CLINCAL COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Please note the availability of these
courses varies. Many of these courses are offered in alternating
years.
Psychopathology Courses
PSYC 510 (3), Descriptive Psychopathology (Hewitt)
This course provides a critical overview of
psychological disorders as conceptualized in several
diagnostic systems. The focus is on the signs,
symptoms, and syndromes of psychopathology and the DSM-IV
diagnostic criteria for psychiatric
disorders. The course goal is to
provide students with the foundation to
competently make differential diagnoses
of mental disorders in clinical and research contexts, and
think critically about approaches to conceptualizing
psychopathology.
PSYC 535 (3), Psychopathology
of the Adult (Brenner)
This is a seminar on experimental
psychopathology. It focuses on current theories of
etiology and phenomenology for the major psychiatric disorders, as well
as empirical research testing the validity of these
conceptualizations. This is a research-oriented course (no
practicum element), and students will be expected to apply what they
learn to the design and analysis of research projects in experimental
psychopathology. It presupposes some knowledge of abnormal
psychology and familiarity with the DSM-IV.
PSYC 536 (3), Psychopathology of the Child (Johnston - not
offered in 2012-2013)
This course presents an overview of
childhood disorders, with an emphasis on descriptive information,
theoretical formulations, and empirical findings. The course includes
coverage of the history, issues and methodologies of developmental
psychopathology research. The course goal is to familiarize students with
current research findings and issues in child psychopathology research.
Assessment Courses
PSYC 530
(3), Assessment: A Critical Survey (Brenner)
This
course provides an overview of basic psychometric issues, issues in
clinical judgment and prediction, intellectual assessment, and achievement
assessment of children, adolescents, and adults. The goal is coverage of
fundamental issues in evidence-based assessment and the development of
competent administration and interpretation skills by using common
assessment devices (e.g, WAIS-IV, WISC-IV, WIAT) as examples.
PSYC 531 (3), Assessment: Clinical Implications
(Mikami)
The focus of this course is an overview of issues in the
evidence-based assessment of child, adolescent and adult psychopathology
and personality. A practical, hands-on approach to fostering the
development of competent administration and interpretation skills is taken
by using common assessment devices (e.g, MMPI-2, SCID, SCID-II, CBCL,
KSADS) as examples. Students complete a comprehensive assessment of a test
case.
PSYC 532 (3), Child Assessment (BCCH
staff psychologists - not offered in 2012-2013)
This course is
intended to provide students with a basic introduction to the
administration, scoring and interpretation of those intelligence tests
most widely used with children (WISC-IV, WPPSI-III, Stanford-Binet-5).
Clinical and psychometric uses of these tools are discussed and critiqued,
and there are demonstrations.
PSYC 533c (3),
Medical-Legal Assessment (Koch)
This course provides an
overview of psychological injuries (PI) assessment within torts litigation
and other disability claims settings. Psychological injuries are
emotional conditions and stress-related mental disorders that may occur
secondary to physical or mental trauma and are associated with work and
personal disability, excessive medical care utilization, and emotional
suffering. The course will cover the legal and psychological
developments of these constructs, empirical background of PI, common
legal questions, empirical assessment methods, gaps between empirical
assessment methods and necessary legal questions, and common pitfalls
that plague psychologists and psychiatrists practicing in this
area. Case materials will be regularly used to stimulate
discussion, students will be asked to write reports based on case data,
cross-examine other students' with respect to their reports, and write a
literature review within a relevant sub-area.
Therapy Courses
PSYC 537 (3) Ethics and
Professional Issues in Clinical Psychology (McGee)
This
course provides an overview of Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists,
and other documents related to ethical practice, as well as exposure to
various professional issues one will encounter as a clinical
psychologist. Clinical case reviews are included, along with weekly
meetings with some pre-assigned reading to be done before class. In
class, discussion of ethical dilemmas (vignettes) is used as a means to
learn the CPA Code of Ethics. The course includes a series of
speakers from UBC and the community who will speak on ethical and
professional issues in clinical psychology.
PSYC
534 (3) Clinical Psychology Practicum (various clinical faculty)
This course focuses on clinical skills. Students work in the
Psychology Clinic under the supervision of a clinical faculty
member. Training contracts are agreed upon by student and
supervisor at the beginning of the term.
PSYC
541 (2), Introduction to Psychotherapy (McGee)
This
course is an introduction to processes and procedures involved in
psychotherapy and intake interviewing. It is specifically designed
to prepare students for clinical practicum in the second year of the M.A.
program. Topics covered include therapeutic relationship building,
psychotherapy microskills, intake interviewing, assessment of suicide,
record keeping, etc. There is also a significant practical
component to the course (e.g., in-class role plays and practice of
microskills, two video taped assignments to demonstrate skills learned in
class). Students should expect to spend three hours/week attending
class and engaging in between class practice of microskills, written
homework assignments and readings.
PSYC 542 (3),
Introduction to Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy (Alden)
This
course is devoted to understanding the history and conceptual
framework, research, and practice of cognitive-behavioural
treatment strategies. Activities include readings,
seminar discussion, skill training, and simulation
exercises in empirically-supported therapeutic
techniques. A tentative schedule of topics includes the
following: historical and theoretical bases of
cognitive-behavioral therapy, treatment strategies for
the anxiety and mood disorders, tailoring CBT strategies
to different socio-cultural contexts, and current controversies in
treatment.
PSYC 533a (3), Motivational
Interviewing (Klonsky - not offered in 2012-2013)
Motivatonal interviewing (MI) is a "directive, client-centered
counseling style for eliciting behavior change by helping clients to
explore and resolve ambivalence" (Rollnick & Miller,
1995). MI is a stellar example of science-based clinical practice
applicable to a wide range of maladaptive behaviors, psychological
problems, and clinical contexts. In this course students will be
introduced to both the science and practice of MI through articles,
treatment manuals, class discussions, videotapes, and roleplays.
PSYC 556 (3), Treatment of Childhood
Disorders (Johnston)
The course addresses the treatment of
childhood disorders. Topics include an historical overview of
psychological treatments for child disorders, coverage of general issues
in working with children and families, and an introduction to specific
empirically supported treatments (e.g., behavioural parent training,
cognitive-behavioural interventions for depression). The course goal is to
orient students to current empirically supported treatments for childhood
disorders.
PSYC 533a (3),
Introduction to Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (Wagner)
This one semester course is designed to provide students with an
introduction to Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) for treating complex
multi-systemic disorders. Topics to be covered include: What is
borderline personality disorder?, research on DBT, using validation to
facilitate change, mindfulness-based treatment strategies, and other
change-based strategies. The course involves didactics, tape
review, role plays, and discussion.
PSYC 560 (3), Clinical Research Design
(Klonsky)
The focus of the course is on research design and
procedures in clinical psychology. Special attention is given to
treatment outcome research and to research conducted in applied
settings. Students will be able to use the course to develop their
Master's thesis research proposal.
