Department of Psychiatry

Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Sciences
(Child, Adolescent and Family Therapies)

Summary

Introduction

The Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Sciences (Child, Adolescent and Family Therapies) is designed to teach therapeutic skills to professionals working in the child, adolescent and family mental health field.

The course builds a foundation knowledge in cognitive-behavioural, psychodynamic, and family systems therapies. Significant attention is directed towards engagement, and skills and strategies used in therapeutic work with children, adolescents, and families. Course participants are encouraged to explore an eclectic mix of techniques, use these in their clinical work, and to discuss this work in the clinical supervision sessions. These sessions create an ideal method by which the trainee learns therapeutic concepts/techniques, applies them in practice, and then refines and extends these in the clinical practicum.

Trainees will learn how to develop individually tailored therapy for working with children, adolescents, parents, and families. The role of the child's network and liaison with other professionals will also be explored as a part of therapeutic work.

The Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Sciences (Child, Adolescent and Family Therapies) is offered by the Department of Psychiatry within the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne. It is held at mindful - centre for training and research in developmental health, Austin Repatriation Hospital . Mindful draws on the services of well-experienced clinicians to contribute to the theoretical and clinical components of the course.

Course Objectives

On completion of this course participants will have:

  1. Acquired an advanced knowledge of the theoretical principals of the most commonly employed effective clinical treatment modalities, so as to enable conceptualisation of presenting problems from a variety of perspectives
  2. enhanced their skills in the appropriate application of specific interventions which are employed within the most commonly used effective clinical treatment modalities
  3. developed a sound understanding of the rationale for deciding upon a specific treatment, from a range of possible treatments

Generic Skills

This course facilitates the development of particular generic skills. On completion of the course, students should be able to:

  1. value the contributions made by a range of theorists and practitioners to the field of child, adolescent, and family mental health
  2. critically evaluate the contributions of different theorists and practitioners
  3. use information derived from the assessment of a child, adolescent, or family, to develop a treatment plan
  4. evaluate the effectiveness of an implemented treatment plan and make modifications as appropriate
  5. prepare a written review of theoretical approaches in work with children, adolescents, parents, and families
  6. make effective use of the supervision process as a means of improving clinical skills and of ensuring appropriate clinical work is conducted with children, adolescents, parents, and families
  7. present case material for the consideration of colleagues
  8. constructively reflect upon colleagues' clinical work
  9. utilise problem-solving skills in responding independently to the needs of children, adolescents, parents, and families in treatment
  10. prepare a report of clinical work conducted with children, adolescents, parents, and families
  11. participate productively in a team of helping professionals
  12. provide effective treatments within child, adolescent and family treatment settings

Course Structure

The course is conducted on a two year part-time basis - one half day per week over four 12 week semesters. It requires the completion of four coursework subjects - which each have a written assessment of between 3,000 to 5,000 words; four clinical practicums - which each have a written case assessment of 2,500 to 4,000 words, and a log of clinical contacts. Coursework subjects comprise seminars combining didactic teaching with discussion and experiential learning. The four coursework subjects are:

Clinical practicums comprise closely supported training in the application of various forms of clinical work through close supervision with well-experienced clinicians. The four clinical practicums are:

Whilst participating in each of these clinical practicums, students must work with the relevant population, eg., during the “Working With Children” practicum, trainees must have direct therapeutic contact with children aged 0 – 12 years. Applicants who do not have the required access to children, adolescents, or families are helped to seek opportunities for access through other services.

The course assumes a working knowledge of normal/abnormal development, child, adolescent, and family assessment, and clinical formulation skills. Participants who do not have this experience are encouraged to undertake the Developmental Psychiatry Course offered at Mindful.

Selection Criteria

  1. Graduates with a relevant undergraduate degree (e.g. psychology, occupational therapy, speech pathology, general or psychiatric nursing, social work, education, medicine, or other similar disciplines)
  2. Sufficient experience and/or prior training in conducting assessments with children, adolescents and families with a variety of social, emotional, behavioural, and developmental difficulties. The completion of the Developmental Psychiatry Course is highly recommended
  3. Employment (full-time or part-time) within a service which provides access to children and/or adolescents and/or families

Course Dates, Times and Fees

Dates:

Times:

Venue:

Fees:

Please contact the Course Administrator, or Admissions.

Further Information

To receive an application form or a course handbook, or to discuss your professional development interests, please contact:

Dr Sophie Havighurst, Course Coordinator or
Ms Toni Langley, Course Administrator

mindful - Centre for Training and Research in Developmental Health
50 Flemington St
Flemington, Vic 3031
T: +61 3 9371 0200
F: +61 3 9371 0250
Email: tlangley@unimelb.edu.au

mindful course details

Applications must be submitted by the 30th June (mid-year intake) or 30th of November. Late applications will be considered only if places are available within the quota. The course will be run subject to sufficient enrolments.

The information in this document is correct at the time of publication. The University of Melbourne reserves the right to make any necessary amendments.

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