Higher Diploma in Psychotherapy Studies
This one year part-time higher diploma programme offers an introduction to the psychotherapies and prepares students for further specialist training. All teaching takes place in the School of Psychotherapy within the Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Mental Health Research, St Camillus Ward, Lower Ground Floor, St Vincent’s University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4. This programme provides an ideal foundation for further specialist psychotherapy training and the UCD Psychotherapy group offers an extensive portfolio of masters programmes in all modalities.
- Closing Date
The closing date for receipt of applications is 17:00 hours on Friday 12th August 2011
- Programme Description
This one year programme offers a route to clinical training in the domain of psychotherapy through the provision of an academic foundation in the theoretical and clinical literature in the field. Serving as a ‘foundation’ year, students are well placed on completion, to make an informed decision on the modality of psychotherapy in which to train.
It is taught by practitioners in the field and is suited not only to trainees or practitioners in disciplines within the mental health arena but also to applicants from non-cognate areas who may be considering embarking on a clinical training in psychotherapy.
Programme Aims
Graduates will achieve an understanding of the complex theories and concepts that underlie the main modalities of psychotherapy. These include the transference-based therapies - of which psychoanalytic psychotherapy is the exemplar, the cognitive therapies, the integrative therapies and family and group therapies.
The course aims to inform a graduate’s subsequent choice of psychotherapy strand in which to train. As part of continuing training in a specialised strand, graduates will be eligible to apply for one of a suite of MSc programmes* currently on offer in the UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science:- MSc in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
- MSc in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Children and Adolescents
- MSc in Visual Art Therapy
- MSc in Group Analytic Psychotherapy
* Please refer to separate website entries for individual MSc programmes each of which has its own admission requirements.
Programme Location
All teaching takes place in the School of Psychotherapy within the Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Mental Health Research, St Camillus Ward, Lower Ground Floor, St Vincent’s University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4Programme Structure
The course takes place on Tuesday afternoons from 2.00 – 7.00 pm over the academic year. It is conducted in three 10-week blocks from late September – early June, with a 1-week Autumn break, a 4 -week Christmas break and a 2-week Spring break.- Entry Requirements
The programme is open to trainees or practitioners in disciplines within the mental health field such as psychiatry, general practice, nursing, psychology, social work and childcare work and to applicants with other diverse backgrounds. Admission ordinarilyrequires a previous undergraduate degree. A relevant professional qualification and/or relevant professional experience are welcome but are not prerequisites. Applicants will be expected to show evidence of a commitment to, and serious interest in, the study of psychotherapy. Applicants for the programme will be interviewed.
- Programme Content - Modules and European Credit Transfer System
The course is delivered in 6 modules (5 taught and 1 dissertation), all of which are core requirements for the award of Higher Diploma. Of the taught modules, 4 lead to 5 ECTS each and 1, which is a synoptic module related to research methods and clinical applications accounts for 15 ECTS. The 6th module is by dissertation and contributes 25 ECTS.
Attendance must be 80% or higher for the duration of the course. Assessment is by continuous assessment for the taught modules and a mark for the thesis.
Module 6 leads to a 6,000-word thesis and will be supervised by an individual thesis supervisor. Progression on the thesis will be also be monitored at group level by the tutors conducting the research and clinical applications seminar (module 5).
There will be no written examinations. The continuous assessment for each of the 5 taught modules has both formative and summative components. The summative assessment in modules 1 and 2 will be in the form of two 2,500-word essays. In modules 3 and 4 the assessment will take the form of a specified ‘in-class’ graded group discussion where each individual will be given a grade based on their group participation. This assessment type will be informed by case vignettes presented by the teaching staff which lead to small group presentations and subsequent submission of short written reports. For module 5 students will be evaluated on the basis of a learning journal compiled week by week over the course of the year.Total ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) Credits = 60 ECTS
MODULE 1 : Theoretical Overview of the Psychotherapies
Beginning with a historical introduction, the fundamental concepts and premises of the major approaches in psychotherapy will be explored. Classical theories of development from infancy to old age will be examined as will the psychoanalytic position that psychotherapeutic practice engages with the existence of unconscious mental processes. Awareness of psychotherapeutic diagnostics will be developed and the potential for the development of psychotherapeutic interventions in the context of the mental health and primary care services will be identified.
MODULE 2 : The Therapeutic Relationship in Psychotherapy
The module will highlight different perspectives on the therapeutic relationship among the psychotherapies while focussing on the professional context of the therapeutic alliance as informed by different ethical positions, codes of practice and the requirements for confidentiality. The specifics of working with clients of different ages and developmental levels will also be addressed. The challenge of the phenomenon of transference for psychotherapy and mental health settings will be highlighted. Questions of interpretation and supervision will also be covered.
MODULE 3 : Pyschotherapies I
This module introduces Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), visual art and drama therapies and elaborates further on the principles of Freudian and Lacanian psychoanalysis as these apply to the treatment of psychosis and other clinical categories eg addiction, eating disorders, criminality etc. Students will be given an opportunity to gain knowledge of the general principles of CBT and therapy-specific techniques, such as working with negative automatic thoughts, dysfunctional assumptions and core believes. In addition to traditional CBT methods and practices the class will be familiarized with CBT for children and adolescents. Clinical applications of these psychotherapy models within the mental health/primary care setting will be emphasised as will related research opportunities. Through the group assessment process this module will additionally provide a stimulating and varied learning experience that will benefit the class group as a whole.
