An orientation to professional counseling focusing on standards of practice, major counseling theories, and essential concepts in the practice of counseling including attention to concepts of resilience and recovery-based models. Advocacy, systems of care, services, support for severely mentally ill, and collaborative treatment are addressed in both counseling and case management. Mental health principles, the history and philosophy of counseling, consultation, self-care, cultural competence, roles of professional organizations and governing bodies, and ethical standards of the discipline are presented. This course also includes focus on 1 unit of special topics toward the CA LPCC license.
This course offers a developmental perspective on counseling interventions appropriately undertaken with children, adolescents, and adults. Objectives include: 1) providing students with an introduction to basic intervention strategies for counseling children and adolescents, taking into account cultural and socio-economic influences; 2) familiarizing students with special topics, e.g., impact of divorce on children, child maltreatment, and effects of domestic violence; 3) consideration of family, peer, school, and community contexts in treatment planning (i.e., integrative case formulation) with children and adolescents; 4) identifying basic intervention strategies that facilitate adaptive change in adults’ lives, particularly in the context of significant transitions and life events; 5) addressing long term care and elder abuse; 6) consideration of gender, sexual orientation, and ethnicity issues; and (7) examination of changes in career, interpersonal relationships, family structure and dynamics with an emphasis on their interdependence. This course also incorporates focus on 1 unit of special topics toward the CA LPCC license. Course restricted to Counseling M.A. students only.
A course designed to cover psychopathology and sociopolitical-related issues of diagnosis and treatment. Attention is given to: 1) understanding the variability of psychopathology in community counseling settings; 2) the application of evaluation methods and diagnostic classification systems of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental and Emotional Disorders (DSM); 3) development of appropriate treatment plans; 4) the relationship of class, gender, and ethnic background to diagnosis and treatment; 5) mental health recovery-oriented care; 6) principles of collaborative treatment; and 7) the impact of co-occurring disorders. This course also includes a focus on 1 unit of special topics toward the CA LPCC license. Course restricted to Counseling M.A. students only.
This course helps students to develop necessary basic multiculturally competent assessment and counseling skills to prepare them for field based training experiences in a wide variety of settings. Students will learn interview and assessment methodologies including intake interviewing, crisis assessment, and suicide assessment. Training is done through the use of videotape feedback and in-class practice demonstrations involving personal disclosure, role-play, and group and instructor feedback. This course is normally taken in the first semester by new students. This course also includes focus on 2 units of special topics toward the California LPCC license. Course restricted to Counseling M.A. students only.
This course provides students with an opportunity to continue the development of multiculturally-competent counseling skills necessary for advanced field training during the COUN 514A/COUN 514B Supervised Field Experience sequence. There are different sections for CMHC (MFT & LPCC) and School Counseling (PPS) students: CMHC students see clients in a structured fashion on campus and School Counseling students work in school settings under the instructor’s supervision. This course also expands on principles of counseling clients in crisis and clients who have experienced trauma.
Counseling 511F focuses on academic and career awareness and support for individuals and families throughout the lifespan, including the following objectives: (1) coverage of learning and career development theory, system support, K-12 academic and career guidance, and career information resources; 2) overview of major theoretical career models and practice guidelines; 3) study of the impact of diversity issues and counselor personal needs/values on ultimate career and educational choices; 4) exploration of interrelationships among and between work, family, and other life roles and factors; 5) development of hands-on career assessment and interviewing skills including skills for group and individual clients; 6) skills with print and computer-based career counseling materials; 7) familiarizing students with available information resources; and 8) coverage of career issues of adult development, including job maintenance, advancement, retirement, job-loss, avocation and leisure, and secondary career status.
COUN 511G is an introductory course in K-12 academic counseling and career development. Course content includes the foundations of learning theory, cradle to career development and academic guidance models, and print/internet based academic/career counseling materials. The course explores the impact of personal needs, values, cultural variables, aptitudes, abilities, and interests on academic progress and career/vocational choices.
This didactic and experiential course provides students with an introduction to the concepts and practices of group counseling, supplemented by lectures and readings. The dynamics and procedures involved in working with groups will be examined with students functioning as both group participants as well as group leaders. The course also examines basic group counseling skills, stages of group formation, confidentially, trust issues, co-counseling in groups, group dynamics and structure, groupwork with families, and groupwork from a systemic perspective. Cultural factors related to group work are identified didactically and experientially. Practical approaches to group counseling include psycho-educational groups, interpersonal problem-solving groups, and task/work groups, among others. This course also includes focus on 1 unit of special topics toward the CA LPCC license.
A survey of the principles of research design, program evaluation, and assessment as applied to counseling in school and community settings, with a focus on using these skills to improve individual and programmatic counseling efficacy. Students will develop an understanding of key issues in assessment, including test development, administration and scoring, test reporting and interpretation, and test evaluation and selection. In addition, students will develop an understanding of research design and how it can be utilized for data-based counseling program planning and evaluation. The course will increase students’ awareness of the ethical and cultural dilemmas that are inherent in assessment, research, and evaluation.
This seminar provides a group discussion and supervision format in conjunction with advanced field based training, in school settings. The class meetings are designed to supplement the individual and group supervision provided by site supervisors, and the goal of the seminar is to help students develop a model of professional functioning through the integration of theory, pragmatic strategies, and personal development. Aspects of cultural diversity that influence counseling practice in school settings will be addressed. Integral to this experience is the exchange of feedback and support among seminar participants. This course also addresses techniques for working with clients and situations involving crisis/trauma.