Course Syllabus

European Clinical Psychology C

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Semester & Location:

Spring 2019 - DIS Copenhagen

Type & Credits:

Core Course - 3 credits

Core Course Study Tours:

Vienna, Austria

Major Disciplines:

Human Development, Pre-Medicine/Health Science, Psychology

Faculty Members:

Christina Mavroudi

Program Director:

Carla Caetano - cca@dis.dk 

Program Assistant: 

Carolyn Goddard - cgo@dis.dk 

Time & Place:

Monday & Thursday 11.40-13.00, N7-B13

Description of Course

Prerequisites: A course in Psychology at the university level.

This course deals with how clinical psychology is approached within a European context. More specifically, we will have the opportunity to go through the historical and social background under which clinical psychology appeared and evolved in Europe. In parallel, we will correlate the European approach to clinical psychology to the American one, identifying their differences and how they influenced one another. Throughout the course, we will study different major psychotherapeutic schools and their view on the etiology of psychological problems and treatment. The course will mainly focus on adult mental health.

The course aspires to combine theory and praxis and to promote critical thinking. To achieve this, the lectures are enriched with case studies and real life experiences which will be analyzed in class and constitute the object of group discussions. In addition, the course will provide students with the opportunity to explore the practice of clinical psychology in Denmark and Austria through study tours. At the end of the semester we will conclude our journey in European clinical psychology by focusing on how it is practiced in France, which has an important contribution to the field.

Learning Objectives

In this course, you will learn to reflect critically on theory, application and research within the field of clinical psychology. You will be asked to evaluate different perspectives, concepts and practices throughout the semester. The course is designed to help you begin thinking about specific approaches to treating a variety of clients

During our field studies and study tours you will also see how clinical psychology is applied in real world settings, where you will be able to analyze, compare and contrast different perspectives in selected European clinical contexts.

More specifically, you will:

  • Become familiar with important concepts and issues surrounding the field of clinical psychology in Europe.
  • Be introduced to the history and evolution of clinical psychology in Europe.
  • Become familiar with some of the most prevalent psychotherapeutic approaches in clinical practice
  • Define, understand and use the terminology of these major psychotherapeutic schools.
  • Analyze case studies and argue for a specific treatment approach.
  • Understand the major foundational skills in psychotherapy, i.e. empathy, active listening, and recognizing different worldviews.
  • Think divergently about a single phenomenon.
  • Be able to reflect on what we learn during lectures and during study tours and synthesize these two experiences

Faculty

Christina Mavroudi
M.Sc. in Psychoanalysis (University Paul-Valéry Montpellier III, France, 2014). M.Sc. in Clinical psychology/psychopathology (University Bordeaux Segalen 2, France, 2013). B.Sc. in Psychology (Panteion University, Athens, Greece, 2012). Worked as clinical psychologist in various mental health institutions and psychiatric hospitals in Greece and France. Faculty member with the Department of Psychology at DIS since 2017.
Email: cris.mavroudi@gmail.com

 

Readings 

  1. Required Textbook (Available in DIS Library): Pomerantz, A.M. (2013). Clinical Psychology. Science, practice, and culture. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
  2. Required Articles and Other Media on Canvas: Articles required for every class are uploaded to the calendar and to Canvas. Additional articles or other material will be added to Canvas based on students' interest and needs.

Field Studies

Field studies serve to complement your course work by placing you in the professional field. Students will be asked to compare, extend and rethink what we read about and discuss in class.

 

  • Thu. February 7th  14.00-15.30 (Core Course Week): Center for Familieudvikling (Center for Family Development)

"Safety and well-being for children and adults''

The Center for Family Development is an independent, nonprofit organization that works for peace and well-being in the relationships between people. The center is specialised in family relationships trying to reinforce the individual, the parents and their relationships with their children and to strengthen close relationships and prevent mistakes through information, education and psychotherapy - for the benefit of children, young people and adults. They also work on the family functioning and well-being after a divorce through counseling and therapy sessions, specialised courses but also conversation groups for divorced parents. The Center for Family Development offers counseling, therapy and specialized courses for family development and wellness, but also for individual issues like depression, anxiety or OCD.

