Student Counseling and Personnel Services.

Courses and Descriptions

COU 6000 Graduate Program Orientation This course will cover needed content for successful matriculation through the Clinical Mental Health program, including training, field placements and post graduate pursuits. Program policies, procedures, expectations and requirements are discussed. In addition, the student will learn about the graduate counseling program’s place in the larger university context. COU 6310 Counseling Theories This course provides a broad understanding of professional theories and application to the counseling process, including roles and functions; professional organizations and associations; professional history and trends; ethical and legal standards; professional preparation standards, and professional credentialing. COU 6315 Marriage and Family Theories This course is taught as an elective in the CMHC program and is designed to increase the students’ knowledge of working with couples and families. Introduction to systems, social learning, and psycho-dynamic marital theory will also be addressed. Attention will be given to dysfunctional manifestations within family systems and factors related to family strengths. Further emphasis is placed on the counseling approaches of Marriage and Family Therapy. COU 6315 is an elective for the CMHC program. COU 6320 Life Span Development An introduction to the basic principles of human development with a focus on development across the life span. The course addresses the theoretical foundations and the pragmatic implications found in the developmental psychology. Emphasis placed on the application to professional counseling. COU 6325 Career and Guidance Counseling The course includes a study of career development theories and models, the processes involved in career-decision making, the diverse life-roles and their interaction with work and other roles. Students will participate in career interest inventories and discussion of contemporary career choices in the profession of counseling. COU 6330 Counseling Diverse Populations This course will introduce the history and development of counseling individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Professional issues such as ethics, research and theories of counseling will be discussed. COU 6335 Child and Adolescent Counseling This course prepares school and mental health counselors to address the specific needs of children and adolescents, with emphasis on developmental needs specific to therapeutic interventions, and common emotional issues. Group and individual counseling techniques, and treatment planning. COU 6335 is an elective for the CMHC program and required in the School Counseling Program COU 6340 Analysis of the Helping Relationship This course will explore the techniques of counseling while focusing on analytical, interpretive and rapport building skills. The content will include a study and analysis of the counselor/client relationship while helping the student develop the necessary skills in working with a diverse client population. Ethical guidelines and consideration will also be discussed COU 6345 Counseling in the Community This course will provide an overview of the field of counseling, which emphasizes theories and philosophies underlying current practices in the field of counseling. Course content will cover the history of the counseling profession, contemporary practices in community mental health, and future projections for the counseling profession. COU 6350 Group Counseling This course provides a broad graduate-level understanding of group development, dynamics and counseling theories; leadership styles; basic and advanced methods of conducting groups in a counseling setting. Ethical and multicultural issues in the group context are also discussed. COU 6355 Crisis Intervention in Counseling This course focuses on the development of skills and knowledge for crisis intervention and management in counseling including prevention planning, intervention strategies and evaluation. COU 6360 Measurement and Assessment Introduction to the history and theory of measurement and assessment as it applies to counselors. This section of the course will be tailored to professionals who may interact with other professionals across a wide range of settings to include schools, universities, hospitals, and community mental health centers. COU 6365 Research Methods This course covers the different methodologies that apply in conducting research in the counseling profession. It provides a review of historical research approaches and moves into standard and unique research methods. Topics of emphasis include research protocol, basic approaches, survey techniques, educational investigations, and applied studies. COU 6370 Integrations of Theology and Counseling An in-depth examination of the principles and practices for integration of values in counseling. The course will address the historical influence of theology on the development of counseling theories and practices. The course will also address the issues, concerns, and criticisms of the integration of theology and counseling. COU 6375 Legal and Ethical Issues An in-depth graduate-level study of the theories and principles of ethics and moral development and the impact of these upon individuals, families, communities, professional, public decisions/policies and school counselors. The study will also examine the relevant dilemmas faced in the delivery of professional behavioral, family, and social services to individuals, families, groups in mental-health and school settings. COU 6380 Diagnosis and Treatment This course of study provides an introduction to the process of diagnosing and treating individuals with mental disorders. Emphasis is placed on using the DSM-V as well as recent relevant literature to inform the diagnostic and treatment process COU 6385 Substance Abuse Counseling This course presents substance abuse studies, individual and group counseling and family systems approaches to prevention and intervention. The course provides an overview of models, assessment instruments to identify addictive behavior, methods and skills for treating addictions and collaborating with other health professionals. The course presents clinical models (developmental, solution-focused, biopsychosocial, motivational interviewing, stages of change, self-help) from which interventions are drawn. Emphasis is on prevention needs (to combat the risk factors to use from the beginning), building a professional network to aid clients with their needs and providing support for clients to live a lifestyle of recovery. COU 6385 is an elective for the CMHC program COU 6390 Counseling Practicum This course is designed to provide part-time practical experience while completing hours in a clinical setting. Counselors in training will be placed in mental health settings (such as community agencies, and substance abuse treatment programs). Historical, philosophical, psychological and sociological foundations of community counseling will also be discussed. COU 6596 Clinical Training 1 Clinical Training I is a five-day intensive experience with introduction to basic helping skills needed for counselors preparing for the student practicum experience. The course includes lecture, but is mainly experiential and focuses on therapeutic listening, empathy, individual and group skills, as well as cultural and self-awareness. COU 6597 Clinical Training 2 Clinical Training II is a five-day intensive experience for the purpose of face-to-face interaction that is designed to address more advanced issue in counseling; such as supervision and consultation, the licensing process, professional identity development, and career exploration. Advanced skills training is also a focus. The course is designed to be concurrent with enrollment in either Practicum (COU 6390) or Internship (COU 6995). COU 6695 Internship in Counseling This course is a pre-professional course, designed to culminate the studies in the profession of counseling and to prepare you for possible licensure, future employment or further graduate study through clinical experience. Counselors-in-training will be placed in mental health settings on a full-time basis.