apply clinical psychology theory and research to understand specific case studies
Reading List
Jones, F. & Hartley, C. (2015). What does a clinical psychologist do? In G. Davey, N. Lake & A. Whittington (Eds.) Clinical Psychology (pp3-18). Hove: Routledge.

Johnstone, L. & Dallos, R. (2014). Introduction to formulation. In L. Johnstone & R. Dallos (Eds.) formulation in Psychology and Psychotherapy: Making Sense of People's Problems (pp1-17). Hove: Routledge.

Division of Clinical Psychology (2011). Good practice guidelines on the use of psychological formulation. Leicester: British Psychological Society.

Carr, A (2012) Clinical Psychology- an introduction. Routledge

Carr A (2016) The Handbook of Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychology
A Contextual Approach. Routledge

Anderson, Winocur & Palmer (2012) Principles of cognitive rehabilitation in
John Marshall , Jennifer Gurd, Udo Kischka The handbook of Clinical neuropsychology
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills The course requires the ability to flexibly integrate knowledge and research from across a range of disciplines to apply within the area of clinical psychology. A non -judgemental and compassionate approach will be developed to understanding clinical needs and difficulties. In addition the ability to think critically and reflectively to apply theories and models to understand psychological difficulties is central to the course.
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