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.