SYLLABUS Course and Instructor Course Number: Coun 501 Course Title: Course Time: Foundations of Counseling Monday, 6:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m. Course Location: Education Building Room 106 Semester: Fall 2009 Credits: Instructor: 3 credits April Schottelkorb, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, Registered Play Therapist- Supervisor Assistant Professor Department of Counselor Education Office Phone: 426-1209 E-mail: aprilschottelkorb@boisestate.edu (please contact me via email first will be easiest way to reach me) Office Hours: Monday 4:00-6:00, Tuesday 11:30-1, Wednesday 2-3:30, or by appointment. Course Objectives Accreditation and Technology CACREP Standards Addressed in the Course K Professional Identity: K 1.A History and philosophy of the counseling profession, including significant factors and events K 1.B Professional roles, functions, and relationships with other human service providers K 1.D Professional organizations, primarily ACA, its divisions, branches and affiliates, including membership benefits, activities, services to members, and current emphases K 1.F Public and private policy processes, including the role of the professional counselor in advocating on behalf of the profession K 1.G Advocacy processes needed to address institutional and social barriers that impede access, equity, and success for clients K 1.H Ethical standards of ACA and related entities, and applications of ethical and legal considerations in professional counseling
Education Trust Standards Addressed in the Course 1. D Play a leadership role in defining and carrying out guidance and counseling functions 2. C Advocate for student experiences & exposures to broaden students career awareness and knowledge 3. C Collaborate within school to develop staff training on team responses to students academic, social, emotional, and developmental needs Technology Skills Addressed in the Course Instructor Application Check computer system and preview CD-ROM software Word process, including APA formatting Use a spreadsheet and a statistical package Acquire graphics from the web, digital camera, or scanner and insert them into a poster or presentation Create and deliver a power point presentation Student Application Find material on the Web and review Web sites Be able to use e-mail, including document attachments Be able to sign in and participate in listservs Be familiar with computerized testing Be able to use audio visual equipment and playback units Course Description This course is intended to provide an introduction to professional, ethical, legal, theoretical and practical aspects of counseling. Students will examine the roles and responsibilities of members of the counseling profession, including involvement in professional organizations and associations, exploration of professional preparation standards, and the need for advocacy in support of the counseling profession and counseling clients. Historical and social contexts along with emerging professional issues and trends are included. This course is in alignment with the conceptual framework of the College of Education. Course Objectives Upon completion of the course the student will be able to: 1. Describe the historical sequence and trends of the growth of the counseling profession. 2. Integrate cultural sensitivity and the developmental nature of the human experience across work settings, theoretical orientations, and presenting problems. 3. Determine the applicability of general ethical considerations within one s value system and in compliance with legal restrictions. 4. Develop defensible selection criteria and updating procedures to complete a community resource database to meet a variety of client needs. 5. Differentiate between the personal and professional aspects of counseling. 6. Understand the processes, stages, and theories of the counseling profession.
Methods of Instruction: Practice Video and Audio Review Tapes Lecture Small group work Required Text Text and Required Reading Nystul, M. S. (2006). Introduction to counseling: An art and science perspective (3 rd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson. Also relevant readings as recommended by instructor Suggestions for Getting the Most from the Course 1. Read the contents of this syllabus and complete required assignments. Ask necessary questions the first part of class, rather than later. Expectations and Academic Requirements Readings: It is expected that you will come to class having read the chapters assigned in order to facilitate discussion. Your opinions are important to both the class and your experience in the program, so please bring to the class discussions your comments and reactions to the reading. Concept Comprehension: Brief in-class writing activities may be utilized to assess the student s understanding of text and lecture content in fulfilling course objectives. Sessions that include a writing activity will be announced in class. Attendance and Participation: A rich and healthy exchange of ideas, reading, and feedback is essential to your growth as a counselor in terms of your theoretical thinking, conceptualization skills, and actual counseling skills. You are expected to be an active speaker as well as an active listener, contributing usefully to class discussions. Learning to be an effective counselor involves assessing one s personal values and assumptions and learning to understand the values and assumptions of others. Therefore, students will be expected to discuss their personal values and assumptions in class. Wise students will avoid missing class; participation is an opportunity to gain additional insight into concepts and to share ideas. Absences will be detrimental to the understanding of the course and, therefore, detrimental to the student s grade. More than two absences will result in a one letter drop in grade (each class is worth 10 points). It is the student s responsibility to notify the instructor prior to an absence you know will occur. Cell phones are to be left off during class time. Course Assignments: 1. Three Things.
