Clinical Placement B1

The placement units in this degree are integrated into a placement program that runs across the years of the course. Clinical training at Swinburne is based on the problem formulation and hypothesis testing approach. The emphasis of this approach is on developing an optimal individualized formulation of each client or clinical challenge. Intervention choices and monitoring strategies flow directly from this formulation, which in turn will explicitly develop as treatment progresses. Accordingly, graduates of the program will be able to:

• Reach a detailed program formulation on the basis of both standardized and unstandardised assessments, and

• Design and conduct appropriate individual, group and family treatment intervention programs, with ongoing monitoring, and revision of problem formulation and interventions where necessary.

 

External Placements: Clinical Placement B1 and  Clinical Placement B2 are undertaken in external field settings and can only commence after placements A1 and A2 are successfully completed. This first external placement in the program requires a greater degree of independence/autonomy from the trainee, and in this sense is a developmental step from the closely monitored activities of the two initial internal placements at the Swinburne Psychology Clinic. Trainees will typically be under the direct daily supervision of an on-site psychologist who is eligible for membership of the APS College of Clinical Psychologists, and the internal university placement coordinator will act as an additional supervisor to provide support for the placement experience. Clinical Placement B1 can occur at a variety of settings, depending upon the trainee's experience, skill and interests and depending on the availability of appropriate supervision on-site and a useful training role in the organisation.