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Welcome to Counseling Methods

Instructor:     Dr. Parkinson

Office:     229 AC Building

Phone:     589-2070

I.     Overview of Course

This class has two main objectives: 1) to acquaint you with issues, ideas, and theories related to being a helper 2) to give you the opportunity to practice some core communication skills in helping interviews.

In order to achieve these objectives, class activities will be divided into two types. The first type of activity, related to objective #1, will consist primarily of material from Becoming A Helper, by Corey and Corey, and viewing films and videos related to counseling. The second type of activity, related to objective #2, will consist primarily of material related to Essential Interviewing by Evans et. al., interfaced with your own practice of these skills in class. This second type of activity will be referred to as "skill lab."

II.     Grading

Exams: There will be two exams throughout the semester.

Written Assignments: There will be three types of written assignments.

WA #1: Miscellaneous Written Assignments

At various times throughout the semester, films and videotapes will be shown. You will be given questions to answer in relation to some of these films and videos. If you are not here on the day the film is shown, you will not be able to complete the written assignment.

You may also be given short written assignments throughout the semester, such as responding to an article given to you in class.

WA #2: There will be written assignments for some of the skill labs. These will be given out and explained prior to lab. These assignments must be brought to class on the assignment dates.

WA #3: Each of you will make a videotape of a counseling session, where you are the counselor, and one of your classmates is the client. You will analyze the tape according to written guidelines.

Oral Analysis of Videotape: Each of you will present an oral analysis of the videotaped counseling session (WA #3). This analysis will be conducted with your instructor.

Class Participation: This class is designed to utilize a great deal of class discussion. A low degree of class participation will hurt your final grade.

Attendance: You will be allowed a total of two absences until we begin the Evans text. After we begin the exercises in the Evans text, no absences are permitted unless there is a very compelling reason.

Each absence beyond two will result in fifteen points being deducted from your final grade.

III.     Reading Assignments (in order given)

Corey text, Becoming a Helper

Ch. 1,2,6,3,4,12,13,5,7,8

Evans text, Essential Interviewing

Ch. 1,2,5,3,4,6,9,7 (Ch. 7, if time permits.)