COUN 8500 - Counseling Techniques and Case Analysis: Individuals and Families

6 cr.

This course investigates the variety of counselor skills necessary in a helping relationship to move a client from an initial interview through the processes of information gathering, assessing, goal setting, and intervention (both individually and family system oriented) to establishing an effective termination. Students practice basic and active listening skills, such as paraphrasing, clarification, probing, and confrontation. They analyze and interpret client information and problem solve. Students also learn to develop an ecosystemic map of the client system, which includes a family or origin genogram and map of the relevant contextual levels impinging on the client system. Further, the course addresses such topics as crisis intervention, individual and group intervention strategies, couple and family assessment and interventions and case conference techniques.

A field based experience (25 hr. minimum) is required for this course. Prerequisite(s): Prerequisite for all students: admission to the MS in Counseling Program Prerequisite for school guidance students: COUN 7000 , COUN 7010 , COUN 7020 , COUN 8010 , COUN 8200 , COUN 8210 or COUN 8220 , COUN 8300 and candidacy. Prerequisite for mental health counseling students: COUN 7005 , COUN 7010 , COUN 7020 , COUN 8030 or COUN 8010 , COUN 8130 , and COUN 8132 . COUN 8300 and candidacy.