UWA Handbook 2025

Unit Overview

Description

A clinical psychologist working in medical settings applies, in professional practice, the specific educational, scientific and professional contributions of the discipline of psychology to the promotion and maintenance of health; the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of illness, injury and disability; the identification of etiologic and diagnostic correlates of health, illness and related dysfunction; and the analysis and improvement of healthcare delivery. This unit examines the interrelationship of psychology and health using a biopsychosocial perspective.

Credit

6 points

Offering
(see Timetable)

Availability	Location	Mode
Semester 2	UWA (Perth)	Face to face

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) develop skills in providing clinical psychology services for individuals with health problems that are appropriate to the client's context, considering evolving case formulation (e.g., health and related concerns, family/social networks, and organisational, cultural or community contexts); (2) consider and self-reflect on ethical issues involved in providing psychological interventions for clients considering their broader context (including culture), and employ professional communication skills to relate these in writing; (3) understand and orally communicate psychological theories of the aetiology, progression, precursors and sequelae, and the relevant evidence-base that underlie the role of psychological interventions and services for clients with ill health, across the lifespan and considering their diversity; (4) apply evidence-based and scientific methods to understand, orally communicate, and demonstrate professional practice in an area of health psychology in a role-play, showing understanding of multidisciplinary health contexts, considering developmental context and diversity; and (5) demonstrate respect for other professionals (e.g., health and allied health professionals), and appropriately communicate in a written case scenario the role that psychologists play in working with other professionals to benefit clients (e.g., within multidisciplinary teams).

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) oral presentation; (2) written report; and (3) attendance to lectures and seminars. Further information is available in the unit outline.

To pass this unit, a student must: (a) achieve an overall mark of 50 per cent or higher for the unit; and (b) achieve the requisite requirements(s) or a mark of 50 per cent or greater, whichever is higher and specified in the unit outline, for the attendance to lectures and seminars component.

Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Unit Coordinator(s)

Dr Vance Locke

Unit rules

Prerequisites

Enrolment in

01870/54570 Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Clinical Psychology

and Successful completion of

two Unit(s) PSYC5672 Foundations in Clinical Skills I
and Unit(s) PSYC5673 Foundations in Clinical Skills II

Incompatibility

Unit(s) PSYC5567 Clinical Health Psychology

Contact hours

Seminars: 12 x 2.5 hours per week (attendance at classes is compulsory)

Note

Students enrolled in an APAC accredited program must hold provisional registration as a psychologist. It is the students' responsibility to ensure registration eligibility. Enrolled students are also responsible for maintaining provisional registration for the duration of their enrolment in the program.