Week #1 - Practicum Syllabus – EPSY 6399

 

Instructors:

Robert Brammer, Ph.D.	School Counseling Faculty	Terry Hargrve, Ph.D.
Office: OM 215b	Office: OM 215c	Office: OM 215a
Office Phone: 651‑3621	Office Phone: 651‑3622	Office Phone:  651-3620
Email: rbrammer@mail.wtamu.edu		Email: thargrave@mail.wtamu.edu

   

 

Topic 1 - Topic 1 - Syllabus

Purpose:

The practicum course in the Counselor Education program is designed to give students experience working with real clients in a controlled, supervised clinical setting.  Issues addressed will be the formation of a therapeutic relationship, the development and implementation of counseling goals, and the process of termination. Additionally, agency expectations concerning such matters as paper work, evaluation of the therapeutic skills and styles of others, and general ethical and clinical issues.

Course Objectives

·        ·        Demonstrate adequate counseling skills and techniques within a counseling environment.

·        ·        Prepare proper case documentation and presentations.

·        ·        Create a therapeutic alliance and demonstrate an adequate comfort level working with clients.

·        ·        Integrate assessment, theory, and technique into a implementable treatment plan

Reading Requirement.

There will be no textbook for this course, but articles will be passed out on a regular basis dealing with issues such as child abuse, suicide, depression, and other relevant topics.   Each student is also expected to read 250 pages of material that you identify as important for your development as a counselor.  (Over the length of the semester it is about 18 pages per week.)  Students will maintain a weekly, log which will be turned in at the end of the semester of their independent reading.  Students will also be prepared to discuss the assigned reading during each class discussion.

Papers

The midterm and final examination will consist of two papers.  Both papers will address your strengths and weaknesses as a counselor and your current conception of the counseling process. Don’t write this paper from a theoretical point of view.  Explain how it relates to the way you counsel.  What are your effective techniques?  What might be your professional and ethical concerns?  It is suggested that this be an integrative paper from your readings.  It is understood that there will be some similarities between the two papers, but it also expected that you will demonstrate clinical growth between the two papers as well.  The first paper should be between 3 and 5 pages (APA Style), and the second between 4 and 6 pages. Both papers should have the following headers:

    * counseling process,
    * effective techniques,
    * countertransference areas of concern,
    * clinical strengths and weaknesses, and
    * professional and ethical issues.

Evaluation:

You will receive weekly evaluations on your counseling performance from the instructor and peers.  Your grade will consist of

Mid-term evaluation & Paper
    15%

Final evaluation & Paper
    25%

Assessment of clinical skills

Reading Log
    60%


 

Process

The course will meet one evening per week, from 6:30 p.m. until 10:00.  There will be four segments during the class meeting.  

 

·           ·           6:55  Administrative and Set-up:  After the fourth week of class, we will discuss "business" issues such as logistics, appointments, observation assignments, etc.

·           ·           7:15 to 8:00  Counseling Session I

·           ·           8:00 to 8:45  Counseling Session II (if possible)

·           ·           9:00 to 9:50  Group Supervision. The class will discuss sessions or observations of sessions occurring that evening as well as readings conducted by the class members.

Pre-Counseling Agenda:

During the first 4 weeks of the semester there will be no administrative section. Session I will consist of lecture and discussion.  We will discuss paperwork, potential problems that may occur in therapeutic sessions, and practice writing progress notes, reports, treatment plans, and termination reports. During Session II, students will engage in role-plays with the professor.  We will also watch one to two video taped sessions of an effective counseling session. This four-week period will also allow for the development of case loads.

Counseling Agenda

When the counseling load is established, each student will have one session when they are not actively involved in counseling.  During this time, each student is required to observe other students and to provide a weekly survey of each observed student’s performance.

Supervision

Students are encouraged to participate in the Clinical Supervision Practicum.  Unfortunately, Epsy 6395 isn’t offered this semester, so supervisors will not be assigned to you.

Evaluation

At the time of the mid-term and final examination, the instructor will meet with each student individual to discuss your exhibited strengths and weaknesses.

 

Topic 2 - Topic 2 - Tentative Course Schedule


Agenda

1/24
    Introductions & Role Plays

1/31
    Paperwork and administration

2/7
    Start building client load
    Handling Crises (Rape and Suicide)

2/14
    First clinical sessions

2/21
    Intake Report Due/
    Bring rough treatment plan
    Continue Clinical Sessions

2/28
    Treatment plan due
    Start SOAP Notes
    Continue Clinical Sessions

3/7
    Continue Clinical Sessions

3/21
    Paper #1
    MID-TERM EVALUATION/Continue Clinical Sessions

3/28
    Continue Clinical Sessions

4/4
    Continue Clinical Sessions

4/11
    Continue Clinical Sessions

4/18
    Continue Clinical Sessions

4/25
    Paper #2
    Bring rough termination form
    Termination Sessions

5/2
   

5/9
    Reading Log
    Final termination form
    Party & Final Evaluations
    Course Review

 
    

 
    

 

 

Topic 3 - Topic 3 - Expected process

Week One:       Intake and introductions

Week Two:      goal definition and finalization of treatment plan

Week Three:    Building rapport and delving deeper into affective issues

Week Four:      Focusing on here-and-now, explore issues that led to the problems discussed in the treatment plan

Week Five:       Begin to discuss termination issues.  Help client remain open while paying attention to vulnerability and loss of therapist.

Week Six:        Some client’s will terminate at this point.  For others, continue working on affective issues and emphasizing here and now.  Some therapists will revert to asking, “so, what happened this week?”  Avoid such clichés and instead address the more critical issues of current functioning and affective openness.  Be sure to continue addressing upcoming termination and make a plan for ending therapy.

Termination:      One week prior to the end of therapy, have the client come prepared to talk about the process of therapy.  Remind her that this will be time to reflect on growth rather than to initiate new problems. If new problems are addressed, provide referrals and encourage the client to continue working on those issues with another therapist.

Topic 4 - Topic 4 - Intakes

Key Elements

·        ·        Establish rapport

·        ·        Explore goals (ground level)

·        ·        Explore alternative attempts

·        ·        Reframe goals therapeutically

·        ·        Provide estimates of treatment

·        ·        Begin intervention

·        ·        Discuss termination