The training associated with the requirements for membership of the VCPA is the Master of Child Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (MCPP), Department of Psychological Medicine, Monash University, or its equivalent.
Master of Child Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
The aim of this course is to provide the professional skills required to undertake the assessment and psychotherapy of children, adolescents and parents, for those professionals working with children, adolescents and parents.
Candidates for this course must have a primary undergraduate degree in a related area, a minimum of two years working in the field and be working in a child mental health clinic or in a setting where there is ongoing work in evaluating and treating children, adolescents and parents.
The course is part time over four years.
The objectives of the four-year course are:
- To offer teaching and supervision towards the acquiring of psychoanalytic psychotherapy skills in working with children, adolescents and parents. Throughout the course, didactic seminars, case conferences, observations and supervision of psychotherapy with children, adolescents and parents will occur.
- To provide the opportunity for mental health professionals from various disciplines to:
- Examine critically the theoretical and research bases of the practice of child psychotherapy in the context of ongoing clinical skills training in this area;
- Understand the research methodology in this field; and
- Contribute to the body of knowledge in this field by means of a substantial piece of scholarship.
The long term objective is to raise the academic and clinical standard of child psychotherapy and encourage scholarship and research in this field.
STRUCTURE OF THE COURSE WORK
Outline of First Year of Course
a) Seminars: The seminar component of the first year of the course concentrates on introduction to psychoanalytic theories, looking at various theorists perspectives, theories of development, psychopathology, ethics, assessment, infant-parent work, child psychotherapy, adolescent psychotherapy, short term therapy and crisis work, parent therapy and the family.
b) Observation: The aim of the observation is for the student to observe the ongoing development of children at different ages and the development of the childs interactions with people, particularly its parents.
c) Clinical Supervision: Students will be provided with three hours of supervision, to work with a child, adolescent and parents in an ongoing way and allow for an in-depth understanding of the process of psychotherapy. Initially this supervision will be of assessment and assessment for psychotherapy.
Outline of Second Year of Course
a) Seminars: Seminars in this year will be on psychoanalytic theories, psychopathology, ethics, consultation and research.
b) Observation: The observation component in the second year will be for students to observe the ongoing development of a child from birth until at least 12 months. Students are expected to observe a child for one hour per week. Records of observation are to be presented in turn by the students on a weekly basis at an infant observation seminar.
On completion of the infant observation, students are required to submit a written account of their observation.
c) Clinical Supervision: Students will receive three hours of clinical supervision and it is expected that they will have children, adolescents and parents in therapy to present to their supervisors. It is expected that at least one of the individual therapy training cases will be seen twice a week during the course.
Outline of Third Year of Course
a) Seminars: Seminars this year will continue with psychoanalytic theories, psychopathology, groups and organisations, clinical issues, and research. Seminars will also be held on thesis writing.
b) Work Study Seminars: A work-study seminar will be held on a weekly basis where students bring detailed accounts of an aspect of their work for discussion. The aim of the work-study seminar is to develop observation skills and sensitivity to the processes occurring within their work at an individual, group and organisational level. A report on the experience of the work-study seminar is to be submitted for assessment on completion of the seminar.
c) Clinical Supervision: Students will continue to receive three hours of supervision of their child, adolescent and parent psychotherapy cases, as in the second year.
d) A research workshop is held regularly in the third and fourth years of the course where students bring their research ideas for discussion with the training group and staff.
Outline of Fourth Year of Course
Completion of the Minor Thesis: The minor thesis will be approximately 12,000 words and show wide reading and understanding of the subject selected for the thesis. The minor thesis should be an original work and be a critical review of an idea or concept in child psychotherapy. It may take the form of:
a) a research project or design for one, including a critical review of literature;
b) an infant observation project linked to relevant theoretical discussion and review of literature; or
c) an in-depth clinical case study linked to relevant theoretical discussion and review of literature.
Personal Therapy is not a pre-requisite for candidates but is recommended.
The Victorian Child Psychotherapists Association and other professional psychotherapy associations require applicants for membership of the associations to have had a minimum of three years of at least twice-weekly non-rebateable personal psychoanalytic psychotherapy or psychoanalysis that is concurrent with other components of their clinical training. This therapy should be with a therapist accredited by the psychotherapy association.
Completed applications are to be forwarded to the Course Administrator.
Applications close on 30th November each year..
Application forms are available from the Course Administrator or the University web site at http://www.med.monash.edu.au/spppm/pgrad/deg.html#m-org
Further information
Contact the Course Administrator:
Email: childpsychotherapy@med.monash.edu.au
Master of Child Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
Mindful Centre for Training & Research in Developmental Health
Building 36
Repatriation Campus, Austin Health
Heidelberg Vic 3084 Australia
Tel: (03) 9496 4118 Fax: (03) 9499 9120
Related Training Programs:
http://www.med.monash.edu.au/spppm/pgrad/mcpp.html
Graduate Diploma of Child Psychotherapy Studies, Department of Psychological Medicine, Monash University
http://www.med.monash.edu.au/spppm/pgrad/gdcps.html
Graduate Diploma in Infant Mental Health, University of Melbourne
Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Services
Masters in Infant Mental Health, University of Melbourne
http://www.psychiatry.unimelb.edu.au/courses/infant/minfant.html
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