Department of Health and Human Services

CNSL 501 Theories and Techniques in Counseling

Fall 1999

Professor: Dr. Jane Fried
Telephone: 860-832-2119
Office 217 Barnard Hall
Office Hours: M 1-3;W 1-3; Th 2-3
email - friedj@ccsu.edu

Required Texts: Systems of Psychotherapy. (4th ed.) Prochaska & Norcross
Effective Helping ( 5th ed.) Okun
Understanding Diversity. Okun, Fried & Okun
Several readings are also on reserve in the library

 

Course Description
Investigation of theories and techniques in counseling including research findings and skill development.


TOP

Course Goals:

1. To develop a basic understanding of selected approaches to counseling
2. To understand and demonstrate the basic elements of an effective counseling relationship
3. To become aware of some of the cultural components of counseling theory and practice and the ways in which culture shapes personality
4. To develop and articulate a personal philosophy of counseling, including theoretical, cultural and ethical perspectives on the process

Course Requirements:

1. Students are expected to attend all classes. This class is heavily experiential and learning requires participation. Absence from more than one class may affect a student's grade.

2. Three papers and two take-home exams are required. All papers should be written as complete essays. The questions below are provided to guide your thinking, not to shape the format of your answers:
a) Paper 1 due September 10. This paper should answer these questions: Why have you selected counseling as your anticipated profession? What personal, family or cultural factors influenced your decision? What area of specialization interests you most and why? Identify the values which you believe have influenced your personal development, including those which are influenced by family, friends, culture, faith, sexual orientation, disability status of yourself or people you know, your interest in the arts or social issues or any other significant source of values in your life. This paper will be graded satisfactory/ unsatisfactory. I use it to get to know you.

b) Paper 2 due September 24. Answer these questions: How do cultural or racial backgrounds affect the way individuals view the world and the events which happen to them or around them? How do life-shaping conditions such as gender, sexual/affectional orientation, socio-economic class or disability status affect each person's world view? How do these factors influence a counselor's choice of approach and ability to understand the client's world view? What challenges arise when the counselor has a different set of life-shaping conditions than the client? As you describe your ideas abut these issues, please use examples from life as well as from theory. Get beyond textbook information. Look at "cultural artifacts" such as movies, television shows, literature, mass media and advertising for ideas about these issues. 15 points

c. Midterm take-home. Due October 14. This paper has three parts. 1) Find at least 3 research articles in journals* or research reports in data bases such as psychlit or on the internet about counseling persons from non-dominant cultures. Journals which address this topic include Journal of Counseling and Development, Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, The Professional School Counselor and The Networker.You may choose AfricanAmerican, Asian American, Latino/a or Native American culture. If you wish to choose your own culture, please speak with me; 2) Compare the major assumptions which shape person centered and existential counseling with some important ideas about personhood in the culture you have researched; 3) Describe a presenting problem which a person from the culture you researched might have and the ways in which you might use elements from person centered or existential therapy. 30 points

d. Paper 3 due November 11. Identify a problem you are facing now which is appropriate for treatment with cognitive behavioral or behavioral methods. Describe the problem; write a treatment plan; do it; describe the results; suggest changes for the next plan or phase. 25 points

e. Written Final exam Due December 16You will be given two case studies select one of those studies and write your theoretical analysis of the problem- what is/are the issues and why is the person experiencing them as difficulties? Then write a description of the methods you would use to help this person. Explain your theoretical approach, the techniques you would probably use with the person and the outcome you anticipate. Identify any ethical issues which this case presents and how you would be sure that your approach to the situation was ethical. Finally describe any problems which this case might present for you personally- issues of your own which might interfere with your ability to help at this time. 20 points.

f. Lab Final (p/f) December 16. Each student will come to the counseling lab and do a "live" counseling session with a partner from the class. Students will be evaluated on their ability to demonstrate appropriate attending behavior, empathic listening and responding, appropriate confrontation and clarification responses and appropriate use of specific cognitive, behavioral and affective strategies

g. Class attendance and participation 10 points (each absence beyond 1 will result in a loss of three points of the final grade)


TOP

Tentative Class Schedule

 DATE  TOPIC  READINGS
 9/2  Introductions; Course Requirements;What is helping and the helping relationship?  Okun 1,2
 9/9  Listening and cultural competence  OF&O 1,2,3
 9/16  Western Personality Development and Counseling  OF&O 5; Okun3,4; P&N 1
 9/23  Ethics; Psychoanalytic theory  Okun 9; Corey (on res);
Fried (on res);P&N25-49
 9/30  Existential and Person Centered Therapies  P&N 4,5
 10/7  Multicultural Counselor Competence;
Cultural Critique of Existential, Person Centered and Psychoanalytic therapies
 OF&O 4,6,7
 10/14  Adlerian therapy  P&N 3
 10/21  Gestalt and Transactional Analysis  P&N 6,7
 10/28  Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies P&N 9, 10 
 11/4  Planning and Use of Strategies  Okun 6,7
 11/11  Constructivist Therapies  P&N 13
 11/18  Systems Theories- Feminism  P&N 12
 12/2  Systems theories-Family  P&N 11
 12/9  Systems theories- Ecological  Fried in Ballou, on reserve
 12/16  Lab final and written final due  


TOP