Integrative Psychotherapy MSc

This module will build on the theory of personhood and pathology established in PTM702 and introduce an interlinked set of conceptual frameworks which will support change-focused work at psychological depth.

Aspects of psychodynamic theory and practice including key concepts such as transference/countertransference will be introduced alongside a human development framework. Students will learn how to conceptualise the relationship between current distress, immediate developmental transitions and key moments from across the individual life span. The neurological substrata of psychological distress will be introduced and students will have an opportunity to explore and reflect upon cultural and social variation in expected developmental attainment.

Alongside these frameworks, students will learn about the significance of different time frames in therapeutic work and how to manage the beginning, middle and end of a clinical engagement. Current best practice on how to work with common presenting issues including depression, loss, anxiety and trauma will also be introduced.

This module provides a foundational introduction to the theoretical architecture of the taught integrative approach. It also provides a comprehensive overview of issues of ethical and professional practice, including an introduction to professional and frameworks including safeguarding requirements and current mental health systems. After introducing the overall integrative framework, the module provides a thorough grounding in Gestalt theory, introduces the theory of personhood outlines in psychodynamic approaches and shows the points of interconnection between them. The encultured and social nature of personhood will also be introduced in terms compatible with the overall relational stance of the training.

The explicit aim of the foundational module is to provide the student with enough theory and knowledge to begin clinical practice and to manage professional expectations around ethical decision making, risk and safeguarding and liaising with adjacent professionals.

Assessment component 3 performs gatekeeping requirements for commencing clinical practice.

This module aims to prepare students with the knowledge and skills necessary to manage more advanced clinical practice.

It completes the phased teaching of the Birmingham Newman integrative approach by introducing key concepts and working strategies from cognitive behaviour and constructivist approaches to clinical work which support clients to make more deliberate and experimental changes. Students will also be invited to learn, appraise and critically reflect upon the ethos and frameworks of psychotherapy integration as a prelude to completing the knowing assembly of their own integrative approach.

Alongside this theoretical learning, students will learn to apply and critique existing best practice knowledge from within the field on working with more complex client difficulties. Material on working with different complex and characterological difficulties will be introduced with an eye on application.