Clinical Psychology – Track Psychotherapy

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 psychotherapy track focuses mainly on the two most predominant psychotherapeutic approaches: Psychodynamic and Cognitive Behavioral. Courses cover the underlying theory and assumptions of both approaches as well as train students in psychotherapeutic techniques of both. In addition students are offered the opportunity (in the form of elective courses) to themselves experience psychotherapy as clients and; to gain first experience in conducting psychotherapy with real clients under the supervision of an experienced psychotherapist. Note that these last two courses 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 Psychotherapy	first	30h seminar	3
Psychodynamic and Cognitive-Behavioural Models of Mental Disorders	first	30h seminar	3
Psychiatry	first	30h seminar	3
Introduction to Clinical Neuropsychology	first	30h seminar	3
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy	second	30h seminar	3
Cognitive Behavioral Therapies: Theory and Principles	second	30h seminar	3
Assessment, Diagnosis and Rehabilitation in Clinical Neuropsychology	second	30h training	2
Basic Issues in Neuropsychological Assessment	second	30h training	2
Clinical Diagnosis in an In-Patient Setting	second	30h seminar	3
Clinical Diagnostic Testing	second	30h seminar	3
		total	28

 

YEAR 5	semester	hours and format	ECTS
Techniques in Psychotherapy	first	30h training	2
Culture and Psychopathology: Cross-Cultural Perspectives and Practice	first	15h seminar	2
Cross-Cultural Neuropsychological Assessment	first	15h seminar	2
Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychology	first	30h seminar	3
Ethics in Therapeutic Contexts	first	15h seminar	2
Systemic Family Therapy	first	15h seminar	2
Psychopharmacology for Psychologists	second	15h seminar	2
Neuropsychiatry	second	15h seminar	2
Advances in Humanistic and Existential Psychotherapy	second	15h seminar	2
Research Methods in Clinical Psychology	second	15h seminar	2
Couple Therapy, an Introduction	second	15h seminar	2
		Total	23

 

* Elective courses dedicated to this specialization	semester	hours and format	ECTS
Self-Experience in Psychotherapy	First	45h training	3
Practice in Psychotherapy: Clinical Experience, Supervision and Case   – Formulation	first & second	120h training	12
		total	15
* 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.

 

The head of the Clinical Psychology – Track Psychotherapy specialization is dr Rafał Styła.