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PSCO40230

Academic Year 2025/2026

Psychoanalytic Discourse 1 (PSCO40230)

Subject:
Psychotherapy
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Medicine
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Mr Liam Barnard
Credit Split by Trimester:
Autumn 2.5
Spring 2.5
Trimester:
2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
Module Type:
Clinical Module
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

Students will develop their understanding of advanced Freudian and Lacanian psychoanalytic theory through a close reading of a key text. The limits of the knowledge of the practitioner and the consequences for ethical clinical practice will be explored, both in the context of psychoanalysis and the broader field of mental health. Students will be encouraged to formulate an informed position on the role of psychoanalysis in the field of the mental, and the relationship between a psychoanalytically-informed practice and other mental health discourses.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

The students should be able to:
1) Tolerate not knowing; desist from having to know
2) Demonstrate an understanding of a key Lacanian text and its clinical applicability
3) Have an extensive and clear knowledge and understanding of what distinguishes psychoanalysis from other mental health discourses
4) Articulate a position on the role of psychoanalysis within the contemporary mental health field.

Indicative Module Content:

Students will develop their understanding of Lacanian psychoanalytic theory through a close reading of a Lacanian text. The limits of the knowledge of the practitioner and the consequences for ethical clinical practice will be explored, both in the context of psychoanalysis and the broader field of mental health. Students will be encouraged to formulate an informed position on the role of psychoanalysis in the field of the mental, and the relationship between a Lacanian informed practice and other mental health discourses.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

90
Tutorial

26
Total

116

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
peer and group work; critical writing; reflective learning; in-class discussion of practice; student presentations of practice; clinical reading

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

Student engages in their own personal psychoanalysis


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): Presentation on a topic covered on the module followed by submission of essay on the chosen topic. Timing Varies over the Trimester. Week 10 Spring, Week 12 Spring Graded Yes
50
 Yes
Assignment(Including Essay): In rotation in the class group lead the reading of the fortnighly Lacanian text and submit one page summary of their understanding of that section of the text Week 12 Spring Graded Yes
50
 Yes

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Peer review activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Name Role
Dr Barry O'Donnell Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Mr Liam Barnard Tutor
Dr Grainne Donohue Tutor
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