Main content

Home

Menu

Loading wiki pages...

View
Wiki Version:
All authors are part of the faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium. **Abstract:**The poster presents an innovative and novel approach of teaching clinical health psychology. In this course, students learn how to monitor a (health) psychological problem, but also to evaluate the effect of a selected treatment by setting up, executing, and analyzing a single-case experiment. **Supporting Summary:**Health psychology is a multifaceted area of study, incorporating a range of complaints that can overlap with medical disorders. The strength of the science-practitioner is that valid conclusions about individual clients and their needs can be reached, rather than general statements about a group. With this goal in mind, we hereby present how the master course Clinical Health Psychology is taught at the University of Leuven. At the heart of the course is the acquisition of knowledge through direct personal experience. Since the integration of theory and practice is paramount within health psychology, students not only learn about theoretical concepts, but also get the opportunity to practice clinical skills, more specifically how to work as a scientist-practitioner and how to conduct single-case experimentation. The course comprises two learning forms. First, there are practical sessions, in which we introduce the set-up, execution, analysis, and evaluation of a health psychological intervention for bodily complaints using a single-case experimental (SCE) approach. This approach comprises of 6 elements: 1) Students take on the role of both a therapist and a client. During an intake interview the client's needs are identified and an appropriate intervention is selected; 2) Therapists design an SCE and randomly determine when the intervention will start. Clients complete a self-devised diary for 44 consecutive days; 3) Subsequently, the treatment is carried out and videotaped; 4) After termination of the SCE, students analyze their data using Randomization tests; 5) Students write a short report sketching the client's needs, describing the chosen intervention, the diary, and the results; 6) Lastly, both tutors and peers assess the videotape of the intervention session with regard to professional behavior, and provide appropriate feedback. Second, the practical sessions are complemented with lectures, presenting prototypical examples of health psychological complaints from a biopsychosocial perspective. The emphasis lies on practice and concrete treatment approaches. In Sum, the course prepares students to analyse bodily complaints, and to identify and manipulate psychological factors relevant for recovery. Most importantly, this course prepares students to professionally create and execute an SCE with their clients, as well as to critically evaluate a chosen treatment. [Click here to go to the course syllabus][1] [1]: https://onderwijsaanbod.kuleuven.be/syllabi/v/e/P0Q37AE.htm#activetab=doelstellingen_idp1120176
OSF does not support the use of Internet Explorer. For optimal performance, please switch to another browser.
Accept
This website relies on cookies to help provide a better user experience. By clicking Accept or continuing to use the site, you agree. For more information, see our Privacy Policy and information on cookie use.
Accept
×

Start managing your projects on the OSF today.

Free and easy to use, the Open Science Framework supports the entire research lifecycle: planning, execution, reporting, archiving, and discovery.