MODULE 4 : Pyschotherapies II
Among the various therapeutic modalities presented in this module are: Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy, Constructivist Therapy, and solution focussed brief therapies. Jungian and Adlerian schools of thought will also be introduced. The module concludes with a presentation of the principles of Group therapy and Family therapy. Commonalities and differences between the major schools of psychotherapy will be distinguished. As before, this module will be enriched by the group assessment process.
MODULE 5: Research and Clinical Applications Seminar
Emphasis will be placed on the challenges, both ethical and logistical posed to research by the field of psychotherapy. While appreciating that different case material emerges from different forms of psychotherapy practice, case material contributed by the major psychotherapy approaches will be responded to and analysed in the context of research possibilities and limitations. Research methodologies suitable for the evaluation of therapeutic outcome in psychotherapy will be studied with a view to assessing research opportunities in the field within the Irish context.
MODULE 6 : DissertationStudents will submit a 6,000 word thesis at the end of the year. Direction in formulating their proposal and in progressing their written work will be monitored and supported in designated seminars interspersed in the research and clinical applications seminar. Students will also have an individual thesis supervisor assigned to them.
CONTRIBUTORSThe list of contributors to the teaching of this course includes: Ms Ursula Bates, Dr Richard Blennerhassett, Dr Patricia Byrne, Dr Gerry Butcher, Ms Aine Casey, Ms Anna Comerford, Dr Mary Cosgrave, Mr Martin Daly, Dr Tom Dalzell, Professor Carol Fitzpatrick, Mr Alan Furlong, Dr Claire Hayes, Dr Akin Iyiola, Dr Brendan Kelly, Dr Terry Larkin, Ms Maura Leahy, Dr Alison Lee, Dr Rik Loose, Dr Anthony McCarthy, Dr Patricia McCarthy, Ms Ros McCarthy, Ms Breda McLeavey, Dr Angela Mohan, Ms Liz Monahan, Dr Barry O’Donnell, Ms Claire O’Hora, Mr Mike O’Mahony, Ms Sarah-Jane Reilly, Ms Paula Rock, Dr Emer Rutledge, Dr John Sharry, Dr John Sheehan, Dr Norbert Skokauskas, Dr Brion Sweeney, Ms Mimi Tatlow and Dr Yulia Zyrianova.
Further contributors may be added to this list.- Fee information
http://www.ucd.ie/registry/adminservices/fees/index.html- Career Opportunities
Postgraduate psychotherapy degrees are becoming an integral part of a professional career path, which requires recognition of formal psychotherapeutic study. The Higher Diploma is taught by practitioners in the field and is suited not only to trainees or practitioners in disciplines within the mental health arena but also to applicants from non-cognate areas who may be considering embarking on a clinical training in psychotherapy.
Professional Accreditation
The Irish Council for Psychotherapy (ICP) has welcomed this course as providing a foundation year in psychotherapy training. In addition a number of Postgraduate Medical Training Schemes in Psychiatry run by the Irish College of Psychiatrists include this course as an option for trainees who are interested in psychotherapy training.
What have past graduates done?
Graduates are well placed on completion to make an informed decision on the modality of psychotherapy in which to train. As part of continuing training in a specialised strand, graduates are eligible to apply for one of a suite of MSc programmes, each of which has its own separate entry requirements. These MSc programmes are currently on offer in the UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science:
- MSc in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
- MSc in CBT for Children and Adolescents
- MSc in Visual Art Therapy
- MSc in Group Analytic Psychotherapy
Why should you do this programme?
UCD has an international reputation as a centre of excellence in the domain of psychotherapy. All lecturers on the course are clinicians with considerable academic expertise in their own modality of psychotherapy.
- Application Procedure & Contact Details
Application Procedures
Application for this course must be made on-line at
www.ucd.ie/apply
The Course Co-ordinators are:
Dr Barry O’Donnell and Dr Yulia Zyrianova
Higher Diploma in Psychotherapy Studies
UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science
St. Camillus, Lower Ground Floor
St. Vincent’s University Hospital
Elm Park, Dublin 4.
The Academic Course Directors are:
Professor Patricia Casey
Professor Carol Fitzpatrick
Professor Kevin Malone
Dr Patricia McCarthy
Professor Fiona McNicholas
Dr John Sheehan
Phone: +353 1 2214868
For all informal enquiries, please contact Dr Barry O’Donnell or Dr Yulia Zyrianova by e-mail or by phoning the Course administrator, Ms Maria Fay
Email: barry.odonnell@ucd.ie; dr.yulia@ucd.ie
News and informationApplications are still being considered subject to availability.
UCD Psychotherapy ProgrammesHigher & Graduate Diplomas
Masters
UCD, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. Tel : 353-1-7167777
- Career Opportunities
- Fee information
- Programme Content - Modules and European Credit Transfer System
- Programme Description