 

  • Wed. April 3rd 13.00 - 14.30: Snoezelhuset (The Snoezel House)

''Rest your head here - Therapeutical rooms and spaces''

The word “Snoezelen” is a combination of two Dutch words “snuffelen” and doezelen”, which means to “explore” and “to doze”. Snoezelen or controlled multisensory environment (MSE) is a therapy for people with autism and other developmental disabilities, dementia or brain injury. It consists of placing the person in a soothing and stimulating environment, called ''Snoezelen room''. These rooms are specially designed to deliver stimuli to various senses, using lighting effects, color, sounds, music, scents, etc. The combination of different materials on a wall may be explored using tactile senses, and the floor may be adjusted to stimulate the sense of balance.

The MSE in Gentofte is divided into four rooms and a hall, each of which offers different controlled stimulation to either awake or attenuate the senses.

The person is usually accompanied by an aid or therapist.

 

Core Course Week and Study Tours

Core Course week and study tours are an integral part of the core course as we take the classroom on the road to see how theory presented in the classroom is translated to practice in the field. You will travel with your classmates and DIS faculty/staff on two study tours; a short study tour during Core Course Week and a long study tour to a relevant European destination.

Expectations for study tours:

  • Participate in all activities
  • Engage in discussions, ask questions, and contribute to achieving the learning objectives
  • Respect the destination, the speakers, DIS staff, and your fellow classmates
  • Represent yourself, your home university and DIS in a positive light

While on a program study tour DIS will provide hostel/hotel accommodation, transportation to/from the destination(s), approx. 2 meals per day and entrances, guides, and visits relevant to your area of study or the destination. You will receive a more detailed itinerary prior to departure.

 

Core Course Week with Short Study Tour

Theme: Treatment and service in the welfare state – experiences and perspectives from the daily life of clients and practitioners

Purpose: This study tour provides you with the opportunity to explore the field of clinical psychology and various practices in Denmark. Academic visits on tour will include meeting with psychological consultants and visiting healthcare institutions.

In addition to the academic activities on study tour, the study tour program is supplemented with cultural visits and events. In the past, cultural visits have included touring castles, museum visits, and experiencing traditional Danish food at a local restaurant.

Timing: Core Course Week: February 4th - February 8th 

Orientation: The study tour activities will be presented to you in the week before departure and a study tour booklet containing your itinerary will be posted on Canvas.

 

Long Study Tour - Vienna

Themes: The Roots of Clinical European Psychology and Therapeutic Interventions

Purpose: On the tour to Vienna, you will be able to explore the roots of clinical psychology, ranging from Freudian to present-day techniques.  The tour will also allow you to explore the culture of the city more thoroughly by attending performances, visiting museum exhibitions, and exploring how the past influences today’s European clinical psychologists.

Timing: Sunday, March 3rd - Friday, March 8th 

Orientation: The study tour activities will be presented to you in the week before departure and a study tour booklet containing your itinerary will be posted on Canvas.

 

Guest Lecturers

Jan, 31st: Psychologist and Psychodynamic psychotherapist Heidi Rose

Heidi is an authorized psychologist and member of the Danish Psychologist’s Association. She is a specialist and supervisor in psychotherapy and child psychology and also works with management, supervision and organizational development at institutions for children and adolescents, milieu-therapeutic treatment centers and crisis centers. This guest lecture will offer a deeper insight into the Psychoanalytical/ Psychodynamic approach and its current clinical applications. We will have the opportunity to see how it has evolved, how widespread it is nowadays in Europe, Denmark and US, for what kind of disorders/ populations it is more appropriate, etc. 

