Cursos / 2º Ciclo / Institute of Psychology and Educational Sciences :: Clinical Psychology

MÉTODOS E TÉCNICAS DE INTERVENÇÃO CLÍNICA EM ADULTOS - 2025/2026

1º curricular year
Semestralidade: 2nd semester
ECTS: 7

Teachers

Leading Teacher: Prof. Doutora Susana Pedras
Assistant Professor: Prof. Doutora Susana Pedras

Class type and School hours

Prática Laboratorial : 2 Horas
Teórico-prática : 2 Horas

Teaching Language

Portuguese

Main Aims/Objectives

The objective of this UC is to promote in-depth knowledge and specific skills about clinical intervention in adults. Overall, students are expected to be able to understand psychological intervention as a sequential process resulting from the objectives derived from the specific assessment and conceptualization of each case and depending on the psychological disorder presented.

Specific Aims/Objectives

To know the empirically validated treatment models and their recent developments; implement specific interventions for the main psychopathological conditions in adults, according to a behavioral, cognitive-emotional approach; develop skills for ethical and critical reflection, and decision-making in the clinical context; develop skills to prepare an intervention plan adjusted to the characteristics and difficulties presented by the client.

Skills to be acquired

At the end of the UC, students should have acquired competence and ability to understand and contextualize cases according to the specific characteristics associated with different psychopathological disorders; knowing how to design and elaborate intervention programs adjusted to the disturbances; to develop oral and written communication skills of the contents worked.

Teaching Procedures

Oral presentation aiming at theoretical deepening, with discussion of clinical cases and active reflection on the topics covered.

Programme

1. The typical process of therapeutic intervention with adults:
1.1. Phases and processes of Psychological Intervention;
1.2. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT);
1.3. Main techniques and methods applied in CBT;
1.4. Development of a client-centered intervention plan.
2. Empirically validated intervention models, strategies and protocols in the main psychological disorders:
2.1. Anxiety Disorders
2.2. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Related Disorders
2.4. Depressive Disorders
2.5. Eating and Ingestion Disorders
2.6. Neurocognitive Disorders.
2.7. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
3. Discussion of clinical cases and development of specific intervention protocols.

Evaluation Type

The continuous assessment will include the practical component with the discussion of cases and/or role-play.
It will also involve the completion and oral presentation of two works:
1) An individual work on the use and operationalization of a technique/strategy based on CBT (written work and oral presentation)
2) Group work on developing a teaching intervention program based on CBTin a practical case to be provided by (written work and oral presentation).

Teaching Resources

As supporting resources, books, and scientific articles will be used; videos of therapeutic sessions available on private channels: TV series and films adapted to the theme; interviews and podcasts such as the "Labirinto — Conversations about Mental Health" Project; of specific and thematic Associations and NGOs; Support texts will be provided on the Moodle platform for each of the themes presented.

Sustainability Objectives

A curricular unit Methods and Techniques of Clinical Intervention in Adults contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Health and Well-being (SDG 3); Quality Education (SDG 4); and Reducing Inequalities (SDG 10).

Keywords

Intervention with adults
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Clinical contextualization

Main Bibliography

Complementary Bibliography