The teaching of clinical psychology concerns one of the main theoretical and applied branches of psychology including the scientific study and applications of psychology about the understanding, prevention, and intervention of psychological and relational problems in individuals, families, and groups.
The teaching of clinical psychology aims to provide a framework of clinical psychology, as regards the main theories and methods of intervention, with a specific focus on psychodynamic framework and attachment theory. Special attention will be given: to reflect on the role of clinical psychologist in different working contexts; to the demand analysis model; to the clinical relationships -from beginning to the end of treatment, to the psychodynamic assessment and to the attachment-based psychotherapies
The course aims at providing students with theoretical and methodological knowledge on Clinical Psychology, its intervention methods and research field. The course will address the main issues of clinical psychology, and it will be organized in three parts:
Definition of Clinical Psychology – Theoretical models of motivation – Psychopathology – Intervention techniques – Diagnostic, therapeutic and rehabilitative activities – Psychological intervention in different contexts
Mental functioning - Psychopathological suffering - Affect Regulation - Relational patterns - Developmental issues - Defense mechanisms - Personality organizations – Psychodynamic diagnosis
Therapeutic relationship - Transference and countertransference – Therapeutic Alliance – Clinical Training - Attachment-oriented Psychotherapies- - Clinical context - Ethical principles and professional ethics
At the end of the course, the student will be able to:
Required prerequisites: Dynamic Psychology exam. The student must adequately master the concepts of dynamic psychology and have good knowledge of the contributions of the most significant and influential psychoanalysts.
The teaching will be divided into:
Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disabilities (DSA), disabilities or other educational needs are invited to contact the Professor, and the school/department disability contact at the beginning of the course to agree on any teaching methods which, in respecting the teaching objectives, taking into account individual learning methods (see section Other Information)
The course program will include the presentation and discussion of the following topics:
For international students (ERASMUS) some texts are available in English. The exam can be taken, according to the modalities provided (written), in English. Below is the list of the texts in the program:
Ricevimento: The students’ reception will take place, upon communication via e-mail, in the teacher's office on the fourth floor of DISFOR (room 4A7): Tuesday from 4pm to 6pm for the first semester lesson period Tuesday from 2pm to 4pm for the rest of the year, except on exam dates when the time will be agreed with the professor. If necessary, it can be carried out remotely on Teams, always by prior agreement via email with the teacher
Classes will be held in person during the 1st semester.
Lessons will take place on Tuesday 12am-2 pm, Wednesday and Thursday 10-12 am in person, unless otherwise indicated by the University.
The timetable for this course is available here: EasyAcademy
The exam procedure will be in written form with open questions, followed by electronic registration, usually within the next session. The exam will be held in person, unless otherwise indicated by the University in the event of a resurgence of the health emergency.
The evaluation will be expressed out of thirty. For passing the exam, the lowest grade will be 18/30 and the highest will be 30/30. In the event of "failure / withdrawal / refusal of grade" in an exam session, students are allowed to repeat the exam in the next session.
The oral exam includes open-ended questions regarding the bibliographic material and, only for attending students, topics presented and discussed in classes.
The students must be able to demonstrate that they have acquired the contents of teaching, they are able to appropriately manage them, connecting and comparing different clinical constructs/perspectives, as well as they have learned how to communicate them using scientific language and technical terms.
Registration for the exam session is mandatory through the student portal. Extraordinary exam sessions will not be granted outside the periods indicated in the Course of Study Regulations.
The exact location of the test will be indicated on the screen on the day of the exam.
Students are reminded that the Degree Course in Psychological Sciences and Techniques requires mandatory attendance at least 65% of classroom teaching hours.
TEACHING ASSISTANTS:
Dr. Simone Frisina (simone.frisina@edu.unige.it), expert in the subject, collaborates in the teaching of Clinical Psychology.
Prof. Pace is the Head of the Clinical Psychology Laboratory (LACLISPY) which, in addition to Dr. Frisina, also includes Prof. Stefania Muzi (stefania.muzi@unige.it) and with which Prof. Guyonne Rogier (guyonne.rogier@unicamillus.org ) collaborates.
THESIS:
For the 2025-26 academic year, the teacher of Clinical Psychology (111001) is available to follow about 10 theses of the Bachelor’s degree in Psychological Sciences and Techniques and some theses of the Master's Degree in Psychology.
The theses will focus on areas of interest and expertise of the Laboratory of Clinical Psychology (LACLISPY). The specific topics will be communicated at the beginning of the teaching and through the dedicated space on Aulaweb.
After the presentation of the topics in class, interested students can send an email to the Professor Pace (cecilia.pace@unige.it) and Dr. Simone Frisina (simone.frisina@edu.unige.it), indicating:
For students who, for their thesis, will be involved in research projects or systematic reviews, it will also be possible to recognize any free credits, if they request them.
STUDENTS WITH SPECIFIC LEARNING DISABILITIES (SLD), DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS (SEN):
Students with disabilities or DSA are reminded that in order to request adaptations during the exam, they must first enter the certification on the University website on the servizionline.unige.it page in the "Students" section. The documentation will be verified by the University's Services Sector for the inclusion of students with disabilities and DSA (https://rubrica.unige.it/strutture/structure/100111).
Subsequently, significantly in advance (at least 10 days) of the exam date, it is necessary to send an e-mail to the Professor with whom you will take the exam, inserting in CC both the Professor in charge for the University's Services Sector for the inclusion of students with disabilities and DSA (laura.traverso@unige.it) and the Sector indicated above using one of the following addresses (disabili@unige.it; dsa@unige.it). In the email you must specify:
Students must NOT send certifications to the Professor.