PSY65190 - Introduction to Psychotherapy

(3 units)

This course is designed as an introduction to the psychotherapeutic process. It embraces both the theoretical bases of psychotherapy and its practical expression. The principal thrust will be the development of a soundly based understanding of therapeutic intervention. Students are expected to gain an understanding of the basic concepts of psychotherapy including: essential therapeutic skills, stages of psychotherapy, the diﬀerence between process and content, the relationship of diagnosis to treatment planning, evaluation of outcomes, values and ethics, and the implication of diversity to treatment. Instruction takes a pan-theoretical approach and emphasizes skills common to all theoretical approaches, such as developing a therapeutic relationship; conveying warmth, empathy and genuineness; eliciting appropriate information; defining a presenting problem; assessing risk factors; and managing transference and countertransference. Attention will be paid to self-assessment, multicultural factors, ethics, and professional growth.