| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Primary Convenor
Maria Kangas
Contact via +612 9850 8599
AHH L2.684
By email appointment request
Lecturer
Daniela Peiris
By email request
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MClinPsych
|
| Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
In this unit, you will be introduced to the core components of evolving current evidence-based approaches to psychotherapy. You will learn the practical skills to become a scientist-practitioner in the treatment of patients with anxiety, trauma and stress-related disorders (including adjustment), and mood/depressive disorders. You will also learn how to effectively draw upon and integrate interviewing, counselling and therapeutic skills associated with the cognitive behavioural therapies, as well as monitoring treatment progress and outcomes. Emphasis will be placed on client engagement, therapeutic alliance including managing ruptures, and reflective practice. The aims of the unit also include an introduction to core counselling skills within the context of the client-therapist relationship, taking into account ethical practices in working with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds. You will build upon theoretical frameworks informing initial assessment and an ongoing case formulation in tailoring and implementing a treatment intervention based on evidence-based cognitive and behavioural therapy (CBT) based techniques. |
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Grade descriptors and other information concerning grading are contained in the Macquarie University Assessment Policy.
All final grades are determined by a grading committee, in accordance with the Macquarie University Assessment Policy, and are not the sole responsibility of the Unit Convenor.
Students will be awarded a final grade and a mark which must correspond to the grade descriptors specified in the Assessment Procedure (clause 128 and 129).
To pass this unit, you must demonstrate sufficient evidence of achievement of the learning outcomes, meet any ungraded requirements, and achieve a final mark of 50 or better.
Further details for each assessment task will be available on iLearn.
Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (OF THE TOTAL POSSIBLE MARK) will be applied each day an assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern.
For example:
|
Number of days (hours) late |
Total Possible Marks |
Deduction |
Raw mark |
Final mark |
|
1 day (1-24 hours) |
100 |
5 |
75 |
70 |
|
2 days (24-48 hours) |
100 |
10 |
75 |
65 |
|
3 days (48-72 hours) |
100 |
15 |
75 |
60 |
|
7 days (144-168 hours) |
100 |
35 |
75 |
40 |
|
>7 days (>168 hours) |
100 |
- |
75 |
0 |
For any late submissions of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to submit an application for Special Consideration.
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due | Groupwork/Individual | Short Extension | AI Approach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Case Report: Treatment Formulation | 30% | Yes | 01/04/2026 | Individual | Yes | Open |
| VIVA - Therapy Session | 40% | Yes | Week 12 | Individual | No | Observed |
| VIVA: reflective Report | 30% | No | Week 13 | Individual | No | Observed |
Assessment Type 1: Professional task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 22 hours
Due: 01/04/2026
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)
You will be required to demonstrate that you can formulate an evidence-based treatment plan to address the client’s presenting problem (based on a client case vignette which is linked to the VIVA), as well as outline relevant evidence based assessment measure(s) for monitoring treatment progress and outcomes in clinical practice. The assessment is a hurdle as it relates to key competencies required for clinical practice related to registration with AHPRA.
Assessment Type 1: Professional task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Week 12
Weighting: 40%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Observed
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)
You will be required to conduct a therapy segment based on a client vignette. The assessment is a hurdle as it relates to key competencies required for clinical practice related to registration with AHPRA.
Assessment Type 1: Reflection task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 28 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Observed
In this report, you will be required to include reflections on your perceived strengths and limitations in your VIVA performance for this client.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation.
3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.
As a student enrolled in this unit, you will engage in a range of face-to-face, and at times online, learning activities, including readings, online modules, videos, lectures, practical skill demonstrations etc. Details can be found on the iLearn site for this unit during the course of Session 1, 2026. Recommended and required readings can also be found on the iLearn site via weekly modules and Leganto.
Technology Used
Active participation in the learning activities throughout the unit will require students to have access to a tablet, laptop or similar device. Students who do not own their own laptop computer may borrow one from the university library.
