CNSL 5313: Counseling
Skills and Techniques
Fall, 2009
Professor:
Mee-Gaik Lim, Ph.D
Email:
meegaik.lim@wayland.wbu.edu
Phone:
830-620-7142
Textbook:
Egan,
J. (2007). The Skilled Helper. (8th. Ed.).
Outcome Measures
- Students will demonstrate
critical thinking on examinations.
- Students will display
knowledge of major psychological theories, terms, and concepts of techniques
of counseling on examinations.
Although, the emphases will be on techniques, students will
demonstrate knowledge of the theories promote the specific techniques.
- Students will gain some
personal insight into their own views and feelings regarding which
techniques they think will be beneficial and which ones they think they
would be able to use effectively.
- Students will demonstrate
their learning of how to do treatment plans, progress notes, and progress
reports on tests, short papers, or discussions in class.
- Students will participate
in practice exercise in which they demonstrate skills and techniques.
Units of Study
Unit 1
Students will formulate their philosophy of life by
answering the questions below?
- What motivates human
kind?
- What causes unhappiness?
- Where does the locus of
control lie?
- What are best ways for
humans to change embedded habitual behaviors?
- How would my own values help
or harm clients?
- How do people create
meaning in their lives?
Students
will demonstrate knowledge of the following through tests, class discussion,
and written term papers.
- How to develop personal
helping skills during their personal journey of helping others
- The basic nuts and bolts
of helping
- The importance of the
therapeutic relationship in creating change within the client.
- How to help someone who
is from a different culture
- Invitational skills
Unit 2
Students
will demonstrate knowledge of the following through tests, class discussion,
and written term papers.
- How to Reflect content
- How to reflect feelings
- How to reflect meaning
- How to summarize
- How to listen without
judging.
- How to use challenging
skills to help the client
- How to do assessment and
the initial interview
Unit 3
Students
will demonstrate knowledge of the following through tests, class discussion,
and written term papers.
- How to help client set
goals
- How to help the client
develop and use solution/problems solving skills.
- How to use outcome
evaluation and termination skills effectively
- How to use advanced
skills to help the client
- How to help the client
develop advanced skills.
Course Requirements
1. Students
will complete six case vignettes for the following theories: (20 pts for each
case)
- Adlerian
- Existential
- Person-Centered
- Gestalt
- Cognitive-Behavior
- Reality
Each vignette should follow
this outline:
Theoretical Perspective
State the goals of theory
Long Term Goals (4 goals)
Short Term Objectives (2
objectives for each goal)
Therapeutic Questions (4
questions for each goal = total of 16 questions)
2. Students will participate
in weekly online discussion threads on Blackboard. (100 pts)
3. Class attendance, punctuality, and participation
(80 pts)
These components are important in the evaluation process, and
will be considered when assigning grades. It is expected that students will
attend all classes. Only absences due to emergency or illness are considered
excused. Points will be deducted for each absence.
Evaluation Grading System
A=
90-100; B=80-89; C=70-79; D=60-69; F= below 60; WP=withdrawal passing;
WF=Withdrawal Failing; W = withdrawal
Academic Honesty
What
is plagiarism? It is the use of people's
ideas without giving them credit by referencing their sources, thus the
assumption is the ideas are yours. Students must carefully cite the appropriate
sources by using APA style. Those who are unfamiliar with the APA style should
check the manual in the library. Be
cognizant that failing to cite authors constitutes plagiarism.
American Disability Act
It is the university policy that no otherwise qualified disable person be
excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to
discrimination under any educational program or activity in the university. Students should inform the professor of
existing disabilities at the first class meeting.
Syllabus Is Not a Contract
This
syllabus is only a guide to the course content and may be changed by the
professor at any time.
Class Schedule
Week
One (Aug 28/29)
Discussion
of the following topics:
- Clarifying students’
personal philosophies of life
- Understanding general
techniques
- Understanding of how
“schools of thought” within counseling determine to a large degree what
types of techniques will be used.
- Understanding how what
one’s goals are will also guide one in choosing which techniques may be
use.
- Understanding with
techniques may be germane to most theories of counseling
- Students will experience
small group work focusing on some of the above topic including their
personal philosophies.
- Treatment planning
- Evaluation of sessions
- Progress notes
Week
Two (Sept 18/19)
Discussion
of the following topics:
- How to develop personal
helping skills during their personal journey of helping others
- The basic nuts and bolts
of helping
- The importance of the
therapeutic relationship in creating change within the client.
- How to help someone who
is from a different culture
- Invitational skills
Due: Case Vignette 1 and 2
Week
Three (Oct 2/3)
Discussions
of the following topics:
- How to Reflect content
- How to reflect feelings
- How to reflect meaning
- How to summarize
- How to listen without
judging.
- How to use challenging
skills to help the client
- How to do assessment and
the initial interview
Due: Case Vignette 3 and 4
Week
Four (Oct 16/17)
Discussion
of the following topics:
- How to help client set
goals
- How to help the client
develop and use solution/problems solving skills.
- How to use outcome
evaluation and termination skills effectively
- How to use advanced
skills to help the client
- How to help the client
develop advanced skills
Due: Case Vignette 5 and 6