COUNSELING & PSYCHOTHERAPY

PSY 705- 3Credit Hours

Prof. Dr. George Gonzalez, Ph.D.

SYLLABUS

COURSE OVERVIEW: This course is intended to teach some of the most influential theories of psychotherapy and counseling.  This course is designed to familiarize students with the theoretical bases of the different theories of counseling and psychotherapy. Similarities and differences among the approaches will be explored. This course will present effective approaches and a variety of techniques of intervention with individuals with psychological, physical, cognitive disabilities. Students will become familiar with the central tenets and techniques of several major counseling and psychotherapeutic approaches to people with disabilities and others experiencing a variety of psychological and emotional disturbances. The emphasis will be on learning to address mental health issues related to trauma and life experiences. The focus will be on models and approaches that have been empirically shown to enhance well-being and quality of life in this population segment. It covers theories ranging from the older, traditional techniques through the contemporary approaches that begin to integrate greater awareness of the impact of ones gender and ethnicity. A range of techniques will be taught within the context of an understanding of the theory, rationale, and implication of each technique. Techniques and the process of counseling and psychotherapy including: facilitative relationships, case conceptualization, goal setting, intervention, and outcome evaluation will be explored. Development of counseling and psychotherapeutic skills to facilitate growth or change with respect to psychological, vocational, and social concerns through self-advocacy, cognitive, affective, and behavioral interventions will be thought through analysis and practice using simulated counseling experiences. The course presents examples of various counseling theories from various sources. There will be an emphasis on approaches that are frequently used today. Readings will be assigned for some of the less popular approaches, but they will not be discussed in class. The lectures will stress theory and case conceptualization; readings will address both theory and application. By the end of the course, the students will be expected to articulate an eclectic personal approach to counseling, derived from the case conceptualizations, and the students will gain specific, pragmatic knowledge of the treatment of adolescents and adults with disabilities experiencing emotional.