COUN 5366

Intermediate Methods in Individual and Group Counseling

Fall 2006

Instructor: Mary Morrison, PhD, LPC, NCC, RPT                          Office: ED 4013                     

Phone: 512-245-9071                                                                             Office Hours: W 1:30-5:30pm

E-mail: mmorrison@txstate.edu                                                          Th 6:15-7:15pm (RRHEC);

                                                                                                                and by appointment

Course Description :

This intermediate methods course applies counseling theories and techniques through formal lecture, didactic exchange, and supervised practice. Students practice skills in the helping relationship process, diagnosis, goal formulation, treatment planning, termination, referral, and record keeping. Students also refine their personal theoretical orientations to counseling. This course is graded on a credit (CR), no credit (F) basis.

Since students will be seeing volunteer-clients, the topics and progress of the course will be driven, firstby the needs of the clients and secondby the needs of the students.   For this reason, students must remain flexible and open to change regarding scheduled topics and plans.

Instruction will be provided via active class discussions, lecture and live and video tape supervision of counseling sessions.

Prerequisites : COUN 5354 (5378) and COUN 5359.

Course Objectives :

Through participation in this class the student is expected to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the theoretical foundations of counseling, systematically articulate professional philosophy, and integrate this philosophy into practice. (CACREP Community Counseling Standards C.3., IIK: 1a)
• Demonstrate appropriate intervention strategies that integrate theory, client assessment information, and accepted professional counseling skills while providing a safe and secure therapeutic environment (CACREP Community Counseling Standards C.7., IIK: 5b; 5c)
• Demonstrate a working knowledge of ethical standards, and an ability to exercise ethical, moral reasoning in all matters relative to professional practice. (CACREP Standards Community Counseling A.4., IIK: 1h; 5g)
• Demonstrate a commitment to becoming a responsible and contributing member of the counseling profession (CACREP Standards Community Counseling A.2., IIK: 1f)
• Demonstrate an understanding of the ongoing relationship between personal self-care and professional effectiveness. (CACREP IIK: 5a, 5b)
• Demonstrate knowledge of basic statistics and research methodology, and integrate this knowledge into professional practice (CACREP Standards Community Counseling, IIK: 8e)
• Demonstrate an understanding of the ways in which behavior, attitudes, and values impact professional relationships (CACREP Standards Community Counseling A.5., IIK: 4a; 5a,5b)
• Demonstrate assimilation and accommodation of individual differences that include but are not limited to differences of age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, spirituality, socioeconomic class, and educational level, and implement this understanding in personal, professional and community relationships (CACREP Standards Community Counseling A.5, IIK: 2b, 2c)
• Demonstrate knowledge of professional preparation standards for group leaders. (CACREP IIK: 6f)

Methods of Instruction:

Methods of instruction include (not exclusively) lecture, PowerPoint, in-class projects, group work (small & large), student presentations, audio-visual aides, experiential activities (at the prerogative of the instructor) and Videotaped and live supervision.

Required Texts :

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV) (4th ed.). (2000). Washington D.C. American Psychiatric Association.

Yalom, I.D. (2002). The gift of therapy. New York: HarperCollins.

Suggested Readings:

Corsini, R. & Wedding, E. (Eds). (2005). Current psychotherapies (7th ed.). Peacock.

Primary sources regarding your theory of choice are strongly encouraged, see bibliography list.

Course Requirements:

Log a minimum of 6-8 hours of individual client counseling and 10 hours of co-leading a group. Students with insufficient client hours (4 or less) will be given a PR (progress) and required to retake the course.

Individual, direct client contact

• All sessions will be held during class time and in the Practicum Clinic

• Client appointment times will be 6:45-7:30
• All sessions must be videotaped

• Additional supervision may be scheduled outside of   class
• In-Class supervision/staffing (conducted each week):
  • Bring tape cued to specific section (it is imperative you watch your sessions each week    

               before class.)

• Review tape from previous session
• Hand-in self-evaluation (if applicable), Session Notes
• Be prepared to leave tape with professor or peer

• When observing peers please take notes and give helpful feedback. It is important that you are open to giving and receiving feedback on your sessions.
• Volunteer-clients typically come from undergraduate classes.   You may be asked to go to these classes to assist in recruiting volunteers (usually in teams of 2)

Group Counseling

Co-lead 10 sessions with a licensed/certified mental health professional; select a setting and time of your choice, see appropriate forms (you may begin as soon as proof of insurance is turned in). The co-leader will assess your progress at the end of the experience, and a 2-3 page reaction paper about your experience is due when you complete your group. Due Nov. 29.

Grading:

Attendance and participation are mandatory. Absences and or lack of participation will result in a reduced grade of 5 points per class regardless of the reason. Please do not ask for exceptions.

This course is graded on a credit (CR), no credit (F) basis

  Due Date

10 Minute Transcript                            5%                           9/27

2 Analysis of sessions                         10%                         10/4, 10/25

Final Project                                           25%                         11/15

Group Reaction Paper                          10%                         11/29

Theory Paper                                         20%                         12/6

Clinical Experience                                30% - (Clinical skills, Participation in Supervision, Class Discussions etc)

Note : This is an Intermediate Methods course.   As such, each student will have a Professional Counseling Performance Evaluation completed.   A student cannot have below "meets criteria" on any item scored and pass this course. As an Intermediate Methods Course, there is a minimum skill level which must be attained and maintained in order to meet this criterion. Many students benefit from a second semester of an Intermediate Methods Course.   This should not be seen as unusual or atypical.

All videotapes must be destroyed at the end of the semester.

Failure to interact with peers, facilitators, clients, or faculty in a manner consistent with the performance expectations of a professional counselor may result in a failing grade in the course and a referral to a faculty review committee for remaining in the counseling program.

Any Training Relationship in which a student takes part is considered a client/therapist relationship and, therefore, subject to all the ethical and legal regulations governing such relationships. You MUST be familiar with the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the American Counseling Association (ACA).

Proof of Liability Insurance must be provided to the instructor before any clients may be seen!

(A copy of the face sheet listing your name, policy number and duration of the policy is acceptable)

Tentative Schedule:

Texas State University seeks to provide reasonable accommodations for all qualified individuals with disabilities. This University will adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as required to afford equal opportunity. It is the student's responsibility to register with Disability Support Services and to contact the faculty member in a timely manner to arrange for appropriate accommodations.