Course content

During the practice period the student will plan, execute and write reports on therapeutic tasks and treatment plans used at the place where the practice is carried out. There will be a broad spectrum of practice placements in various areas of work, for example in family counselling, workplace counselling and rehabilitation work, psychiatry etc. The main practice will be carried out at an institution in one of these fields of practice. The main practice is approved in accordance with the special guidelines for practice.
The seminar in “Administration and management in the public sector” focuses on laws and agreements that regulate various work relationships. Guidelines for managing the progress of cases and carrying out casework will be examined, with emphasis on different levels of administration. Theories in connection with administration and management will be addressed. There will also be an introduction to productivity targets and quality control related to topical psychological work assignments.
The seminar on “Professional ethics for psychologists and legal regulation of the psychologist’s work” focuses on the principles and rules for good professional practice, which are laid down in laws, regulations and professional ethical guidelines. Some of the areas covered by the teaching are ethical principles for Scandinavian psychologists, the Norwegian Act relating to personnel in the health sector and other legislation relating to the health service. The organisational framework and the system of communal rules concerning the legal regulation of psychologists’ work in various areas will be addressed. The teaching will focus on how various currently topical professional ethical dilemmas can arise during the psychologist’s work. Moreover, the course will address how such professional ethical dilemmas can be dealt with on the basis of the relevant ethical principles for psychologists and other health personnel.

Learning outcome

For the main practice part of the professional studies course the students will go out to places where psychologists work and undertake psychological work under the guidance of an experienced psychologist. The main practice lasts for 24 weeks. The practice period will give the student the opportunity for greater integration of theory and practice and will provide experience in how theories and methods may be adapted to the psychologist's work assignments at the place where the practice is carried out.
Through the seminar in “Administration and management in the public sector” students will learn about the financial, technical and labour law provisions that apply to the psychologist’s work environment and will gain knowledge applicable in the communal environment as well as in different types of work and institutional situations. Based on the practice period, students will consider and discuss their expectations about the role of the psychologist and alternative roles for psychologists in various social systems.
In the seminar “Professional ethics for psychologists and legal regulation of the psychologist’s work” students will use their own experiences from the practice period to illustrate general issues of professional ethics. Topical themes include questions of capacity to act, duty of confidentiality and attitudes concerning the respective roles of therapist and patient.

Learning methods and activities

Two hours of individual tutorial guidance per week during the practice period. Two compulsory seminars are also included: 1. Professional ethics for psychologists and legal regulation of the psychologist’s work (24 hours). 2. Administration and management in the public sector (36 hours).

The course requires admission to the 6 year clinical psychologist programme.

Compulsory assignments

• 80% attendance at compulsory seminars

Specific conditions

Required previous knowledge

In-house Clinical Practice I, II and III must be passed (PSYPRO 4062, 4073, 4081)

Credit reductions