PSYC 221 Mental Health Counseling
This course will explore what counseling is, who is a counselor, and what is known about changing behavior in both individual and group settings. Historical concepts of counseling will be examined as well as the scientific foundations of counseling. Research findings related to counseling techniques will be presented and analyzed. The course will focus on a variety of counseling approaches, the therapeutic relationship, legal and ethical issues, and the realities of therapeutic practice. Specialty areas of counseling to be addressed will include: marital, family, sexuality, substance abuse, child abuse, domestic violence. Skills and techniques of counseling, crisis intervention and group therapy will be discussed as part of the concept of professional practice. The needs of special populations (children/adolescents, elderly, disabled, gay, caregivers) will be considered as well as issues related to mentally ill patients, the chronically and terminally ill, and the bereaved. Cultural influences on behavior will be emphasized as a way of understanding and helping clients from diverse backgrounds. Students are encouraged to personalize the content and apply what they learn to their own lived experiences.
Prerequisite
Take PSYC-100, PSYC-230, and ENGL-101