On completion of the DPC (Advanced), participants will have:

• Established knowledge of the structure and psychodynamic theory relating to development in children and adolescents.
• Established an understanding of the principles and practice in working with children and adolescents, and their famliies and systems that support them, from both structured and psychodynamic perspectives.
• Developed skills in formulation and treatment of children and adolescents, and the families and systems that support them.

The DPC Advanced can be completed as theory only, or theory + skills.

Theory

Offered over three terms (dates to be announced) on Wednesdays mornings, from 9:30am to 12:00 midday at Mindful.

Term 1: Using theory to understand the relational world of children and adolescents

• Introduction and overview of the unit and course
• Attachment and interpersonal neurobiology
• General psychodynamic theory as it relates to working with children and adolescents
• General psychodynamic theorgy as it relates to working with parents and systems
• General structured theory as it relates to working with children and adolescents
• General structured theory as it relates to working with parents and systems
• Ideas from family therapy
• Working with those we identify as 'others': the role of culture
• Practical implications (assessing developmental level for the purposes of therapy; reviewing what is working and what is not; self-care for clinicians).

Term 2:  Working wth children

• Introduction and overview of the unit and course: how working with children is different to working with adolescents and adults
• The beginning of therapy: engagement, assessment and containment (developing a therapeutic relationship)
• Formulation and intervention with children from psychodynamic perspectives
• The additional role of structured perspectives in formulation and intervention with children
• Using psychodynamic perspectives in supporting parents of children
• The additional role of structured perspectives in supporting parents of children
• Working with systems that support children
• Endings
• Bringing it all together.

Term 3:  Working with Adolescents

• Introduction and overview of the unit and course: how working with adolescents is different to working with children and adults
• The beginning of therapy: engagement, assessment and containment (developing a therapeutic relationship and managing risk)
• Formulation and intervention with adolescents from psychodynamic perspectives
• The additional role of structured perspectives in formulation and intervention with adolescents
• Using psychodynamic perspectives in supporting parents of adolescents
• Structured perspectives in supporting parents of adolescents: single session family consultation
• Working with systems that support adolescents using cognitive analytic therapy
• Endings.

Skills

Two 12-week blocks of small group, in-depth clinical supervision with experienced mental health clinicians, run during Terms 2 and 3 only.

Term 2:  Working with children (approx. 1.5-2 hour supervision sessions)

• Small group supervision of therapeutic work with children with mental health difficulties

Term 3:  Working with adolescents (approx 1.5-2 hour supervision sessions)

• Small group supervision of therapeutic work with adolescents with mental health difficulties.

Assessment

Theory

• Attendance at a minimum of 80% of classes
• Satisfactory completion of in-session assessment tasks presenting relevant readings to the group, with an eye to implications for clinical practice with children and adolescents (as evaluated by the lecturer).

Skills

• Attendance at a minimum of 80% of supervision sessions
• Appropriate participation in supervision (as evaluated by the supervisor)

Certification

A certificate of completion will be available to those who successfully complete these requirements.

Successful completion of the Developmental Psychiatry Course (DPC) or equivalent (assessed by the Course Coordinator).

Selection Criteria:

Theory Only

• A relevant undergraduate qualification plus completion of the DPC (or equivalent)

Theory + Skills

• A relevant undergraduate qualification, completion of the DPC (or equivalent) and employment within a service that provides the applicant with access to children and/or adolescents plus appropriate line management supervision in therapeutic work with them.

Consideration may be given to applicants who do not meet these criteria - please contact the Course Coordinator.

Cost

Theory Only:  $3,000 (plus GST)
Theory + Skllls:  $4,530 (plus GST)


Application Form and Closing Date

The 2019 applicatiion form is available for download here.

Pleae complete all fields and return (with required attachments) to the following email address:
[email protected]  [If you use the hotlink provided on the front page to Submit, please remember to send other documentation such as transcripts by follow-up email. Thank you.]

Applications close at 5:00pm on Friday 14 December 2018.