Course content

In this course, students will be introduced to a method for practicing and developing therapeutic skills that are important in the practice of psychotherapy.

Students will receive a brief introduction to the field of therapist development and a more in-depth exploration of the learning method called "Deliberate practice." They will learn about interpersonal and intrapersonal skills that are important in the practice of psychotherapy, how these skills can be operationalized, and what distinguishes good and poor execution of these skills.

The course will have an emphasis on practical skill training. There will be skill training individually or with a partner in between teaching sessions. In the teaching sessions students will collaborate with other students in small groups to both practice their own skills and provide constructive feedback to each other.

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

The student

• Has in depth knowledge of the principles of "deliberate practice" in psychotherapy.
• Has basic knowledge of the field therapist development.
• Has basic knowledge of interpersonal skills that are essential in the practice of psychotherapy.

Skills:

The student:

• Can use the methodology of "deliberate practice" to train specific therapeutic skills.
• Can use the methodology of "deliberate practice" to create new training exercises to improve specific therapeutic skills.
• Can approach professional challenges by breaking down the issue into concrete learning objectives.
• Can provide precise and constructive feedback to others engaged in "deliberate practice" in psychotherapy.
• Has developed a supportive attitude toward their own and others' learning.
• Can apply the method "deliberate practice" in a way that fosters ownership of the learned skills. By this, it is meant using the method to develop authentic therapist responses that uphold the student's personal style and demeanor, while ensuring the preservation of therapeutic skills.

General competence:

Student

• Can reflect on which therapeutic skills that are relevant in the practice of psychotherapy.
• Has an understanding of which aspects of their therapist development that can be facilitated through "deliberate practice" and which aspects that must be learned in other ways.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, practical exercises, homework with training log.

Compulsory assignments

• 80% compulsory attendance in lectures
• 80% completion on tasks

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

PSYK4121

Required previous knowledge

PSYK4301 and PSYK4302