PSY632 Highlighted Handouts

Theory and Practice of Counseling (PSY632)

Table of Contents

Lesson 1 Lesson 2 Historical Background (Counseling & Psychotherapy) Lesson 3 Historical Background (1900-1909) Lesson 4 Historical Background Lesson 5 Goals & Activities (Goals of Counseling) Lesson 6 Ethical & Legal Issues in Counseling Lesson 7 Ethical & Legal Issues in Counseling Lesson 8 Effective Counselor Lesson 9 Effective Counselor (Continue) Lesson 10 Effective Counselor (Continue) Lesson 11 Lesson 12 Counseling Skills (Counselor’s Nonverbal Communication) Lesson 13 Counseling Skills (Hints to Maintain Congruence) Lesson 14 Listening & Understanding Skills Lesson 15 Listening & Understanding Skills (Continue) Lesson 16 Listening & Understanding Skills (Continue) Lesson 17 Influencing Skills (Basic Listening Sequence (BLS) Lesson 18 Focusing & Challenging Skills (Focused and Selective Attention) Lesson 19 Counseling Process (Link to the Previous Lecture) Lesson 20 Counseling Process Lesson 21 Counseling Process (Initial Resistances) Lesson 22 Theory in the Practice of Counseling (Termination Issues) Lesson 23 Psychoanalytic Approaches to Counseling Lesson 24 Classic Psychoanalytic Approach Lesson 25 Neo-Freudians Lesson 26 Neo-Freudians Lesson 27 Neo-Freudians Lesson 28 Client-Centered Approach Lesson 29 Gestalt Therapy Lesson 30 Gestalt Therapy Lesson 31 Existential Therapy Lesson 32 Cognitive Approaches to Counseling Lesson 33 Cognitive Approaches to Counseling (Continue) Lesson 34 Transactional Analysis Lesson 35 Behavioral Approaches Lesson 36 Behavioral Approaches (Techniques: General Behavioral Techniques) Lesson 37 Reality Therapy (Behavioral Approaches: Link to Previous Lecture) Lesson 38 Groups in Counseling Lesson 39 Groups in Counseling (Continue) Lesson 40 Marriage & Family Counseling (Continue) Lesson 41 Marriage & Family Counseling Lesson 42 Career Counseling Lesson 43 Community Counseling & Consulting Lesson 44 Diagnosis & Assessment Lesson 45 Final Overview Lesson 01

Counseling is a distinct profession that has developed in a variety of ways in 20th century. It is a very useful area; on one end it will equip the students with basic theoretical and practical knowledge about the subject, on the other end it will teach how to understand and improve oneself, and also how to maintain good interpersonal relationships. Also it teaches how to develop good communication and relationship skills.

Course Content

The main sections of the course are as under: Part I: Introduction to foundation and historical background Part II: Counseling process and methods Part III: Theories of counseling and interventions Part IV: Assessment in counseling Part V: Counseling situations

Course Objectives

The goal of this course is to present a comprehensive overview of counseling profession. This course has been developed carefully to provide students with a thorough overview to the discipline of counseling. A few objectives of this course are described below:

• To understand theoretical foundations of counseling psychology: Each theory is addressed from the perspective of background, human nature, major constructs, applications, the process of change, and intervention strategies, evaluation.
• To critically examine the major theories of therapy in the framework of one’s own background, values and professional goals.
• To indulge in self-assessment – one’s own needs and motivations, and personal characteristics that will either help or hinder one in becoming a professional in human services.
• To understand basic counseling skills as practiced by an effective counselor.
• To discuss special settings and populations where counseling could be effectively used.
• To explore ethical and legal issues for the practice of counseling profession.

Reference List

Gladding, S.T. (2003). Counseling: A Comprehensive Profession (5th ed..). Prentice-Hall Career & Technology. Corey, G. (2004). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy (7th ed.). Wadsworth Publishing. George, R.L. (1986). Counseling Theory and Practice. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.

Counseling Journals

Counseling (by British Association for Counseling) British Journal of Guidance & Counseling The Counseling Psychologist (by American Psychological Associaton) Psychodynamic Counseling International Journal of Psychotherapy European Journal of Psychotherapy, Counseling and Health

Main Features of this Course

• Classroom Activities: The counseling will provide actual demonstrations of different counseling skills and other practical aspects of the course will relate theory to practice of counseling. At the same time, it will also clear up students’ misconceptions about how a therapy actually works.
• Case Approach: Case study consistent with the theoretical model under discussion will be presented to further clarify the theoretical concepts. The case approach to counseling emphasizes the use of demonstrations and attempts to bridge the gap between the theory and practice of counseling.
• Counseling Journal: Students will be expected to write their experiences regarding practice of different

Students’ Learning

At the end of this course, the students shall be able to: Demonstrate foundational knowledge in counseling psychology (concepts, theories, ethical issues, basic skills, etc.). Apply this knowledge in improving one’s own life as well as to understand others in a better way. Use basic counseling skills (attending and listening skill) in improving their relationships.

Definitions of Counseling

As a profession counseling is relatively new. It grew out of guidance movement, in opposition to traditional psychotherapy. A few definitions described below will illustrate the meaning and process of counseling profession: “An effort to help the client engage in those types of behavior which will lead to a resolution of the client’s problems” (Krumboltz, 1965). “Counseling denotes a professional relationship between a trained counselor and a client. Relationship is usually person-to-person, and is designed to help clients to understand and clarify their views of their lifespace, and to learn to reach their self-determined goals through meaningful, well-informed choices and through resolution of problem” (Burks & Stefflre, 1979, p. 14) “An interaction in which the counselor offers another person the time, attention, and respect necessary to explore, discover and clarify ways of living more resourcefully, and to his or her greater well-being” (The BAC, 1999)

These definitions indicate that counseling as defined by different people have few common components, as described below:

• “Counseling is aimed at helping people make choices and act on them”
• Counselors are the people who listen to others and help resolve difficulties
• A relationship: Counselor develops a relationship which is based on unconditional positive regard and trust.
• A process: Counseling is a process in which the counselor and the clients involve themselves in a psychological process to solve problems.
• The counseling is designed to help people make choices and solve problems.
• The counseling helps in recognizing one’s potential and to use this potential in an effective way.

Counseling as a Helping Relationship

Counseling shares many characteristics of other helping professions. People working in these professions are expected to help others, e.g., medical doctors, psychotherapists, nurses, paramedics, school counselors, etc. According to Rogers (1961, p. 40), helping relationship is defined as:

“Helping relationship is the one in which at least one of the parties has the intent of promoting the growth, development, maturity, improved functioning, improved coping with life of the other”.