The Graduate Counseling Program

Course Syllabus
Ft Bliss

Course COUN 5610 Techniques of Counseling

Term, Day, Time Spring 2, 2019 - Wednesday 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm

Instructor Name: Kathryn L. Brennan

Email: kathrynbrennan33@webster.edu

Phone: (915)474-2515

Catalog Description
COUN 5610 Techniques of Counseling
This course emphasizes the stages of the helping relationship. Students
practice basic counseling and advanced skills. Students learn to help
clients identify the problem that provides the focus for counseling and
implement a treatment plan: and the significance of openness to
supervision and self-evaluation. Multicultural and ethical components are
integrated. Students practice skills in role-played situations in class.
Course may be repeated for credit if content differs. Self-growth
experiential activities are associated with this course content.

Content Areas: professional practice, professional identity

Course Level Upon successful completion of this class students will be able to:
Outcome 1. Demonstrate proficient use of basic and advanced professional counseling
Objectives skills from a human growth and development (professional counseling)
perspective.
2. Demonstrate skill in conducting an intake interview, a mental status
evaluation, a biopsychosocial history, and a mental health history:
3. Illustrate appropriate development of case conceptualization:
4. Apply multicultural competencies to counseling skills involving case
conceptualization, diagnosis and treatment.
5. Demonstrate the ability to assess and manage suicide risk;
6. Describe basic ethical land legal standards in relation to advanced
professional counseling skills;
7. Explain record-keeping standards related to clinical mental health
counseling;
8. Identify his or her own limitations as a clinical mental health counselor
and when to seek supervision or refer clients;
9. Describe personal characteristics, including strengths and weaknesses that
influence counseling effectiveness; and
10. Summarize the current trends in the professional counseling literature as
related to counseling techniques.
Materials Young, Mark; Learning the Art of Helping; (Latest Edition); Pearson;
ISBN: 9780134165783
Students will purchase the E-text version and video package provided by
 Pearson Publishing via their Webster Canvas account. Students may also
choose to purchase the bound copy of the textbook. Please purchase your
textbook PRIOR to the first class meeting as readings will be assigned on
the first night.
Grading
(A 95-100 A- 90-94 B+ 87-89 B 84-86 B- 80-83 C 75-79 F 74 & Below)
Participation 10%
Weekly Written Assignments 20%
Research Component 50%
Mid Term Examination 10%
Final Examination 10%
TOTAL 100 %

The Graduate catalogue provides these guidelines and grading option:

Grades in the program are A, A-, B, B-, C, F, CR, I, ZF, and W
A/A- Superior graduate work
B+/B/B- Satisfactory graduate work
C Marginal work
F Unsatisfactory work
CR Credit given for practica/internships
I Incomplete work
ZF Permanent grade for unfinished incomplete grade which treated as an F
W Withdrawn from the course

Activities 1. Participation – Students are expected to come to class on time and

stay for the entire class time. Cell phones must be muted and put away.
Students are not allowed to be using any electronic devices, such as
tablets or phones, or to surf the web during class time. Weekly
discussions, facilitated by professor, will require students to explain
their understanding of personal characteristics that influence
counseling. Each student must demonstrate a minimum ability to
display course core skills and demonstrate an increase in their skill
level throughout the course. If a student is absent, the student will
provide an APA formatted paper discussing the skills presented for
each of the chapters missed.

2. Written Assignments: Students will complete a weekly assignment

found at the end of each chapter entitled “Journal Starters.” The
completed TYPED assignment is due on the instructor’s desk at the
beginning of class. No late papers will be accepted and no papers may
be emailed to the instructor. Your comments should show evidence of
critical thinking skills and the use of graduate school writing skills.
Your will be evaluated on the use of correct grammar and spelling.

3. Research Component / Presentation:

- Each student, or pair of students, will be assigned a chapter to

research and present.

2
 - Each presentation must include 3 outside professional references
- The presentations will be 45 to 60 minutes in length.

GRADING RUBRIC:
1. Chapter information thoroughly covered to include Key Concepts
2. Sides: ALL slides must show APA citations. Outside references
must each have a slide and have APA citations showing evidence of
material published within the last 5 years. Outside references must
be covered and must show evidence of higher level critical thinking
in the discussion of said reference.
3. Each student must demonstrate a counseling skill from their
assigned chapter.
4. A Handout of 1 – 2 pages must be provided to each class member
and cannot be a copy of the power point presentation. The name(s)
of the presenter(s) must be typed on the Handout.
5. The presentation MUST be done on the assigned date.

