UnitLevel 5Postgraduate

CPS5004 Psychodynamic assessment of children and adolescents

Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

CPS5004 Psychodynamic assessment of children and adolescents is a level 5, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, offered in 2025 in Semester 2 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites and unlocks 4 units.

Credit points
6
Offered in 2025
Semester 2
Clayton
Assessment
No exam
5 tasks

This is the 2025 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.

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Requisites

Enrolment rules

Prerequisites: CPS5001 (DCP0001) and CPS5002 (DCP0002)
Corequisite: Must be enrolled in course code M6022

Overview

This unit is designed to present an introduction to the conceptual framework and guidelines for the methodology of the psycho-dynamic assessment of psychological disturbance in children and adolescents. It will introduce you to disturbances in normal psychological development and the clinical concepts of assessment that are based on psychodynamic and developmental principles.

It will consider interviewing and observational methods with children and adolescents that enable psychological data to be collected and understood. It will also demonstrate the complex task of integrating information from several different sources to provide a diagnostic assessment of the individual nature and degree of disturbance presented, and the extent to which that interferes with the child's normal development and functioning.

Offerings in 2025

Teaching periodCampusMode
Second semesterClaytonFlx blk

Assessment

  • Report AWritten
    10%
  • Report BWritten
    10%
  • Report CWrittenThreshold hurdle
    20%
  • EssayWrittenThreshold hurdle
    40%
  • On-campus Workshop / Alternative AssessmentDemonstrationThreshold hurdle
    20%

Learning outcomes

When you finish this unit, you should be able to:

  1. 1

    Analyse and discuss the link between psychodynamic theory and developmental concepts relevant to the assessment of children and adolescents;

  2. 2

    Identify and apply concepts to interpret the meaning of the child's/adolescent's behaviour;

  3. 3

    Recognise and interpret the process occurring between child and clinician and analyse the data this provides;

  4. 4

    Examine and justify how the assessment process leads to a psychodynamic and developmental diagnostic formulation;

  5. 5

    Identify and evaluate features of optimal case management. That accounts for the indications or contra-indications for child psychotherapy and other treatment options.

Workload and teaching

  • Tutorials5 hours

12 hours per week comprised of a mix of directed and self-directed learning plus attendance at 2 day block one weekend per semester. 2 Day Block Weekend tutorials comprised of 5 hours tutorial per unit and attendance at keynote lectures.

Learning resources

Recommended resources

See Moodle for details about required resources.

Contacts

Unit Coordinators
Ms Sarah Anderson
Chief Examiners
Dr Jennifer Re

Common questions

What are the prerequisites for CPS5004?

CPS5004 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.

What can I take after CPS5004?

CPS5004 is a prerequisite or corequisite for 4 units, including CPS5005, CPS5006, CPS5007 and CPS5008.

When is CPS5004 offered?

In 2025, CPS5004 runs in Semester 2 at Clayton.

Does CPS5004 have an exam?

No. CPS5004 has 5 assessment tasks and no exam.

More details

Credit points
6
Level
5
Study level
Postgraduate
Faculty
Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Organisational unit
School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health
Type
Coursework
EFTSL
0.125
Student contribution
SCA Band 3
Study abroad
Available