Ed. 25 - Counseling: Principles and Practices

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Course Overview:

This is an introductory course designed to expose students to counseling theories, issues, and practical counseling methods. Through a combination of reading, discussion, practice, and writing, students will have the opportunity to reflect on theorists' views of the person and accompanying therapeutic techniques, as well as their own ideas of counseling. Ample time for roleplays, group work, and problem discussions will be provided. The social context in which counseling takes place will be explored in depth. This year the once required field experience component has been replaced by a short speaker series which will allow students to interact with two professional counselors from different settings. These hour long speaker sessions will be scheduled at a convenient time outside of our regular meetings, attendance at both is required.

Materials:

Two textbooks and one autobiography are required for this course and have been ordered by the bookstore. Copies of the textbook can be found on reserve in McCabe and in the Education Materials Center.

Three binders with required articles are on reserve in McCabe (2) and in the Education Materials Center (1). Bibliographic information for these required articles is attached to the end of this syllabus. Other suggested materials for this course can be found on reserve in McCabe library and may provide useful information for course papers and projects.

Course requirements:

  1. Class participation and attendance (25%)

    Due to the nature of this course, attendance is required at all sessions and for two evening speakers. You will be evaluated on your involvement in discussions and role plays, your preparedness for same, and your improvement in understanding and technique over the course of the semester. A detailed rubric for assessment will be developed and discussed early in the course.
  2. 2) Book review and discussion (25%). Due March 17th

    For this 10-12 page paper you will read one of the autobiographies listed above and provide:
     
    1. Your perspective on the writer's "problem"
    2. A critique of the therapeutic approaches used in the book
    3. An alternative suggestion for intervention (including the assumptions you would use to assess the "problem" and a rationale for treatment---all referenced to psychotherapeutic approaches discussed in class)
    4. A prognosis including your assessment of the effects of autobiography as therapy.

    ***Papers will be discussed informally in class March 17 & 19th.

  3. Counseling philosophy paper (25%). Due April 7th

    For this 10-12 page paper you will write your own philosophy of psychotherapy which includes your theory of personality (the underlying assumptions you hold about people, their problems, and how they change) and your theory of psychotherapy (the philosophy, relationships, and techniques of intervention). Obviously, it is fine to borrow ideas from others, but please reference them faithfully. This is a difficult assignment which requires much personal thought and reflection and to which we will devote some class time in preparation.
  4. 4) Video-taped roleplay presentation and short paper (25%). Due April 30th

    Working in pairs, you will each roleplay a counseling interaction of your choice and videotape it. (Cameras are available from Andrew Metherall in Media Services but need to be signed out in advance.) The last two weeks of class will be devoted to student presentations of their taped interviews. You will introduce a five minute segment and offer a critique with time for questions and discussion by fellow class members. A short paper (2-3 pages) summarizing your presentation should accompany your tape.