PYMTHD-Therapy for Childhood Depression

Module Provider: Psychology
Number of credits: 30 [15 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Spring / Summer / Autumn module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites: Co-requisites: For CBT students PYMTHA and PYMBAS must be passed. For PT students, PYMPAR must be passed.
Co-requisites: PYMTHA Therapy for Childhood Anxiety and PYMBAS Basic Skills
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Dr Melissa Snaith
Email: m.h.snaith@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module will have a cognitive behavioural theoretical base with preference for approaches with the soundest evidence and where cognitive and behavioural techniques are integrated in therapy. The module will provide practical, intensive and detailed skills training to facilitate skill development to a defined standard of competency. 

Aims:

To increase students’ knowledge base of theory and research in CBT for depression

To promote a critical approach to the subject

To equip students to become skilled and creative independent CBT practitioners



The course will provide opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge, understanding and skills in the following areas:

1. Practical competency in CBT for depression in young people


2. Practical competency in working collaboratively with parents and educational services as part of routine treatment of depression in young people


3. Adapting CBT interventions for younger children presenting with depression


4. Critical knowledge of the theoretical and research literature relating to CBT and other psychological therapies for depression in children and young people 

Assessable learning outcomes:

At the end of the course students will be able to:

1. Construct maintenance and developmental CBT conceptualisations for depression in children and young people – assessed via written assignments.


2. Include in the conceptualisation child/young person developmental aspects and family life-cycle and dynamics as appropriate – assessed via written assignments


3. Develop CBT specific treatment plans based on the conceptualisation – assessed via written assignments.


4. Practice CBT with children and young people with depression systematically, creatively and with good clinical outcome – assessed via rating of a practical skills session using a standardised scale.


5. Deal with complex issues arising in CBT practice – assessed via supervisor report.


6. Take personal responsibility for clinical decision making in straightforward and more complex situations – assessed via supervisor report.


7. Demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving therapeutic problems – assessed via written assignment.


8. Practice as “scientist practitioners” advancing their knowledge and understanding and developing new skills to a high level – assessed via log book


9. Demonstrate a systematic knowledge of the principles of CBT application in children and young people and the evidence base for the application of CBT techniques – assessed via written assignment.


10. Demonstrate a systematic knowledge of CBT and depression – assessed via written assignment and reflective analysis.


11. A critical understanding of the theoretical and research evidence for cognitive behaviour models and an ability to evaluate the evidence – assessed via written assignment.


12. Demonstrate an ability to sensitively adapt CBT, and ensure equitable access taking into account cultural and social differences and values - assessed via log book and report by young person and/or parents.

Additional outcomes:

• Students will gain confidence in the assessment and treatment of young people with depression.


• Academically, students will develop skills in critical appraisal of research and develop theory-practice links.


• Reflective practice will be integrated as part of all training within the module.

Outline content:

The module will comprise of in-class teaching, clinical skills practice/supervised clinical practice, supervision in-service and independent study. Teaching and supervision will be provided by experienced and suitably trained therapists (e.g. supervisors will fulfil BABCP therapist accreditation criteria).

Note that certain teaching is mandatory (highlighted on timetable) for all students. Any student that misses a mandatory teaching session must attend a termly top-up meeting as scheduled in the timetable.

Clinical Supervision

• Each student will have clinical supervision weekly in a group of no more than 6 with occasional individual sessions in place of the group sessions.


• Recorded material from all training cases should be included at some point during a significant majority of supervision sessions.


• At the end of the course when clinical work has been completed the supervisor will be asked to complete a pro-forma assessment form and indicate whether or not a student has reached a satisfactory level of clinical practice.

The teaching will be supplemented by an equivalent number of hours of clinical practice in the workplace under supervision of an experienced practitioner and supervisor. 

Global context:

The content follows a national curriculum.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The aims of this module will be achieved through a series of workshops, which will incorporate lectures, role-plays, and small group discussions. These will last from 9.30 to 4.30 p.m. Unless otherwise stated, all teaching days comprise of 50% clinical skills practice. In addition, they will be supplemented by e-learning material and experience of assessment and treatment of clients within the workplace. Teaching will be provided by course tutors, with some national and international experts where appropriate. 

Contact hours: 

• Teaching contact hours: average minimum of 50 hours; the total minimum teaching contact hours (including clinical skills workshops) summed across all course modules is over 200 hours.


• Supervision contact hours: average minimum of 11.5 hours in University and 11.5 hours in the workplace; the total minimum supervision contact hours summed across all course modules is 70 hours.


• Total contact hours for this module will be a minimum of 300, to include lectures and clinical skills, university and work-based supervision, clinical practice hours and guided independent study.

Days will be split between in class theoretical teaching and clinical simulation, and in the workplace undertaking practice-based learning and supervision.

For the purposes of the table below

Seminars = University supervis ion

Lectures = Teaching & Clinical skills

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	29	9	25
Guided independent study:	99	100	38
Total hours by term	128	109	63
Total hours for module	300

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	50
Practical skills assessment	50

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

The assessment has 3 parts.

1. Written assignment of a child or adolescent with depression


2. A practical skills assessment of a treatment session with a child/adolescent with depression, marked using a standardised rating scale. The recording is rated by the assessor and self-rated by the student using the same standardised measure of clinical competence. The recording must be of a different client to those submitted for PYMBAS and PYMTHA and must be linked to written assignment 1 (item 1 above).

These 2 assessments are equally weighted.

3. Portfolio elements including content relevant to all modules. This includes audit of cases, clinical log, training log, reports on feedback from supervisors and young people and/or parents on their experience of the therapy offered and report of the therapist’s clinical outcomes over the course.

This assessment is marked as pass/fail.

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy “Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes”, which can be found here: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmissionpgflexible.pdf
The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

50% in each piece of assessed work for 1, 2 and 3. -

A minimum of 80% face to face attendance is required for each module and attendance at all identified mandatory teaching (detailed on timetable); this is evidenced in the Portfolio assessment which sits within PYMTHD. If, for any reason, a student does not complete the required face to face attendance for the module, they will be required to attend teaching on the same topic with another cohort.

Level 7 students will be expected to evidence in-depth understanding of the topic and critical analytic skills in academic assessments.

Reassessment arrangements:

Students who do not obtain the required pass mark in the assessed work will be given the opportunity to resubmit, on one further occasion, any individual assessment that has been failed. The re-sit grade cannot exceed 50%.

Completion of studies is dependent on employment within a CAMHS partnership of the Central and South CYP MH Collaborative and ongoing access to a CYP MH appropriate clinical caseload. Students must successfully pass all modules of the training programme. Therefore a student’s studies may be terminated if they are no longer working in a partnership service, no longer have access to an ongoing CYP MH appropriate caseload, or fail coursework at second attempt.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: 

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: 

4) Printing and binding: 

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: 

Last updated: 30 March 2023