Intervention in Problems of Young People

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2011:

Attendance at all classes (tutorial/seminars/practical classes/lectures/labs) is obligatory. Failure to attend 80% of classes will normally result in failure in the subject.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the HDisability Liaison Unit websiteH: Hhttp://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/H

The content of the unit deals with an introduction to major approaches such as: Adlerian Psychotherapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, Systems Theory and Humanistic Psychotherapy. A limited number of approaches to intervention from early childhood (e. g. Play Therapy), through to adulthood (e.g. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy), are considered in greater detail. These approaches are examined as they contribute to the treatment of the major developmental problems of childhood and adolescence and their manifestations in an educational setting, such as, for example, depression, mood disorders, anxiety, PTSD, substance abuse and sleep disorders. Assessment of the problem involves a systemic approach using DSM IV diagnostic criteria, complemented by an understanding of psychopathology and psychopharmacology. An understanding of the genesis and maintenance of problems, taking into account the social context, is the basis for selecting the most appropriate tools for intervention. The focus is on the development of resilience and psychosocial competence.

Attendance at all classes (tutorial/seminars/practical classes/lectures/labs) is obligatory. Failure to attend 80% of classes will normally result in failure in the subject.

Thompson Prout, H. and Brown, D.T. Counseling and Psychotherapy with Children and Adolescents Theory and Practice for School and Clinical Settings, Fourth Edition, John Wiley & Sons, 2007.

Wilmshurst, L. (2005). Child Psychopathology. New jersey: Wiley and Sons.

Kelsey, J.E., Newport, D., Nemeroff, C. (2006).Psychopharmacology for Mental Health Professionals. New Jersey: Wiey and Sons.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Generic Skills

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

• understand the major psychological theories of intervention;
• review the major psychological theories of intervention, consider their applications in dealing with particular problems of childhood and adolescence;
• gain the skills to determine the appropriateness of a particular intervention approach to the assessment and treatment of common problems of childhood such as depression, developmental delays, under achievement, ADHD;
• become conversant with one particular approach to intervention;
• apply an intervention in a systematic manner to a major problem of childhood and adolescence;
• be able to promote the healthy development of young people.