Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychology

The aim of the course is to provide an overview of child and adolescent

clinical psychology. Definitions, key characteristics, developmental course,

correlates, causes, contexts, and outcomes of various emotional,

behavioral and neurodevelopmental disorders in children and adolescents

will be outlined and discussed. Students will be introduced to the basics

of assessment, counseling and psychotherapy with children, adolescents

and their families. Different psychotherapeutic approaches (humanistic,

psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, family systems and integrative) will

be discussed as applied to the treatment of children and youth with

various clinical problems. Finally, the course will help to build

understanding of how psychological theory informs clinical practice.

The course includes three main modules:

1. Introduction to child and adolescent clinical psychology that will

provide an overview of: historical context of child and adolescent clinical

psychology, epidemiology, developmental trajectories leading to

emotional, behavioral and neurodevelopmental disorders in children and

adolescents, risk and protective factors, main theories of child and

adolescent psychopathology, diagnosis of child and adolescent disorders

and issues in clinical decision making.

2. Characteristics of selected neurodevelopmental, behavioral and

emotional disorders and problems in children and adolescents e.g.

autism, ADHD, oppositional-defiant disorder, conduct disorder, anxiety

disorders, depression.

3. Basics of counseling and psychotherapy with children and adolescents.

Main approaches to counseling and psychotherapy of children,

adolescents and their families (humanistic, psychodynamic, cognitivebehavioral,

family systems and integrative)

1. Introduction to child and adolescent clinical psychology

Seminar 1, 2 and 3. Introduction to child and adolescent clinical

psychology: historical context, epidemiology, developmental trajectories

leading to emotional, behavioral and developmental disorders in children

and adolescents, risk and protective factors, main theories of child

psychopathology, diagnosis of emotional, behavioral and

neurodevelopmental disorders in children and adolescents, issues in

clinical decision making (Małgorzata Gambin)

Literature: Mash, E. J., & Dozois, D. J. A. (2003). Child psychopathology: A

developmental-systems perspective. In E. J. Mash & R. A. Barkley

(Eds.), Child psychopathology (pp. 3-71). New York, NY, US: Guilford Press.

Seminar 4. Overview of mental health and developmental disorders of

infancy and early childhood (Grażyna Kmita)

Literature:

ZERO TO THREE. (2016). DC:0–5™: Diagnostic classification of mental

health and developmental disorders of infancy and early childhood.

Washington, DC: Author, pages: 1-15, 139-148, 159-160

2. Characteristics of selected neurodevelopmental, behavioral and

emotional disorders and problems in children and adolescents.

2.1. Neurodevelopmental disorders in children

Seminar 5 Selected neurodevelopmental disorders (autism spectrum

disorder, developmental language disorder, developmental coordination

disorder) (Grażyna Kmita)

Literature:

ZERO TO THREE. (2016). DC:0–5™: Diagnostic classification of mental

health and developmental disorders of infancy and early childhood.

Washington, DC: Author, pages: 15-25, 36-40

Happe, F., Frith, U. (2014). Annual Research Review: Towards a

developmental neuroscience of atypical social cognition. Journal of Child

Psychology and Psychiatry, 55(6), 553–577

Seminar 6 Neurodevelopmental problems and disorders associated with

preterm birth (Grażyna Kmita)

Literature:

Johnson, S., Marlow, N. (2011). Preterm birth and childhood

psychiatric disorders. Pediatric Research, 69(5), 11R–18R.

Joseph, R. M., O'Shea, T. M., Allred, E. N., Heeren, T., Hirtz, D., Jara, H.,

Leviton, A., Kuban, K. C., Elgan Study Investigators (2016). Neurocognitive

and Academic Outcomes at Age 10 Years of Extremely Preterm Newborns,

Pediatrics, 137,

Seminar 7. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and

adolescents (Małgorzata Gambin)

Literature: Nigg, J. (2017) Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. In T. P.

Beauchine & S. P. Hinshaw (Eds.), Child and adolescent psychopathology

second edition. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley & Sons. pp. 407-448.

2.2. Behavioral and emotional disorders in children and adolescents

Seminar 8. Oppositional-defiant disorder and conduct disorder in children

and adolescents (Małgorzata Gambin)

Literature: Lahey, B.B. (2017). Oppositional defiant disorder, conduct

disorder, and juvenile delinquency. In: Beauchaine T, Hinshaw SP,

editors. Child and adolescent psychopathology. Wiley; New York. pp. 449-

496

Seminar 9. Anxiety disorders in children and adolescents (Małgorzata

Gambin)

Literature: Weems, C.F. & Silverman, W. K. (2017). Anxiety Disorders. In:

Beauchaine T, Hinshaw SP, editors. Child and adolescent

psychopathology. Wiley; New York. pp. 521-559.

Seminar 10. Depression in children and adolescents (Małgorzata Gambin)

Literature: Klein, D. N., Goldstein, B.L. & Finsaas, M. (2017). Depressive

Disorders. In: Beauchaine T, Hinshaw SP, editors. Child and adolescent

psychopathology. Wiley; New York. pp. 610-641.

3. Basics of counseling and psychotherapy with children and

adolescents. Main approaches in psychotherapy of children, adolescents

and their families

Seminar 11-12. Basics of counseling and psychotherapy with children and

adolescents. Psychodynamic, humanistic, cognitive-behavioral and

integrative approaches to counseling and psychotherapy of children and

adolescents (Małgorzata Gambin)

Literature:

Shapiro, J. P. (2015). Child and adolescent therapy: Science and art.

Chapter. 1. Therapy Fundamentals, pp. 3-41. John Wiley & Sons.

Nash, J. B., & Schaefer, C. E. (2011). Play therapy: Basic concepts and

practices. In C. Schaefer (Ed.) Foundations of play therapy (2nd ed.), pp.

3-14. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

Seminars 13-14. Family systems therapy of children, adolescents and

their families (Szymon Chrząstowski)

Literature: Dallos, R., Draper, R. (2010). Introduction to Family

Therapy. Systemic Theory and Practice. Open University Press.

Students will be able to describe:

1. Developmental trajectories leading to emotional, behavioral and

neurodevelopmental disorders in children and adolescents.

2. Risk and protective factors..

3. Main theories of child and adolescent psychopathology.

4. Process of diagnosis of child and adolescent emotional, behavioral

and neurodevelopmental disorders and process of clinical decision

making.

5. Characteristics of selected disorders in children and adolescents in

particular: autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, conduct disorders,

oppositional-defiant disorder, anxiety disorders and depression.

6. Basics of counseling and psychotherapy with children and

adolescents.

7. Main approaches to counseling and psychotherapy with children,

adolescents and their families.

 60% grade: Final test with multiple choice and open-ended questions.

 40% grade: Oral group presentation of the latest research in the field

of child and adolescent clinical psychology – students will prepare

brief oral presentations (10-15 minutes long) based on the recent

publications of findings in the field of child and adolescent clinical

psychology. Student will be working in small group (2-3 students).

Attendance rules

Up to two unexcused and two excused absences (supported by

medical/documentary evidence) are allowed.