Infant Observation 2 (PSYT90029)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
Contact information
Semester 2
Overview
| Availability | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
Students will continue the infant observation (Bick Method) commenced in Semester 1, where a baby is observed in his or her own home for one hour per week making detailed process notes and analysis to be presented in turn at the seminar. Details of observations are to be recorded in a log book and students will circulate their recorded data to the other seminar participants and leader.
This subject will cover:
- contribution of infant observation to developmental and psychodynamic theories
- therapeutic effects of infant observation on the infant and care-giver
- relevance of infant observation to therapeutic work in other settings and countertransference and its use.
Students should note that attending and undertaking activities in this subject will not be possible without at current Working with Children Check
Intended learning outcomes
Students will:
- develop observation skills which are fundamental to all therapeutic work
- gain an appreciation of their own responses and how to use these in working with infants and their families
- continue to develop and maintain the relationship of a student observer with an infant and their parent/s thus developing the skills to maintain an equidistant stance (i.e. equally available to the infant and the adults) when working clinically with infants and their families
- be able identify and reflect on the strong affects elicited when working with infants and their families
- develop the skills to identify an infant’s communications and think about the infant’s subjective emotional experience
- be attuned to their own counter- transference reactions to the content of the observations
- critically think about and integrate the different points of view of offered by other seminar participants on the material presented from their observations
- critically appraise and clearly communicate the observational evidence for their view of the infant’s perspective in class discussions
- conclude the infant observation at the end of the semester in a professional and ethical manner.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSYT90080 | Clinical Infant Case Studies | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| PSYT90081 | Infant Observation and Assessment Skills | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| PSYT90028 | Infant Observation 1 | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Additional details
- Satisfactory commencement and progress of an infant observation (Bick method) documented in a log book completed weekly, for a total of 3,000 words due end of semester with mid-semester feedback (worth 40%)
- Student presentation of their observations during the seminar, rostered to occur between weeks 3 and 11 (worth 20%)
- Reflective essay of 2,000 words due end of semester (worth 40%)
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 33 contact hours Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 24 July 2017 to 22 October 2017 Last self-enrol date 4 August 2017 Census date 31 August 2017 Last date to withdraw without fail 22 September 2017 Assessment period ends 17 November 2017 Semester 2 contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
- Harris, M. (1987). Some Notes on Maternal Containment in Good Enough Mothering, In Collected Papers of Martha Harris and Esther Bick (ed) M.H. Williams. Clunie Press. London.
- Rustin, M. (1988). ‘Encountering Primitive Anxieties: Some Aspects of Infant Observation as a Preparation for Clinical Work with Children and Families’. Journal of Child Psychotherapy, 14 (2).
- Bolton, C. (2000). Granny goes to Baby Obs. Australian Journal of Psychotherapy. [reprinted in Infant Observation, Volume 10, Issue 2 August 2007 , pages 129 – 141]
- Magagna, J. (1987). ‘Three Years of Infant Observation with Mrs. Bick’. Journal of Child Psychotherapy, Vol 13 (1).
- Subject notes
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of Mental Health Science Course Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Science
Last updated: 3 November 2022