This module is designed to take you through the process of assessing client(s)’ needs, formulating, delivering and evaluating an intervention. Key to this process is an understanding of the appropriate application of underpinning psychological models and theories combined with the ability to build a positive therapeutic relationship and to effectively communicate (listen, teach, feedback) with clients (and other health professionals). Sessions will be interactive in nature and will incorporate reflective practice. Content will cover: Assessment and formulation, approaches to developing a theory-based intervention, developing, maintaining and ending a therapeutic relationship, intervention techniques (1:1 and group as well as face to face and distant delivery), communication skills, implementing, monitoring, evaluating and disseminating interventions.

There are TWO pieces of assessment for this module:
1) Individual face-to-face Case Study
A 3000 word (max, excluding references and appendices) Case Study of a psychological intervention that has been implemented through face-to-face work with an individual client, and which includes all elements of the process: assessment, formulation, intervention and evaluation. This should be submitted together with a) an observer’s report and b) a reflective report to be included in the appendices.

a) an Observer’s Report* detailing observation of the candidate working with a client, and the report should attest to the candidates ability to assess, formulate and deliver an intervention with an individual client.** This should be submitted as an appendix to the 3000 word report.
* We expect that the observational assessment will be completed by your workplace supervisor.
**Please note, to complete this assessment, more than one observation may be required).

b) a reflective report on the delivery of this intervention (maximum 1,500 words).
Maps to Learning outcomes 1-6.

2) Non face-to-face Case Study (e.g. group work / online intervention)
A 3000 word (max, excluding references and appendices) Case Study of a psychological intervention that has been implemented through a medium other than face-to-face work with an individual client (e.g. through group work or online), and which includes all elements of the process: assessment, formulation, intervention and evaluation. This should be submitted together with a reflective report on the delivery of this intervention to be included in the appendices (maximum 1,500 words).
Maps to Learning outcomes 1-6.

All units within the module will need to be passed.

There will be opportunities for formative feedback you are able to ask for comments on: (1) a detailed 3-page plan of the assessment given by the module leader and (2) a full draft of the assessment by your supervisor.

Please note: Please make sure that your clients have completed consent forms before starting the psychological interventions.

1. Select or design and implement appropriate health psychology tools to conduct health psychology baseline assessments of the needs of the client/patient population addressing the targeted health behaviour outcomes for this individual/group.
Analysis, Application, Enquiry, Knowledge & Understanding, Learning, Problem solving

2. Develop a working formulation model regarding the cognitive, emotional and behavioural processes that should be addressed within intervention methodology based on the assessment information, data and outcomes.
Analysis, Application, Enquiry

3. Provide detailed feedback about the outcome of the assessment and formulation as appropriate to the service and role of the health psychologist delivering/directing the intervention.
Analysis, Application, Communication, Reflection

4. Design, plan, implement and deliver health psychology interventions based on the assessment and formulation.
Application, Communication, Knowledge & Understanding

5. Communicate ideas and conclusions clearly, including providing a rationale behind decision-making based on a comprehensive understanding of the theories/models of behaviour change.
Communication, Knowledge & Understanding

6. Evaluate and effectively communicate the outcomes of health psychology interventions.
Communication,
Reflection

Blackboard Virtual Learning Environment. Web-based databases to review current relevant literature in electronic database format. Internet access. Library, Resource rooms, supervision space, service user and carer group.

Forshaw, M. and Sheffield, D. (2012). Health psychology in action. Wiley-Blackwell.

Johnstone, L. & Dallos, R. (2013). Formulation in psychology and psychotherapy: Making sense of people’s problems. Routledge.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (2007) Behaviour change: the principles for effective interventions. NICE.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (2014) Behaviour change: Individual approaches. NICE.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (2020) Behaviour change: Digital and mobile health interventions. NICE

Simons-Morton, B., McLeroy, K.R. and Wendel, M.L. (2012). Behaviour theory in health promotion, research and practice. Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Weatherhead, S., and Flaherty-Jones, G. (Eds.) (2011). A pocket guide to therapy: A ‘how to’ of the core models. Sage Publications.

This module takes you through the process of developing, conducting and evaluating psychological interventions. Sessions will be interactive in nature and will incorporate reflective practice. Content will cover: Assessment and formulation, developing, maintaining and ending a therapeutic relationship, intervention techniques, communication skills, implementing, monitoring, evaluating and disseminating interventions.

This module will be delivered through 20 hours of interactive teaching sessions which will take you through the process of assessing client(s)’ needs, formulating, delivering and evaluating an intervention. The sessions are designed to be interactive so that in addition to benefitting from the experience and knowledge of the professionals delivering the sessions, you will also draw from your own and your peer experiences. Some of the sessions will require preparation from you in advance and this will be made clear in the module documentation and handbooks. Completing this preparation will enable you to gain the maximum from the in-class session.

Continuing students will participate in an Action Learning Workshop (a timetabled session) during which members of the group will share their own real-life challenges and issues related to this unit in confidence with one another. Students will be taught how to make the most of such a workshop. Benefits of this exercise include opportunities to: apply learning from programmes to real-life situations; gain from the rich resources of an experienced peer group; use a safe environment in which to explore potentially sensitive issues; and formulate and test the viability of actions prior to implementing them. Additionally, you will have tailored individual supervision sessions with your supervisor (4 hours) and the module leader (4 hours).

The remaining 372 independent study hours will include reading, literature searches, developing and evaluating the interventions, reflection on practice, writing the two reports, and reflection on communication skills