Seminars are scheduled on a weekly basis on Mondays ( between 1 to 4pm). There is also 1 full day workshop scheduled in Week 2. All seminars and the full-day workshop will be live and in person attendance is required due to the practical training involved in this unit.
|
Week |
Date |
Topic |
Staff |
|
1 |
23 Feb |
Introduction to Unit and CBT principles including case formulation (CF) – working with adult therapy clients |
Maria Kangas (MK) |
|
2 |
2 March |
Counselling skills and introduction to CBT-CF |
Daniela Pieris (DP) |
|
2 |
Friday 6th March |
Initial Assessment and CF – Full day workshop |
DP |
|
3 |
9 March |
Introduction to treating depression disorders |
MK |
|
4 |
16 March |
Depression therapy approaches – continued |
MK |
|
5 |
23 March |
Introduction to behavioural inc. exposure therapies – Anxiety disorders
|
MK |
|
6 |
30 March |
Behaviour/ Exposure approaches for anxiety - continued
|
MK |
|
During Week 6 – Case Report Assessment due by 11.55pm on Wednesday 1st April via Turnitin/Ilearn unit page MID Session Break 2 weeks: 6th to 19th April 2026
|
|||
|
7 |
20 April |
Treating OCD
|
MK |
|
8 |
27 April |
Introduction to Cognitive Therapy (CT) for depression and anxiety disorders |
DP |
|
9 |
4 May |
CT – Part 2 |
DP |
|
10 |
11 May |
Introduction to PTSD |
MK |
|
11 |
18 May |
Consolidation week – working with depressed and/or anxious clients |
DP |
|
12 |
25th May & 27th May |
VIVA week [No classes] Please refer to student roster allocation |
MK and DP |
|
During Week 13 – Viva Reflective Assessment Report due by 11.55pm on Wednesday 3rd June via Turnitin/Ilearn unit page
|
|||
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:
Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Macquarie University recognises that artificial intelligence (AI), especially generative AI, is rapidly reshaping education and the modern workplace. As AI becomes increasingly accessible, the University and your teaching staff are committed to preparing you to use these tools effectively, ethically, and with strong professional judgment. Rather than restricting technology, the emphasis is on helping you understand when and how AI can be used to enhance productivity, support learning, and reflect real-world professional practice. Across your degree, we will support you to develop the critical thinking, adaptability, and values-based decision-making skills required to navigate evolving AI tools responsibly, including acknowledging their use appropriately. You should always appropriately acknowledge when you have used AI tools within assessment tasks, including which AI tools you have used and how you have used them.
To provide clarity, Macquarie University uses a simple, two-tiered approach to AI in assessment:
AI Open assessments allow you to fully incorporate AI, reflecting authentic tasks where AI would normally be used in professional settings.
Observed with AI Optional assessments involve tasks where you either demonstrate essential knowledge without technology or show how you apply AI under supervision.
Across both categories, the goal is to ensure you build foundational knowledge, exercise sound judgment, and engage with AI in ways that uphold ethical, cultural, and university values.
Social inclusion at Macquarie University is about giving everyone who has the potential to benefit from higher education the opportunity to study at university, participate in campus life and flourish in their chosen field. The University has made significant moves to promote an equitable, diverse and exciting campus community for the benefit of staff and students. It is your responsibility to contribute towards the development of an inclusive culture and practice in the areas of learning and teaching, research, and service orientation and delivery. As a member of the Macquarie University community, you must not discriminate against or harass others based on their sex, gender, race, marital status, carers' responsibilities, disability, sexual orientation, age, political conviction or religious belief. All staff and students are expected to display appropriate behaviour that is conducive to a healthy learning environment for everyone.
In the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, professionalism is a key capability embedded in all our courses.
As part of developing professionalism, students are expected to attend all small group interactive sessions including clinical, practical, laboratory, work-integrated learning (e.g., PACE placements), and team-based learning activities. Some learning activities are recorded (e.g., face-to-face lectures), however you are encouraged to avoid relying upon such material as they do not recreate the whole learning experience and technical issues can and do occur. As an adult learner, we respect your decision to choose how you engage with your learning, but we would remind you that the learning opportunities we create for you have been done so to enable your success, and that by not engaging you may impact your ability to successfully complete this unit. We equally expect that you show respect for the academic staff who have worked hard to develop meaningful activities and prioritise your learning by communicating with them in advance if you are unable to attend a small group interactive session (where relevant).
Another dimension of professionalism is having respect for your peers. It is the right of every student to learn in an environment that is free of disruption and distraction. Please arrive to all learning activities on time, and if you are unavoidably detained, please join activity as quietly as possible to minimise disruption. Phones and other electronic devices that produce noise and other distractions must be turned off prior to entering class. Where your own device (e.g., laptop) is being used for class-related activities, you are asked to close down all other applications to avoid distraction to you and others. Please treat your fellow students with the utmost respect. If you are uncomfortable participating in any specific activity, please let the relevant academic know.
Unit information based on version 2026.01R of the Handbook