4. Midterm Exam – Short Answer; Essay (Chapters 1 – 5)

5. Final Exam – Short Answer; Essay (Chapters 6– 12)

Policy Statements: University policies are provided in the current course catalog and course
University Policies schedules. They are also available on the university website. This class is
governed by the university’s published policies. The following policies are
of particular interest:

Academic Honesty
The university is committed to high standards of academic honesty.
Students will be held responsible for violations of these standards.
Please refer to the university’s academic honesty policies for a
definition of academic dishonesty and potential disciplinary actions
associated with it.
Drops and Withdrawals
Please be aware that, should you choose to drop or withdraw from
this course, the date on which you notify the university of your
decision will determine the amount of tuition refund you receive.
Please refer to the university policies on drops and withdrawals (p.
26 in 05-10 Graduate Studies Catalogue) to find out what the
deadlines are for dropping a course with a full refund and for
withdrawing from a course with a partial refund.

Special Services
If you have registered as a student with a documented disability and

3
 are entitled to classroom or testing accommodations, please inform
the instructor at the beginning of the course of the accommodations
you will require in this class so that these can be provided.

Disturbances
Since every student is entitled to full participation in class without
interruption, disruption of class by inconsiderate behavior is not
acceptable. Students are expected to treat the instructor and other
students with dignity and respect, especially in cases where a
diversity of opinion arises. Students who engage in disruptive
behavior are subject to disciplinary action, including removal from
the course.

Course Policies CELL PHONE/ ELECTRONICS POLICY:

Turn off cell phones and beepers during class. There is NO use of cell
phones for talking OR texting during the class period. Any such use
will result in points being taken from the student’s final grade.

PLEASE NOTE:
Only students who have registered for the course may attend. Due to the
adult nature of the class discussions, children are not allowed to be present.

NO E-MAILED ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED. Any

assignments turned in late will result in the loss of 20 points per late
assignment from the final grade.
Weekly Schedule
Week 1 Introduction and review of syllabus and assignments.
Chapter 1 – Helping as a Personal Journey
Stages of the Helping Relationship.

Week 2 Chapter 2 – The Therapeutic Relationship

Chapter 3 – Invitational Skills
Journal Starters Due: Chapters 2 & 3.

Week 3 Chapter 4 – Reflecting Skills: Paraphrasing

Journal Starters Due: Chapter 4

Week 4 MID TERM EXAM – Chapters 1 - 4

Chapter 8 – Assessment and Goal Setting
Lecture and Discussion:
Identifying the Problem
Implementing a Treatment Plan
Multicultural and Ethical Components

4
 Week 5 Chapter 5 – Reflecting Skills; Reflecting Feelings
__________________________________________________
Chapter 6 – Advanced Reflecting Skills
__________________________________________________
Journal Starters Due: Chapters 5 & 6

Week 6 Chapter 7 – Challenging Skills

__________________________________________________
Chapter 9 – Change Techniques, Part 1
__________________________________________________
Journal Starters Due: Chapters 7 & 9

Week 7 Chapter 10 – Change Techniques, Part II

__________________________________________________
Chapter 11 – Evaluation, Reflection, and Termination
___________________________________________________
Journal Starters Due: Chapters 10 & 11

Week 8 Chapter 12 – Skills for Helping Someone Who is Different

__________________________________________________
Journal Starters Due: Chapter 12

Week 9 FINAL EXAMINATION – Chapters 5 - 12

Additional Course Requirements: SUPPLEMENTAL READING: Students are

Information encouraged to read from other sources on subjects related to
counseling techniques – professional journals, books, articles.

Course Attendance:
The University reserves the right to drop students who do not attend class
the first two weeks of the term/semester. Students are expected to attend
all class sessions of every course. In the case of unavoidable absence, the
student must contact the instructor. The student is subject to appropriate
academic penalty for incomplete or unacceptable makeup work, or for
excessive or unexcused absences.

Conduct:
Students enrolling in a degree program at Webster University assume the
obligation of conducting themselves in a manner compatible with the
University’s function as an education institution. Misconduct for which
students are subject to discipline may be divided into the following
categories:

1. All forms of dishonesty, cheating, plagiarism, or knowingly

furnishing false information to the University.

