Theories and Techniques of Counseling (PSY 464)

Course Objectives

1. Develop a thorough understanding of major theories of psychotherapy
2. Master basic techniques of psychotherapy
3. Be able to generate case conceptualizations based on major theories of psychotherapy.
4. Be able to apply techniques of psychotherapy based on your case conceptualizations.

Books

Barlow, D. H. (2001). Clinical handbook of psychological disorders. (3^rd ed.) Guilford Press, New York.

Burns, D. D. (2000). Feeling good: The new mood therapy. Quill, New York.

McHenry, B. & McHenry, J (2007). What Therapists Say and Why They Say It: Effective Therapeutic Responses and Techniques. Allyn and Bacon, Boston, MA.
            Teyber, E. (2000). Interpersonal process in psychotherapy. (5^th ed.) Brooks/Cole Counseling, Belmont, CA.

Yalom, I. (2003). The gift of therapy: An open letter to a new generation of therapists and their patients. Perennial Currents, New York.

Evaluation:

Class Participation

You are expected to attend every lecture prepared to discuss assigned readings. If you are unable to attend a lecture, you are expected to meet with me to discuss a plan to make up what you missed. Excessive absences may result in a failure to complete the course. More than 2 absences is excessive.

You are expected to practice clinical skills in role-playing exercises both in class and, from time to time, outside of class. If necessary, you are expected to consult with me to overcome any obstacles such as shyness and performance anxiety that might prevent you from participating fully.

Counseling Skills Evaluations

You will schedule several 1-hour sessions with Rachel Miller, the class's GA to demonstrate your competence in the following skills:

1st Session/History Taking
Basic Rogerian Listening Skills

Cognitive Restructuring
Progressive Muscle Relaxation & Systematic Desensitization

Your performance will be graded as pass/fail. You may repeat up to 3 times for each skill. You must pass all 4 sessions in order to pass the class.

You will be given the opportunity to listen to and benefit from Rachel's feedback on your performance. Keep a record of what you have learned because 1) it might be helpful to your professional development and 2) you will be asked about your sessions with her on the final exam.

Readings

All university courses should be challenging and exciting. Class discussions should be relevant, spirited, and intellectually serious. At the graduate level, much of the responsibility for making the class discussions lively and interesting shifts from the instructor to the participants. For graduate students, the expectations for academic rigor during discussions are also higher than they are for undergraduates. For example, graduate students are expected to base their arguments on theory and empirical data rather than solely on intuition and personal experience. Unfortunately, many students cannot engage in informed discussions very often because they have not completed their assigned readings. The following policies and procedures were developed to promote an atmosphere of intellectual rigor, competence, and enthusiasm in the course:

Throughout the course you will be assigned readings. The reading load is not light.. You are expected to have the assignments completed prior to the class period.

Insight Logs

As they occur to you as you read, keep a record of your thoughts, insights, goals and resolutions. Your Insight Log can be handwritten or typed. It can consist of well-written prose, short-hand notes, poetry, or stream of consciousness for all I care: I will not be reading the details of your Insight Log. However, I expect you to bring it to class so that you can use it in class discussions. I may ask to you show it to me so that I can verify that it is being completed. Your insight logs need not be long or detailed. You are encouraged not to spend excessive amounts of time on them.

Class Discussion of Readings

In each class period, the assigned readings will be discussed and the instructor will present new material.  The intent of these discussions is to integrate new concepts with your current understanding. You are expected to come prepared to:

1. Demonstrate a basic understanding of the main ideas of each chapter. Talk about what you liked and disliked (or agreed with or disagreed with) in each chapter.
2. Discuss a few ideas from your Insight Log. In particular discuss how the readings apply to your understanding of people you have encountered personally or professionally. Please note that you should not feel obligated to reveal highly personal information of a sensitive nature in class discussions.

During discussion, you are encouraged to use the readings and your notes but you must be able to make your points succinctly and without excessive delay. If, for whatever reason, you have not completed the reading, you are expected to say so when called upon. Please note that excessive memorization of the readings is not necessary to answer the types of questions that are likely to be asked. I simply wish to ensure that you grasp the main ideas and have thought about the topics with sufficient depth. 

From past experience, it is clear that being called upon in class to answer questions about the readings is extremely anxiety provoking for some students. I do my best to minimize the aversiveness of the situation by being respectful and by not intentionally trying to expose a student's lack of preparation. If I suspect that you are not prepared, I'll probably back off and talk about it with you later one-on-one. If, for whatever reason, you are not prepared, let me know ahead of time and I will not call on you (although, depending on the reason for your lack of preparation, your participation grade may be lowered.).

Personal Project

You will meet with me individually to decide on completing a personal project designed to help you attain personal goals that will further your mastery of the course material and help you in your professional development. You will design a project that will take about 10 to 20 hours of work to complete. You will present the results/work product to the class at the end of the semester. In consultation with me, you will evaluate and grade yourself on your progress at the end of the semester.

Quizzes

A professional has to be able to distinguish between information that must be mastered and committed to memory and information that, while perhaps interesting, can be looked up again when needed. From time to time, I will notify you in class or by email which aspects of previous lectures and readings you are expected to remember without the aid of your notes. At any time during the semester, I will ask you to demonstrate your knowledge in a quiz. To prevent unnecessary anxiety, the general ideas that quiz questions cover will be known to you in advance.

After you have been notified that I expect you to know something, you can be quizzed on it at any time.

Exams
The midterm and final exams will involve an individually scheduled role play with me during the week before the exam. The role play is graded pass/fail. You must pass the role play to pass the class. You may redo the role play once each exam. The written in-class portion of the exam will involve your case conceptualization of the character with whom you role played. The exams will also involve other written essay questions. The final exam is cumulative.

Grading Procedure

All pass/fail assignments must be passed to receive a grade in the course. With instructor permission, failed assignments may be attempted a second time.

Class Participation        100 points

Personal Project           100 points

Quizzes                        100 points

Midterm                       300 points

Final Exam                   400 points

Total                            1000 points

GRADING SCALE

            A         900-1000

B         800-899

            C         700-799

            D         600-699

            F          0-599

Special Accommodations: If you need a special accommodation to fully participate in this class, please contact Disability Concerns at 438-5853 (voice), 438-8620 (TDD).

Academic Integrity: Plagiarizing and cheating on exams and other assignments are not tolerated. Any student exhibiting academic dishonesty will receive an F in the course and will be referred for disciplinary action.

Communication: The best way to reach me is by email or in person, before or after class. I do not check my office telephone messages nearly as often as I check my email. I may, from time to time, email you about various matters.

Additional information:

• Work is due at the beginning of the period on the date noted in the syllabus. 
• Late work will only be accepted if approved by the instructor, and then at a 10% penalty per day.
  
• I reserve the right to change the syllabus as needed. You will be notified of all changes to this syllabus.
  

TENTATIVE COURSE OUTLINE