Professional Certificate in Professional Practice and Case Formulations
The Professional Certificate in Professional Practice and Case Formulations will equip learners with the following competencies:
- Demonstrating clinical psychology professional ethics through the appropriate handling of confidential information.
- Applying the Singapore Psychological Society's code of conduct to the management of ethical dilemmas.
- Using clinical supervision, professional practice guidelines, reflective practice and self-care, and diversity awareness in their clinical practice.
- Developing collaborative case formulations to design and evaluate psychological treatments.
- Integrating different therapeutic approaches such as behavioural, cognitive, and systemic therapies for case formulation.
For enquiries, please email Nur Zahirah at zahirah@nus.edu.sg.
Mode of Delivery
The mode of delivery is face-to-face workshops with didactic teaching, reflective practice group discussions, and a problem-based learning project. Virtual seminars will only be held where COVID-19 restrictions preclude the possibility of face-to-face sessions.
Assessment
Learners will be assessed in the following ways:
- Group presentations, reflection assignments, and/or in-class quizzes.
The entry requirements for the component workshops and the professional certificates are as follows:
- A psychology degree with honours (a psychology degree without honours and other qualifications are accepted on a case-by-case basis)
- A personal statement (no more than one page)
- One research/clinical reference
Priority is given to applicants currently working as associate psychologists, behavioural specialists, and autism therapists who:
- Are 1-2 years into their present entry-level jobs
- Require continuous professional development
- Hope to improve their readiness for a graduate applied psychology programme
The courses are also tailored to qualified psychologists interested in professional development.
While these workshops are intended for individuals practising in the practitioner psychology fields, it is the sole responsibility of the participant to ensure that any practise involving the utilising of knowledge and skills acquired from the NUS workshops are within their areas of competence (see Singapore Psychological Society Code of Ethics, Guideline 5 https://singaporepsychologicalsociety.org/sps-code-of-ethics/). It is strongly encouraged that participants pursue regular clinical supervision to further solidify the knowledge and skills acquired from these workshops.
| Professional Certificate | Course Reference Number | Workshops | Application Links |
| Professional Practice and Case Formulations | TGS-2024047642 | Workshop I: Clinical Psychology Practice and Ethics | |
| TGS-2024047641 | Workshop II: Clinical Psychology Case Formulations |
Note:
- Course application closes 2 weeks prior to course commencement.
- Every professional certificate comprises two unique workshops. Learners will be awarded a professional certificate when they complete both workshops, and apply to the NUS Department of Psychology for the professional certificate.
- The maximum candidature period that learners must complete both workshops to be awarded the professional certificate is 24 months.
- Learners can choose not to stack both workshops into a professional certificate, but register for single workshops.
- There is no limit to the number of workshops that learners can attend.
Workshop I: Clinical Psychology Practice and Ethics
| Singapore Citizens | Singapore PRs | Enhanced Training Support for SMEs | International Participants | |
| 39 years old or younger | 40 years or older eligible for MCES | |||
| $833.85 | $323.85 | $833.85 | $323.85 | $2,779.50 |
Workshop II: Clinical Psychology Case Formulations
| Singapore Citizens | Singapore PRs | Enhanced Training Support for SMEs | International Participants | |
| 39 years old or younger | 40 years or older eligible for MCES | |||
| $833.85 | $323.85 | $833.85 | $323.85 | $2,779.50 |
- Total Nett Programme Fee Payable, Including GST, after additional funding from the various funding schemes is applied for each of the above workshops.
- Learners must pass all assessment components to be eligible for SSG funding. Failing which, full course fees (incl. GST) will be payable.
- GST shall apply at prevailing rates.
- All self-sponsored Singaporeans aged 25 and above can use their SkillsFuture Credit to pay for course fees. For more information about SkillsFuture Credit, click here.
- SME fees are applicable only to participants who are sponsored by small and medium enterprises.
Course Structure and Details
Course Synopsis
This course provides a comprehensive understanding of ethical standards and frameworks for ethical decision making as an associate psychologist. Participants will be able to explore pertinent ethical issues relating to confidentiality, professional limitations, and diversity in professional practice. In addition, they will also learn the importance of clinical supervision, reflective practice and self-care to ensure ethical practices.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this workshop, participants are expected to achieve the following:
| S/No. | Competency | F1* | F2* | F3* |
| 1 | Understand the requirements of the SPS Code of Ethics and importance of adhering to it in professional practice. | ✓ | ||
| 2 | Identify the different types of ethical issues and dilemmas in professional practice, and understand their impact on clients, caregivers, and professional practice. | ✓ | ||
| 3 | Learn and use methods for addressing and managing ethical issues and dilemmas and apply decision-making processes to resolve ethical dilemmas. | ✓ | ||
| 4 | Understand and recognise potential workplace hazards and risks to ensure a safe and secure environment. | ✓ | ||
| 5 | Understand and recognise responsibility to maintain duty of care and inclusive workplace practices. | ✓ | ✓ | |
| 6 | Understand and recognise professional duty to report ethical issues, misconduct, and discriminatory behavior. | ✓ | ✓ | |
| 7 | Understand how to assess limits of professional boundaries and capacity and understand when to seek appropriate supervision/advice on practice and whom to refer to so as to ensure best care for clients. | ✓ | ||
| 8 | Understand the principles of clinical supervision and how this provides a safe and supportive environment to reflect, review and discuss personal and professional responses to work. | ✓ | ||
| 9 | Understand the importance of reflexive practice and self-care in professional practice. | ✓ |
*The learning outcomes for this course are adapted from the following sources:
- F1 - SkillsFuture Framework, Singapore
- F2 - BPS Associate Psychologist Accreditation standards, UK
- F3 - Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education KSA Framework for Clinical Associate in Psychology (CAP), UK
Dates and Time
- Day 1: TBC in 2025
- Day 2: TBC in 2025
- Day 3: TBC in 2025
Classes will be conducted from 9 am to 5 pm.
