Introduction to Psychotherapy 2500-EN-S-69
This is an introductory lecture to the “Psychotherapy” specialization. Main
goal of the course is to create a broad mental map of the psychotherapy
field that will allow to assimilate in an effective way new knowledge and
skills taught during other classes from psychotherapy specialization. The
lectures will include presentations of the main psychotherapy schools:
psychoanalysis and psychodynamic psychotherapy, behavior therapy,
cognitive therapy, person-centered therapy, existential psychotherapy,
integrative and eclectic psychotherapy (including multimodal therapy and
Wachtel’s behavioral-psychoanalytical psychotherapy) and new
developments in psychotherapy. The second part of the lecture focuses
on the research in psychotherapy: methodological issues and results of
effectiveness and process-oriented empirical studies. Though the focus of
the lecture is on individual psychotherapy of adults, in the third part of
the lecture there will be time to discuss psychotherapy of families,
couples and groups. Moreover, in the part III “Practice” the issue of
technology in therapy will be also covered. At the end of the course the
issue of psychotherapy as a profession will be discussed. During this final
classes we would like to answer questions like “what is the motivation to
become psychotherapist?”, “what is the role of supervision and selfexperience
in the process of psychotherapists’ education?”, “what are the
career paths in psychotherapy field?”. The very final class will be about
specificity of psychotherapeutic treatment of severely disturbed patients
at the inpatients psychiatric wards, especially people diagnosed with
schizophrenia.
Type of course
Learning outcomes
1. The student demonstrates basic knowledge of theories and
techniques applied in psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral
psychotherapies, humanistic-existential, systemic and
integrative/eclectic psychotherapies.
2. The student demonstrates knowledge of basic results of the studies
on psychotherapy process and effectiveness. She or he is acquainted
with basic methods used in psychotherapy research.
3. The student demonstrates basic knowledge of the possible usage of
technologies in psychotherapy.
4. The student is acquainted with a variety of forms (individual, group,
family, couple therapy), contexts of applying psychotherapy (e.g.
individual practice, psychiatric ward) and the necessary conditions to
become psychotherapists.
Assessment criteria
The assessment is based on three criteria (maximum 100 points):
1. the results of 3 tests (3x25 points each=75 points maximum). The
tests have a part of a multiple-choice test (50% of points) and a part
with open questions (50% of points);
2. an individual work (25 points). Preparation of an video interview with
a psychotherapists on a previously given topic and own commentary.
The video should be the extract of the most important parts lasting
ca. 10 minutes. The best videos will be shown during the lecture (in
case of technical problems interview in a written form can be also
accepted);
If you are not satisfied with the score from the tests, you can write the
retake for each of the tests. The score of the retake will be valid even if
the grade is worse than without the retake, with the exception when the
result of the retake would lead to not passing the class.
Criteria for the grades:
points grades
96 - 100 5,5
89 - 95 5
82 - 88 4,5
75 - 81 4
68 - 74 3,5
60 - 67 3
Attendance rules
Attendance is obligatory. Two unexcused absences are allowed and
additionally 5 absences with valid excuse will be accepted without any
consequence. For each of the absence above these limits the students will
lose 5 points.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: