Counseling

This course includes a survey of the physiological, social, and psychological factors that influence the development of personality. It seeks to understand what makes a person distinctively different, along with a critical evaluation of various theories of personality development.

This course is designed to promote understanding of social and cultural diversity through study of such issues as ethnicity, gender, race, socioeconomic status, religion/spirituality, sexual orientation, ability/disability, family structure and geographic location. Students will examine how their cultural identity impacts their beliefs, values and actions, and learn the skills for competent ethical practices with diverse populations.

This course is designed to help students acquire and develop skills essential to the helping process. Core elements include: the nature of the helping relationship, introduction to basic counseling skills, and exploring attitudes and beliefs involved in developing and maintaining the helping relationship and how these fundamental core elements apply to the counselor. Emphasis will also be placed on practitioner self-awareness and self-care. Role-playing videotape experiences and other skill development exercises will be included.

This course enables students to understand the types of groups, their purpose, development and dynamics, counseling theories, and group counseling methods and skills. Ethical and legal considerations of group counseling are also explored. Students are required to participate in small groups for educational and self-assessment purposes.

This course provides students an understanding of career development and related life factors. Students study career development theory and decision-making models, procedures for planning and conducting effective job searches, assessment instruments and techniques relevant to career planning and decision-making and the use of career information. Emphasis is placed on understanding the inter-relationships between career development and career decision-making, family, socio-economic status, leisure, individual interests, and abilities.

Selected topics are offered centering on the needs and interests of the students and the availability of expert faculty. Enhancing student knowledge and building on past learning in a challenging scientific environment is one of the course's objectives. Exploring innovation and the edge of knowledge is another endeavor of this course.

Provides an introduction to theoretical knowledge and clinical skills necessary to provide addictions counseling services in both school and mental health settings. Emphasis is on diagnosis and evidence-based treatment for addictions, problem gambling, and co-occurring disorders. The impact of "stigma" as well as the history and contributions of the recovery movement are explored. Consideration is given to current trends, cultural context and primary prevention resources. Ethical and legal considerations in practice are addressed.

This course is designed to teach the prospective counselor about the history and development of psychopharmacologic agents, the biochemical nature of the central nervous system and its relationship to psychopharmacology. The legitimate use of medications and their importance for treatment are also examined.

This course provides an understanding of the theory and practice of crisis intervention, short term crisis and its counseling intervention strategies, and the responsibilities of the therapeutic milieu in crisis intervention.

This course provides a general framework for understanding psychopathology in the child and adolescent population and the process of diagnosing and designing treatment plans for mental disorders in children and adolescents.