Course content

An introduction to various clinical conditions in children and adolescents with mental health problems will be given, as well as assessment and treatment of these. The subject will be related to the experiences that students make in therapy training (PSYK4602), and dialogue between the students and the lecturer will be central. The course will promote critical understanding of central theoretical perspectives on the development, prevention and treatment of the most common mental disorders in children and adolescents as well as their empirical basis. The course will also focus on development and specialization in practical psychological skills in psychotherapy, as well as provide a basis for counseling work for relatives, teachers, other clinicians, institutional staff, teachers, etc. The course also aims to promote necessary competence for psychological work with children and adolescents in the municipal health service. Central topics are therefore family work and introduction to systemic work around the child and family (first-line work).

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

• The student has advanced knowledge of risk and protective factors related to the development of mental difficulties and disorders, and how these factors operate through childhood and adolescents.
• has advance knowledge of significant psychological topics and issues throughout life, from infants and toddlers to children and adolescents.
• has advanced knowledge of minor, moderate and severe mental disorders, including comorbidity, trauma reactions and suicidality among children and adolescents.
• has advanced knowledge of various evidence-based treatment theories and models both for understanding mental disorders and for psychological treatment of children and adolescents.
• has advanced knowledge of low-threshold interventions for children and adolescents in mental health at the individual level.
• can apply their knowledge of children and young people to meet their needs for treatment and services and can ensure their participation and rights.

Skills:

• The student can independently apply the basic principles of psychosocial interventions in crises.
• The student can provide guidance to users, patients, relatives, and others who are in learning, mastery, and change processes.

General competence:

The student

• can supervise users, patients, next of kin and others who are in learning, coping and change processes.
• can critically reflect on ethical dilemmas related to the choice and prioritization of psychological interventions for children and adolescents
• can communicate orally, in writing and digitally about childrens and adolescents health-related issues with colleges and partners

Learning methods and activities

Will include lectures, self-activity in the form of exercises/group work, seminars and exercises with individual supervision. Student presentations may be relevant. Relevant syllabus has been selected for the various condition, family and system work, and consists of both textbooks, articles and selected chapters. In addition, relevant supporting literature has been set up. Students will also be encouraged to be curious about literature and share with each other suggestions of alternative literature.

Compulsory assignments

• 80% compulsory attendance

Specific conditions

Required previous knowledge

PSYK4600

The class will be split in two from this semester. One group will take the two children's clinic courses PSYK4601 and PSYK4602. The second group will take the two adult clinic courses PSYK4603 and PSYK4604, and vice versa the following semester. A student who has not passed the practical training course, either PSYK4602 or PSYK4604 can not move on to the next level until this course has been passed.

Credit reductions