CPS5005 Principles of child psychotherapy
Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
CPS5005 Principles of child psychotherapy is a level 5, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, offered in 2025 in Semester 1 at Clayton. It needs CPS5001, CPS5002, CPS5003 and CPS5004 and unlocks 2 units.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2025
- Semester 1
- Clayton
- Assessment
- No exam
- 4 tasks
This is the 2025 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before CPS5005
Prerequisites
Pass these before you enrol.
After CPS5005
2 units list CPS5005 as a prerequisite or corequisite.
Enrolment rules
Overview
This unit will outline the principles of Child Psychotherapy from a developmental and psychoanalytic perspective. It will address the context and boundaries of therapy and explore ways the child communicates in therapy. It will also address issues of technique including the therapeutic use of the relationship between the child and the psychotherapist being the central tool in ongoing clinical work; the process of observing, hearing and interpretation in psychotherapy; issues of termination: and the structure, significance and dynamics of this process.
Offerings in 2025
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Clayton | Bld blk |
Assessment
- Written assignment 1WrittenThreshold hurdle20%
- Written assignment 2WrittenThreshold hurdle20%
- EssayWrittenThreshold hurdle40%
- On-campus workshop / Alternative assessmentDemonstrationThreshold hurdle20%
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Identify and interpret the means by which the child communicates in therapy.
- 2
Evaluate the significance and meaning of the way the child relates to the therapist by analysing the concepts of transference and countertransference.
- 3
Evaluate the use of interpretation in therapy by analysing its timing, content and intention;
- 4
Evaluate the significance and importance of boundaries and structure provided by the therapist.
- 5
Identify and appraise the importance of termination - the process of bringing the therapy to a conclusion; and
- 6
Determine the impact of working with the disturbed child including the disturbed child in special situations and advance an understanding of the child and the therapeutic process.
Workload and teaching
- Applied sessions6.5 hours
- Tutorials5 hours
- Teaching approachCase-based teaching
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.
For full details of the teaching approach to this unit, please refer to Moodle.
Learning resources
Required 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 CPS5005?
You need CPS5001, CPS5002, CPS5003 and CPS5004 before you enrol. Enrolment rules also apply.
What can I take after CPS5005?
CPS5005 is a prerequisite or corequisite for 2 units, including CPS5007 and CPS5008.
When is CPS5005 offered?
In 2025, CPS5005 runs in Semester 1 at Clayton.
Does CPS5005 have an exam?
No. CPS5005 has 4 assessment tasks and no exam.