Unit Outline

This unit will take a disorder specific approach and teach you evidence-based treatment for a variety of clinical psychological disorders. Consideration will be given to the diagnostic features of specific disorders, prevalence, course, aetiological knowledge and theories, familial, social and cultural features, and differential diagnostic issues. Where appropriate, sessions will be supplemented with audio-visual material and handouts, and you should be prepared to role-play elements of the key therapy skills when discussed.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	Apply knowledge of key diagnostic classificatory systems used in clinical psychology.
2	Synthesise clinical case formulation data including familial, social, and cultural intersections to inform differential diagnosis.
3	Apply psychometric instruments and clinical interview skills to assess a variety of clinical psychological disorders.
4	Implement advanced psychological intervention skills for a variety of clinical psychological disorders

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	PSY705 Assessment Skills in Psychology Practice 2 AND PSY707 Intervention Skills in Psychology Practice 2

Alterations as a result of student feedback

Last year the video assessment task was delivered in one assignment, and feedback was received that splitting this assignment into two assessment tasks would allow for greater learning opportunities and feedback from markers. Therefore the assignment has now been split into assessment tasks 1 and 2. Students are encouraged to use the marker’s feedback on assessment task 1 to inform assessment task 2.

As always, the teaching team will greatly appreciate your feedback both informally during the delivery of the unit in 2025, and formally through the University of Tasmania’s Unit Survey following your completion of the unit.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Psychoeducation Role Play Video 1	Week 4	0 %	LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Intervention Role Play Video 2	Week 9	0 %	LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Workshop Worksheets	Week 13	0 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 4:	Combined OSCE	Exam Period	0 %	LO1, LO2

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Psychoeducation Role Play Video 1

Task Description:

You are required to use cognitive behavioural therapy skills in a mock psychoeducation session for an adult client for one of the following disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Panic Disorder, or Major Depressive Disorder

Task Length:

15 minutes

Due Date:

Week 4

Weight:

0 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Select evidence-based CBT skills for a variety of clinical psychological disorders based on psychological assessment information.	LO3
2	Critically reflect and modify CBT treatment techniques to reflect an understanding of intersectional and developmental considerations.	LO4
3	Implement advanced psychological intervention techniques.	LO4

Assessment Task 2: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Intervention Role Play Video 2

Task Description:

You are required to use cognitive behavioural therapy intervention skills in a mock treatment session for an adult client for one of the following disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Panic Disorder, or Major Depressive Disorder.
The client and their formulation will be the same as that used in Assessment Task 1.

Task Length:

20 minutes

Due Date:

Week 9

Weight:

0 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Select evidence-based CBT skills for a variety of clinical psychological disorders based on psychological assessment information.	LO3
2	Critically reflect and modify CBT treatment techniques to reflect an understanding of intersectional and developmental considerations.	LO4
3	Implement advanced psychological intervention techniques.	LO4

Assessment Task 3: Workshop Worksheets

Task Description:

You are required to complete worksheets demonstrating assessment and intervention skills in 10 of the workshops. You will be given clinical case information to complete the worksheet, as if you were completing it for the client from the case information. Worksheets will be related to the workshop content and will be marked by the workshop facilitator in the workshop. You will have to meet competency on 8 out of 10 of these worksheets to meet competency on the overall assessment task.

Task Length:

10 minutes per worksheet

Due Date:

Week 13

Weight:

0 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Use clinical case information to consider differential diagnoses and arrive at a preliminary diagnosis.	LO1, LO2
2	Flexibly use evidence-based interventions for a variety of clinical psychological disorders based on psychological assessment information.	LO3
3	Critically reflect and modify CBT treatment techniques to reflect an understanding of intersectional and developmental considerations.	LO4
4	Implement advanced psychological intervention techniques.	LO4

Assessment Task 4: Combined OSCE

Task Description:

For the PSY711 Psychology Assessment and Intervention Skills OSCE, you will be required to show competency in:
a. Formulating questions to gather diagnostically relevant information about a client.
b. Identification of the potential presence of psychological disorders using the DSM system, and demonstrating the ability to pose questions and to use features of diagnoses (e.g. prevalence, aetiology) to differentiate between competing diagnostic hypotheses.
c. Communication of a justification for a diagnostic conceptualisation.
You must successfully pass the OSCE for PSY711 in order to achieve an overall passing grade on this examination and this unit. If you fail the PSY711 OSCE station, you will be provided remedial feedback and you will be required to repeat this OSCE at a date determined by the School of Psychological Sciences. If after a second attempt, you are unable to obtain a passing grade you will be required to repeat this unit.
You will be required to sign a statutory declaration stating you will not disclose the contents of the OSCE to anyone.

Task Length:

15 minutes

Due Date:

Exam Period

Weight:

0 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Collaboratively communicate a deep understanding of psychopathology and formulation.	LO1, LO2
2	Integrate information regarding diagnoses and differentiate between diagnostic hypotheses.	LO1, LO2
3	Communicate clearly and engage appropriately with clients.	LO2

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes.

All assessments within the Postgraduate Professional Training Programs at the University of Tasmania adhere to an ungraded pass profile. Similarly, your academic transcript will use this same grading system.

This means all assessable work will be graded as either UP (ungraded pass), or NN (fail grade), which indicates you need to continue towards developing that competency. You are required to achieve a UP on all assessment pieces in order to successfully pass a unit of study – be that coursework, placement, or thesis. A grade of AO (assessment ongoing) indicates that further assessments are required or resubmissions are needed before a mark can be finalised.

A UP grade equates to achievement of 70% or higher on a given task, and this benchmark must be achieved to be awarded a UP. These criteria are consistent with both the required performance on the National Psychology Exam, as well as within the School of Psychological Sciences, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania.

Marks are reviewed by the Unit Coordinator and Psychology’s Assessment Committee and may be adjusted to ensure fairness, consistency and appropriateness before the final marks and grades are assigned in accordance with University policy and the specified unit assessment. Grades and marks are also reviewed by the College of Health and Medicine Assessors’ Committee.

Note: In order to obtain a full passing grade in this unit, you are expected to submit and achieve a UP grade on all assessable work.

Academic progress review

The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.