Each week that assigned readings are due, a brief three things paper is due. For this assignment, you are asked to write down three questions, comments, ideas, surprises, etc. that come to mind as you read the assigned chapters. I do not want a summary or your readings, but instead your opinion regarding the readings. Please bring this paper to class on the day the assigned reading is due to share with the class. Please type this paper and make it no longer than one page. 2. Oral Assignment: Visionary Report Orally share a maximum 15-minute presentation of a notable visionary in the counseling profession from a list provided by the instructor. Students must get approval from instructor prior to signing up for presentation. Summarize the person s contributions and perceived current influence. 3. Research Article Select one research article from a counseling journal on a topical area discussed in class. The article will be presented in class, and a copy of the article should be attached to the summary to be turned in to the instructor. Summaries of the article should be no more than 3 pages with a one-page personal reaction. Use APA format in citing the article. The following journals are recommended sources for the article: Journal of Counseling and Development Professional School Counseling The Career Development Quarterly Journal of College Student Development Counseling and Values The Journal of Chemical Dependency Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment The Journal of Counseling Psychology Journal for Specialists in Group Work Journal of Marriage and Family Counseling Journal of Humanistic Education and Development International Journal of Play Therapy 4. Interview Report Interview a practicing counselor (either in a school or mental health setting) and provide a written summary. The following questions will be useful in conducting the interview. The report must be typed, double-spaced, and should include a discussion of the role of the counselor you interviewed within his/her work setting. Specifically, state your personal reaction to the interview. How long have you been working in the helping field? Describe your training and degrees. What is your job title? Describe your duties and your work environment. What is a typical day like? What do you like best about your job? What do you wish was different? Describe the core of your philosophy of how to help people.
What theorists, writers, or researchers have influenced you most? If you had your career to do over again, what (if anything) would you do differently? What advice would you have for those who are preparing to enter the helping professions? 5. Referral Sources for Clients In groups of three, students will develop and collate a list of locally available resources (books, organizations, videos, posters, web sites, speakers, pamphlets, journals, magazines, agencies, experts, etc.) covering a counseling topic to a target audience (clients, entity, or resource requester, etc.). Copies will be made and distributed to every student in the class. An oral presentation will be given to the class. 6. Professional Brochure A brochure, flyer or pamphlet will be designed to introduce yourself as a school, community or addictions counselor for advertising and information purposes describing the role/duties of a therapist in the discipline of your choice. Other Expectations: All assigned work is expected to be completed. Time involvement depends upon the pace of the individual student. All work is expected to be original or specifically cited by source. I do not accept assignments via email. Please do not email me your assignments. It is your responsibility to get the assignment into me on time: please do not ask me to print out your paper for you! Evaluation Criteria Performance Evaluation: Each of the following segments will be scored by means of a point system. Three Things papers (12 at 5 points each) 60 points Research Article Interview Report Referral Sources Professional Brochure Visionary Report Class Participation/Attendance (10 pts/class) 130 points Total Possible Points: 390 Grading Scale: 93 100 = A 85 92 = B 77 84 = C
Disability and Academic Integrity Statements Disability Statement: If there is someone in the class who has a special need that may be the result of a disability or alternative learning style, I would appreciate hearing from you. I am reasonably certain that we can make the appropriate arrangements if necessary to assist you. The accommodations can take many forms, whether it is seating, testing, or the like. Please see me after class, or during my office hours. Academic Integrity Statement: Academic misconduct or dishonesty such as cheating and plagiarism is unacceptable and appropriate penalties will be imposed. This includes referencing material that has not been read by you, such as secondary references. Tentative Course Calendar Session Topic Assignment/ Relevant Readings 8/24 Introduction/Overview Syllabus Review Class expectations 8/31 Definition/history of counseling Chapter 1 Current trends *Three things #1 due Counselor personality assessment Education of counselors Professional activities Sign up for visionary report 9/7 Labor Day No Classes at BSU 9/14 Ethical and legal aspects of counseling Professional certification and licensure VISIONARY REPORT (3) 9/21 Building a counseling relationship Factors Interviewing skills VISIONARY REPORT (3) 9/28 Instead of class Department potluck: Attendance mandatory (location to be determined) 10/5 Personal approach to counseling Multicultural counseling VISIONARY REPORT (3) 10/12 Working in a counseling relationship Skills 10/19 Termination Chapter 8 Chapter 2 *Three things #2 due Chapter 3 *Three things #3 due Chapter 6 *Three things #4 due Chapter 7 *Three things #5 due *Article summary due
*Three things #6 due 10/26 Consultation Chapter 9 *Three things #7 due 11/2 Groups in counseling Chapter 12 *Interview Due *Three things #8 due 11/9 Evaluation and research Testing, assessment, and diagnosis in counseling 11/16 Marriage and family counseling Career counseling 11/23 No Classes at BSU Thanksgiving holiday 11/30 School counseling Child and adolescent counseling 12/7 College counseling Substance abuse & disability counseling Mental health and community counseling Course Evaluations Chapter 4 & 5 *Three things # 9 due Chapter 10 &13 *Referral Sources due *Three things #10 due Chapter 11 & 14 Three things #11 due Chapter 15 *Three things #12 due *Brochure due