Venue
Classes will be conducted face-to-face in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, NUS.
About The Trainer
Dr Lohsnah Jeevanandam
Senior Lecturer and Director of Clinical Psychology Programme, National University of Singapore
Education
D.Clin.Psych (University of Queensland)
BA (Hons) (University of Sydney)
Research Interests
- Developmental disabilities
- Dual diagnosis
- Behavioral modification
- Parenting programmes
Recent/Representative Publications
- Jeevanandam, L. & Toh, A. (2021). The Singapore Psychological Society Code of Ethics: The Beginning, the Current, and the Future. In K.L. Parsonson. (Ed.). Handbook of International Psychology Ethics. Routledge.
- Jeevanandam, L. (2021). Sexuality Development in Persons with Intellectual Disability: A Singapore Perspective. In M.E Wong & L.Lim (Eds.). Special Needs in Singapore (pp 309-322). Singapore: Work Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd.
- Goh, P.S., Goh, Y.W., Jeevanandam, L., Nyolczas, Z., Kun, A., Watanabe, Y., Noro, I., Wang, R. and Jiang, J. (2021), Be happy to be successful: a mediational model of PERMA variables. Asia Pac J Hum Resour. https://doi.org/10.1111/1744-7941.12283
Course Synopsis
This course provides a comprehensive overview of psychological and mental health issues, case formulation frameworks and psychological interventions underpinned by key psychological concepts. Participants will learn skills in developing a collaborative formulation with clients by taking into account the biopsychosocial factors that contribute to various psychological and mental health difficulties, and learn to design and evaluate appropriate clinical interventions grounded in case formulations.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this workshop, participants are expected to achieve the following:
| S/No. | Competency | F1* | F2* | F3* |
| 1 | Gain basic knowledge of psychological concepts, case formulations frameworks. | ✓ | ||
| 2 | Understand and use appropriate case formulation frameworks to develop collaborative case formulations, using multiple sources of data (biological, psychological, interpersonal, and sociocultural). | ✓ | ✓ | |
| 3 | Use of case formulation to plan appropriate and flexible interventions within the target population that consider the client’s perspective, including managing possible obstacles to intervention. | ✓ | ✓ | |
| 4 | Use formulations with clients to facilitate their understanding of their experience | ✓ |
*The learning outcomes for this course are adapted from the following sources:
- F1 - SkillsFuture Framework, Singapore
- F2 - BPS Associate Psychologist Accreditation standards, UK
- F3 - Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education KSA Framework for Clinical Associate in Psychology (CAP), UK
Dates and Time
- Day 1: TBC in 2025
- Day 2: TBC in 2025
- Day 3: TBC in 2025
Classes will be conducted from 9 am to 5 pm.
Venue
Classes will be conducted face-to-face in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, NUS.
About The Trainer
Dr Matthew Lim
Senior Lecturer, Deputy Director and Curriculum Coordinator, Clinical Psychology Programme, National University of Singapore
Education
D.Clin.Psy (University College London)
D.Phil (University of Oxford)
Matthew completed his first degree in psychology at NUS. He later read a doctorate at the Department of Psychiatry, Oxford University, with a research focus on gambling-related cognitive vulnerabilities. His subsequent professional clinical doctorate was completed at University College London. Matthew wrote a doctoral thesis on recovery-based outcome measurement among Vietnamese refugees living in the UK as part of his clinical training. Upon graduation, Matthew returned to his alma mater, NUS, and received an early career award with his previous senior tutorship appointment at the Department of Psychology.
Matthew teaches and supervises on the masters in clinical psychology programme in NUS and received a faculty teaching award in 2021 for his teaching excellence. He currently locums at the Institute of Mental Health and offers inpatient and outpatient clinical services. The majority of the cases he sees are high-risk adults with psychosis and/or severe emotion regulation difficulties. Matthew’s clinical and consultancy work has been informed by behavioural, cognitive, systemic and psychoanalytic ideas and contemporary "third-wave" meditative practices.
Matthew's research programme aims to develop local clinical psychology competency frameworks in specialist areas not covered by the SkillsFuture national guidelines. The masters and doctoral students he supervises have embarked on projects to articulate the competencies required in the following practice domains: mental health in disabilities, clinical health psychology, reflective practice, and clinical supervision. Findings from this research programme inform the curriculum design and assessment rubrics of professional courses in NUS.