Clinical Psychology – Track Neuropsychology

 

Head of the specialization: dr Ewa Malinowska

 

The specializations in clinical psychology at WISP are based on the belief that psychological well-being and psychological disorders are best understood by combining insights from different disciplines. Psychological disorders are not solely a matter of mental issues, nor is it only being rooted in abnormal brain processes; abnormalities and pathologies exist on a continuum that includes the mental and the biological. The scope of this specialization therefore is broad and integrative. For instance, instead of treating psychotherapy and neuropsychology as separate fields they are taught jointly, complementary to each other. This approach also connects well with the work field of clinical psychologists where teams are often multidisciplinary. Having a broad background affords graduates to not only understand phenomena from different angles but also allows them to better understand and communicate with other professionals.

Hence introductory courses related to different domains of clinical psychology are shared between the tracks of psychotherapy and neuropsychology. The tracks differ in that they specialize further in one or the other direction.

The neuropsychology track focuses on many common neuropsychological conditions but also on neuropsychological development in childhood and later stages of life. One course involves practical training with an fMRI scanner taking place at an fMRI lab at the Polish Academy of Sciences. In addition to seminars and workshops that teach important knowledge and skills in the classroom several additional optional (elective) courses are offered with priority to students of the track Neuropsychology. In one course clients with specific neuropsychological conditions are invited to the classroom to provide the opportunity for students to practice interviewing assessment and rehabilitation skills. A second course taking place at the neurosurgery department of the academic hospital of the Medical University focuses on neuropsychological assessment of patients with brain damage. To be admitted to this course students must also enroll and complete a preparatory seminar providing a background of the specific neurosurgical diseases treated at the department they will visit. Note that the courses with clients are elective courses that do not count towards completion of the specialization and are not required to complete the specialization.

In addition to specialization courses students will be enrolling in elective courses some of which will specifically fall within the field of their specialization.

The table underneath provides an overview of the courses offered within the specialization. From time to time minor changes are made to the courses offered or their timing; for the most up to date overview of courses see the course offer.

 

YEAR 4	semester	hours and format	ECTS
*Introduction to Clinical Neuropsychology*	first	30h seminar	3
Psychiatry	first	30h seminar	3
Psychodynamic and Cognitive-Behavioural Models of Mental Disorders	first	30h seminar	3
Introduction to Psychotherapy	first	30h seminar	3
*Assessment, Diagnosis and Rehabilitation in Clinical Neuropsychology*	second	30h seminar	3
*Basic Issues in Neuropsychological Assessment*	second	30h training	2
Clinical Diagnosis in an In-Patient Setting	second	30h training	2
*Clinical Diagnostic Testing*	second	30h training	2
Developmental Neuropsychology	second	30h seminar	3
Introduction to Functional Imaging of the Human Brain	second	30h seminar	3
		Total	27

Courses marked with * are obligatory in order to complete the specialziation.

 

YEAR 5	semester	hours and format	ECTS
Cross-Cultural Neuropsychological Assessment	first	15h seminar	2
Culture and Psychopathology: Cross-Cultural Perspectives and Practice	first	15h seminar	2
Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychology	first	30h seminar	3
Case Studies in Neuropsychology	first	30h seminar	3
*Ethical Issues in Clinical Neuropsychology*	first	15h seminar	2
Psychopharmacology for Psychologists	second	15h seminar	2
Neuropsychiatry	second	15h seminar	2
*Neuropsychological Rehabilitation*	second	30h seminar	3
Neuropsychology of Aging	second	30h seminar	3
Executive functions in neuropsychological practice	second	15h seminar	2
		Total	24

Courses marked with * are obligatory in order to complete the specialziation.

 

* Elective courses dedicated to this specialization (Year 5)	semester	hours and format	ECTS
Working with Patients with Neurocognitive Disorders	first & second	60h training	6
Neurosurgical Diseases from the Perspective of Clinical Neuropsychology	second	15h seminar	2
From Symptom to Diagnosis – Methods of Neuropsychological Evalua-tion in a Neurosurgery Clinic	second	30h training	2
total			10
* These courses are classified as elective courses but are primarily foreseen for students of this specialization. They are not formal specialization courses and so do not count towards completion of the specialization and are not required to complete the specialization.

 

/updated 09.11.2023/