 

March, 18th: Psychologist and psychotherapist Cristina Montoro
An integrative clinical approach- humanistic & cognitive-behavioral: ''According to my professional experience there isn’t an approach better than others within the field of psychology or psychotherapy. I use models, techniques and concepts from psychodynamic, humanistic, cognitive and behavioral approaches to work with a wide range of mental health problems. The main concept I base my practice on is that all individuals are unique but also share some crucial similarities, beyond sex, race, culture and social status.''

Approach to Teaching

My teaching style is based on the promotion of discussion, interaction and critical thinking. The idea is to create an open and interactive class, where there will be space for questions, discussions and personal critical thinking. Practically, you will be asked to actively and critically reflect on the theoretical and clinical material, which will be presented in class. In this context, there will be reflection group discussions and exercises based on material that will be provided. All questions and opinions are welcome with respect to one another within the context of a constructive dialogue. Every personal experience revealed in class and the presented clinical cases will be confidential, meaning that personal information identifying the person won’t be revealed or accessible.

Each class will be based on readings from your textbook and/or on articles or other material given to you in advance. These readings will constitute the base of every lecture, which will be expanded further including elements from additional sources, like books, papers, my personal clinical experience etc. It is very important though that you have read the given material beforehand, so that you can easily follow and better understand every lecture, ask productive questions and of course prepare continuously for the exam.

I am available to you for any further information, clarification, question or observation before and after class. You can also contact me via e-mail, which I will try to answer within 24 hours.

Expectations of the Students

You must attend every class. Excused absence includes serious illness and participation in religious holidays. All other absences are unexcused. If you must miss a class, please contact me as soon as possible. After 2 unexplained absences, the DIS Teaching and Learning office will be notified.

Active participation in class includes reading ahead of each class and contributing to class discussions and group activities based on academic knowledge and personal reflections.

To be eligible for a passing grade in this class you must complete all of the assigned work.

Evaluation

The evaluation will be performed based on the combination of the students' gained knowledge with their ability to reflect critically on theory, application and research within the field of clinical psychology. This will be the cornerstone of both the discussions in the lectures, the assignments and the written exams given to them. It is expected that the students through the course will further develop both academically and personally.

Grading

 

Assignment

Percent

Attendance/Participation

15%

 Core Course Week Reflection Paper

15%

 Midterm exam

25%

Long Study Tour Related Paper

20%

Final exam

25%

Total

100%

Policies

Attendance

You are expected to attend all classes, guest lectures, workshops and field studies. If you must miss a class for religious holidays, medical reasons, or other valid reasons, you must let us know as far in advance as possible of the absence and obtain information about the work you must do to keep up in class. If you miss a class for any other reason (sudden illness, family emergency, etc.), you should get in touch with us as soon as possible and arrange to make up the work missed.

It is crucial for your learning that you stay on task and hand in assignments on or before the due date. All work– including in-class projects – have to be completed in order to pass the class. 

Academic Honesty

Plagiarism and Violating the Rules of an Assignment

DIS expects that students abide by the highest standards of intellectual honesty in all academic work. DIS assumes that all students do their own work and credit all work or thought taken from others.   Academic dishonesty will result in a final course grade of “F” and can result in dismissal. The students’ home universities will be notified. DIS reserves the right to request that written student assignments be turned in electronic form for submission to plagiarism detection software.  See the Academic Handbook for more information, or ask your instructor if you have questions.

Policy on late papers 

Late essays will be accepted for up to 3 days after the deadline, but the grade for the paper will be reduced by half a grade for each day that it is late.

Policy for students who arrive late to class

Please come to classes on time as it is disturbing for the lecturer and other students. Repeated lateness will result in a referral to the head of the Office of Acadenic Support.

Use of laptops or phones in class

To establish a positive learning environment, it is important that everyone is present in body and mind, and not distructed by technology or other disruptive behaviors. Therefore, the use of laptops and or phones/tablets is not allowed neither in class nor during study tour visits.

DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia - www.disabroad.org

 

Academic Regulations  

Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:

Course Summary:

Date Details Due