Macquarie University

Working with Children and Families - PSYP906

The focus of this unit is on the emotional, social, cognitive and behavioural development of children, the range of problems that children present with and the impact of these problems on children and their families. The Unit teaches students different therapeutic approaches to family problems, including strengths based practice and creative therapeutic approaches for working with children. Skills for the assessment and intervention in a range of childhood problems, including intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, are developed. Skills training in parent management interventions and skills in working with families to improve parenting capacity is provided. Issues relating to the “over-diagnosis” of and overuse of medication in children and adolescents and the transition from childhood to adolescence and early adulthood are also considered.