STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK

COLLEGE AT OSWEGO

School of Education

Department of Counseling and Psychological Services

FALL 2007

Instructor: Jodi Mullen, Ph.D. jmullen@oswego.edu

www.oswego.edu/~jmullen

410 Mahar Hall office: 312 - 3496

office hours: Wednesdays 10-12 or by appointment.

I. Course Number & Credit: CPS 510: 3 semester hours.

II. Course Title: Counseling Theory & Process

III. Course Description: Critical analysis of theoretical approaches to counseling with emphasis on the dimensions of the process, the counselor’s understanding of human behavior and his/her perceptions of self, of the client, and of the counseling relationship (Reflection, Practice, Authentic Learning, Knowledge).

IV. Prerequisites: Graduate student status and permission of the department.

V. Course Objectives:

A. An understanding of the assumptions, contents, organizations, and research associated with selected counseling theories (Knowledge).

B. An ability to utilize interchangeable responses in order to create an accepting atmosphere for the client (Authentic Learning, Practice).

C. Physical attending skills which facilitate counselor-client interaction (Authentic Learning, Practice).

D. The ability to give and recognize empathic responses (Authentic Learning).

E. The ability to identify and assess the client’s concerns, and demonstrate an ability and willingness to conduct an ongoing personal assessment, especially as it relates to the helping profession (Reflection, Social Justice, Authentic Learning).

F. An understanding of the Family Systems approach and its relationship to working with alcoholic family systems (Knowledge).

G. The ability to apply models of counseling to work with alcoholic clients (Authentic Learning, Practice).

H. An understanding of the legal and ethical issues involved with the practice of counseling (Social Justice).

I. An understanding of multicultural issues in counseling (Reflection, Social Justice, Knowledge).

VI. Means of Evaluation: All assignments have specific due dates. Failure to meet the indicated due date with result in an adjustment of your final grade and may result in failure in this course. In order to determine whether or not the objectives have been met, each student will:

A. Two counseling sessions will be submitted for review.

1. The first 15 responses (verbatim) of an audio-taped (standard cassette, CD, DVD only!) counseling session, in which the student is the counselor, will be submitted in typescript form (50 points). The following format is required:

Client Response

Counselor Response

Type of Response

Critique of Response

Alternate Response

2. The second counseling session that will be reviewed will be: (75 points)

The first 15 responses (verbatim) of an audio-taped counseling session, in which the student is the counselor, will be submitted in typescript form. The following format is required:

Client Response

Counselor Response

Type of Response

Critique of Response

Alternate Response

Summary of your improvements and what you still need to work on.

B. The submission of a 3-5 page paper describing what you learned about yourself as a listener, other people, and the counseling process. Also discuss your emerging professional identity. (25 points).

C. A group presentation evaluating an aspect of the counseling relationship. Students will be required to present in class (75 points).

D. Attendance and participation. Attendance is mandatory (50 points).

VII. Required Text:

Corey, M.S., Corey, G. (2007). Becoming a Helper (5^th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole

If you have a disabling condition which may interfere with your ability to successfully complete this course, please contact the Office of Disabled Student Services.

Indicators of Professional Readiness: Essential characteristics expected of all candidates matriculated in a degree program in the CPS Department are as follows:

Willingness and ability to self-explore and reflect on experiences in order to grow as a professional;
Ability to demonstrate excellent listening skills;
Ability to effectively communicate with others;
Ability to work respectfully, appropriately, and effectively with authority figures including university professors and site supervisors;
Ability to hear and accept critical feedback;
Ability to integrate and make changes based on communicated feedback;
Ability to act according to the professional expectations of the classroom and school/agency placement sites especially with regard to -

Appropriate dress
Promptness
Respectful attitude and behavior;

Ability to work effectively with administrators, staff, students/clients, and parents;
Ability to engage students/clients in a competent, ethical, and professional manner that respects and enhances their inherent dignity and worth;
Demonstrated adherence to the ethical guidelines related to Ability to recognize and value client diversity in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, social class, etc.;
Demonstrated ability to practice in a manner consistent with the ACA/NASP ethical guidelines; especially those related to ensuring the welfare of all students/clients and doing no harm to students/clients.

Grading Scale: (out of a possible 300)

A = >282 94%

A-= 270-281 90%

B+=261-269 87%

B =249-260 83%

B-=240-248 80%

C+=231-239 77%

C =219-230 73%

C-=210-218 70%

D+=201-209 67%

D =189-200 63%

D-=180-188 60%

E =<180 <60%

Class Schedule

Wednesday 1:00- 4:00

date topic reading assignment

9/5 course overview

ethics

communication

9/12 communication

person-centered

9/19 Existential

9/26 Psychoanalytic

10/3 Adlerian

tape and type script #1 due

10/10 small group meetings

10/17 group presentations

10/24 Gestalt

10/31 CBT/Behavioral

11/7 Post Modern Theories: Narrative,

Feminist, Solution-Focused

11/14 Family Systems

tape and type script #2 due

11/28 Counseling Children & Adolescents

12/5 510 performance checklist meetings

Paper due

finals week 510 performance checklist meetings

Thursday 9:00-12:00

Class Schedule

date topic reading assignment

8/30 course overview

ethics

communication

9/6 communication

person-centered

9/20 Existential

9/27 Psychoanalytic

10/4 Adlerian

tape and type script #1 due

10/11 small group meetings

10/18 group presentations

10/25 Gestalt

11/1 CBT/Behavioral

11/8 Post Modern Theories: Narrative,

Feminist, Solution-Focused

11/15 Family Systems

tape and type script #2 due

11/29 Counseling Children & Adolescents

12/6 510 performance checklist meetings

Paper due

finals week 510 performance checklist meetings