5
2. Obstruction or disruption of teaching, research, administration,
disciplinary procedures, or other University activities or of other
authorized activities on University premises.

3. Classroom disruption. Behavior occurring within the academic

arena, including but not limited to classroom disruption or
obstruction of teaching, is within the jurisdiction of Academic
Affairs. In case of alleged campus and/or classroom disruption or
obstruction, a faculty member and/or administrator may take
immediate action to restore order and/or to prevent further
disruption (e.g. removal of student[s] from class or other setting).
Faculty members have original jurisdiction to address the
immediacy of a situation, as they deem appropriate. When
necessary and appropriate, Public Safety and/or the local [or
military] police may be contacted to assist with restoring peace and
order. Faculty response is forwarded to the academic dean (or his
or her designee) for review and, if necessary, further action.
Further action might include permanent removal from the course.
Repeated offenses could lead to removal from the program and/or
the University.

4. Theft of or damage to property of the University. Students who

cheat or plagiarize may receive a failing grade for the course in
which the cheating or plagiarism took place.
Students who engage in any of the above misconducts may be subject to
dismissal from the University on careful consideration by the executive
vice president of the University or his designee. To the extent that
penalties for any of these misconducts (e.g. theft or destruction of property)
are prescribed by law, the University will consider appropriate action under
such laws.

Students are subject to the Student Code of Conduct and Judicial Procedure
described in the Online Student Handbook.

Course Contact Hours:

Unless a course has enrolled fewer than four students, faculty has a
contractual obligation to meet the full complement of contact/meeting
hours (36 for graduate courses). Not to meet this full complement of hours
may be construed as a breach of contract and may also endanger Webster
University’s accreditation by The Higher Learning Commission, a
commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and
its licensure by the State. Finally, course meetings which are missed for
any reason must be made up.

Determination of Grades is Based On the Following Criteria:

6
Minimum Requirements:
Products (papers, case studies, projects) must be on time, in the correct
format, corrected for spelling and grammar, appropriate materials included
and referenced to-the-point and on topic and conclusions must be
supported. All assignments are to be turned in, not to be sent via email.

Examinations must be complete, accurate, neat, evidence clear thought, and

exhibit concise and to-the-point responses.

Behavior in class discussions and group activities should be responsible,

should exhibit open communication, be constructive, and helpful.

Mastery Level (Grade of “B”): Professional Achievement

Products must meet the requirements stated above for minimum
requirements and additionally meet professional criteria. For example,
documentation should be included to support research papers, the APA
format should be used consistently throughout the paper, and substantially
more than the minimum number of references should be included.
Presentations should be logical, organized, and comprehensive.

Examinations should be organized, in depth, comprehensive, logical and

complete, and evidence thorough understanding of the subject /topic
through application of principles.

Classroom behavior should exhibit very focused activity and thought on

the subject at hand, be motivated, and assist in discovery of new insights
and relationships concerning the subject/topic of discussion.

Mastery Level Plus (Grade of “A”): Creative Achievement

Products must meet all requirements stated above and additionally meet
creative criteria. These criteria include unique topic or subject selection,
synthesis of ideas, evaluation of subject matter and positions found in the
literature, be creative in approach, establish new relationships with ideas
and provide new insights.

Examination responses indicate insightfulness of understanding, a

synthesis of information and unique ideas, and rationale for application of
principles following careful analysis.

Classroom behavior should exhibit very focused activity and thought on

the subject at hand, be motivated, and assist in discovery of new insights
and relationships concerning the subject/topic of discussion.

The grade of “A” represents the best work of students, accomplished in a

unique and professional manner.
Note:

7
To achieve the objectives of this course, this syllabus may be revised at the
discretion of the instructor without prior notification or consent of the
student.

For Webster University policies and procedures, please refer to the Catalog
and Student Handbook. If you have a documented disability as described
in Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act of the Americans with
Disability Act (ADA), you can contact our Academic Resource Center
(ARC) at www.webster.edu/acadaffairs/asp/arc.htm, or call 800-981-9801,
ext. 7620 to make arrangements for services. Also, please notify your site
administrator if you are attending an extended campus.
Reviewed by: ________________________________________
Job Title: ____________________________________________
Date:________________________________________________