Course Syllabus

 

Term:  Spring II  2007

Course Title: COUN 5020 – Foundations of Counseling

Instructor: Susan Smith-Pierce, Ph.D.

Site: Albuquerque Metropolitan Campus

 

 

Course Description: This course examines the philosophic bases of counseling and the helping relationship focusing on the foundational concepts necessary for working with individuals, groups and families. Attention is given to the development of professional identity and client relationships.

 

Incoming Competency of Student Expected by Instructor: Students are expected to have requisite background courses or similar content areas of psychology and an openness and willingness to experience and learn through outside study and classroom practice.

 

Course Objectives:

1. Provide an overview of the counseling process including stages, strategies, and skills of the helping relationship.
2. Increase student self-awareness as it relates to development as a professional counselor.
3. Develop and articulate basic assumptions about human interaction and behavior change.
4. Develop student awareness of the characteristics of an effective counselor, his/her comfort with functioning in the role of a counselor and identifying what the student uniquely brings to the counseling relationship.

 

Learning Objectives:

1. Demonstrate an integration of counseling theories and practices by participation in class role plays and discussion.
2. Demonstrate growth in self-assessment and potential to be an effective counselor through discussions and class written assignments.
3. Critically evaluate the contributions of major theorists and practitioners to the counseling profession through class assignments and discussions.

 

Schedule of Required Readings and Assignments: All reading assignments are to be completed prior to class. In-class exercises are an integral part of the course. Therefore, attendance at each class meeting is crucial. Unavoidable absences will require make-up work which is to be contracted with the instructor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week 1:          Topic: Conceptualizing What Counseling Is

                        Readings: Hackney Chapters 1& 2; Kottler Chapters 1 & 2

 

Week 2:          Topic: The Working Stages: Rapport, Relationship & Assessing

                                    Problems

                        Readings: Hackney Chapters 3 & 4; Kottler Chapters 3 & 4 

 

Week 3:          Topic: The Working Stages: Goals and Strategies

                        Readings: Chapters Hackney Chapters 5 & 6; Kottler 5 & 6

                        Counselor Identity Self Analysis

 

Week 4:          Topic: Affective Interventions

                        Readings: Hackney Chapter 7; Kottler Chapter 7                  

                       

Week 5:          Topic: Cognitive Interventions

                        Readings: Hackney Chapter 8; Kottler Chapter 8

 

Week 6:          Topic: Behavioral Interventions

                        Readings: Hackney Chapter 9; Kottler Chapter 9

                        Case Study Analysis Paper Due

                       

Week 7:          Topic: Systemic Interventions

                        Readings: Hackney Chapter 10

 

Week 8:          Topic: Ending & Extending Counselor Activities

                        Readings: Hackney Chapters 11 & 12

 

Week 9:          Topic: The Role of the Creative Arts in Counseling

                        Steppingstones Creative Project Due

 

                       

Required Texts:

                        Hackney, H. and Cormier, S.(2005). The professional counselor.

                                    Boston: Allyn & Bacon.  

                        Kottler, J. (2003). On being a therapist. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

 

Visual Aids:    Films

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Course Requirements:

                        Counselor Identity Self Analysis Paper  30%

                        Case Study Analysis Paper                               30%

                        Steppingstones Creative Project                        30%                                        

                        Participation/Attendance                                   10%

                                                                                                ____

                                                                                                100%

 

Counseling Program Attendance Policy: Students are expected to attend all nine (9) class sessions. If for some extraordinary reason a student must miss a class session, the student must have prior approval of both the instructor and the counseling faculty advisor. Any counseling student having more than one absence (excused or unexcused) is strongly encouraged to drop or withdraw from the course. (Consult the Graduate Studies catalog for the appropriate action and timeline). This policy is based on the recommendations of the professional accrediting organizations and state licensure laws that determine course class hours for professional counseling programs.

 

Grading Scale:

100-94                         A        

93-90               A-

89-87               B+

86-83               B

82-80               B-

79-70               C

Below 70         F

I                       Incomplete

Incompletes will be given only for extraordinary circumstances. Documentation will be required. The student will be expected to complete his/her incomplete by the end of the following term unless the instructor has agreed to other terms. If the work is not turned in by the end of the following term or an extension requested and granted, a grade will be assigned based upon the material at hand. Incompletes should not be used inappropriately such as an extension to simply turn in material or work at a later time.