Trauma-Informed Psychotherapy

Master of Medicine (Trauma-Informed Psychotherapy)

Master of Science in Medicine (Trauma-Informed Psychotherapy)

Overview

The Master of Medicine (Trauma-Informed Psychotherapy) aims to train clinicians to use an approach to Trauma-Informed Psychotherapy that is applicable across acute, brief and longer term treatment. It aims to treat people with psychological disorders where chronic, complex or cumulative trauma plays a contributing role as well as people with non-specific distress who are seeking improved well-being. It is a suitable initial form of therapy and also may be used with more complex conditions where there has been an inadequate response to other therapies. This course is suitable for psychiatry registrars, CMOs and psychiatrists, general practitioners or other medical practitioners who wish to develop a career in psychotherapy or as psychotherapists.

Contemporary psychotherapy teaches techniques that aim to improve mental health and well-being for those with personality disorders, traumatic and dissociative disorders, anxiety disorders, dysthymia, chronic depression, somatisation and conditions in which chronic complex trauma is a contributing factor. It also offers a broad person-centred and trauma-informed approach in many other acute, brief and ongoing conditions and treatment settings where psychological factors are important and a good therapeutic alliance is crucial.

The therapeutic approach is based on the Conversational Model which incorporates concepts from other psychodynamic approaches such as self-psychology, intersubjectivity and relational schools as well as integrating research from human development, attachment, trauma theory, neuroscience and linguistics.

Our program has a long history of research and training in the field of personality disorder, chronic complex trauma, trauma-informed care and psychotherapy and the interface with psychophysiology. The program is delivered in close liaison with the Western Sydney Local Health District and practising clinicians to ensure that the skills taught are practical and relevant to real-world psychotherapy practice settings. Clinical content includes short and longer term interventions and the integration of psychotherapy with other treatment modalities.

This course will prepare students for a professional career in contemporary psychotherapy. Students who complete this program may be eligible to gain professional recognition with the Australian and New Zealand Association of Psychotherapy (ANZAP), subject to other requirements.

The program has been extensively restructured to better meet the needs of clinicians for training in both shorter and longer forms of psychotherapy and for trauma-informed care in relation to all mental health services.

From 2019 students will be able to enrol in a Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Masters. Year one of the program will equip clinicians with fundamental knowledge and skills in providing psychodynamic psychotherapy, focussing on ultra-brief psychotherapy, and short-term interventions and Trauma-Informed Care (TIC). Students who have enrolled in the Graduate Certificate will exit at this point.

Students who enrol in the Graduate Diploma will complete another year of coursework that includes an introduction to research methods as well as training and supervision in the longer form of psychotherapy. Students who enrol in the Masters will complete a third and final year of coursework, that includes the capstone units, culminating in a scholarly paper while completing a final year of training and supervision in longer term psychotherapy.

Graduate opportunities

The Master of Medicine (Trauma-Informed Psychotherapy) aims to train clinicians to deal effectively in a Trauma-informed and specific way with people presenting for psychotherapy, including those suffering from psychological disorders not aided by the more traditional psychotherapies. This course is suitable for such as general practitioners, psychiatry registrars, CMOs and psychiatrists or other medical practitioners who wish to develop a career in psychotherapy or as psychotherapists. Our graduates and affiliates have become leaders and Change Champions in this area.

Accreditation

Upon successful completion of the Master of Medicine (Trauma-Informed Psychotherapy) graduates will have achieved proficiency as psychotherapists to the point of gaining professional recognition with the Australian and New Zealand Association of Psychotherapy (ANZAP). Please note that concurrent personal psychotherapy during training and further supervision post qualification is necessary for full membership of ANZAP.

Further enquiries

Dr Anthony Korner
Phone: +61 2 9840 3335
Fax: +61 2 9840 3572
Email: