School Counseling

This course provides the student with a broad overview of several important approaches to counseling and psychotherapy. Because of their widespread use and scientific respectability, focus will be on four major approaches: Psychoanalytic, Behavioral, Cognitive, and Client Centered. The emphasis will be on the ways in which each theory views the development of psychopathology and, consequently, the manner in which each theory recommends treatment. A
systems approach to counseling and well as school counseling will be emphasized. Counseling procedures and skills necessary to the effective practitioner are reviewed with a focus on listening and communication skills, both verbal and nonverbal.

This introductory course is designed to acquaint the student with the basics of the need, primary focus, and ethics of counseling services. Issues related to school counseling practices, with an overview of the role and function of the school counselor, will be reviewed. Specifically, student scheduling, testing and assessment, career guidance, and college application and placement will be emphasized. Current trends in the field, as well as general counseling issues, will be explored. Emphasis is placed on the understanding that the school counselor serves as part of a
collaborative team with a strong focus on consultation. PREREQUISITE: None

This course will provide students with a broad, integrated perspective on the discipline of psychology and its practice. Students will begin with an overview of the philosophical ideas from which psychology developed. Major theoretical positions in psychology will be explored from an historical perspective moving to the present positions and focusing on current practice. Emphasis is placed on the educational and clinical implications of these basic positions. The neurological basis of learning and memory will also be considered. The student will develop an
understanding of current trends in practice through a basic understanding of the theoretical foundations of psychology.

This course addresses the physical, cognitive and social-emotional development across the lifespan for children and adolescents along with the movement into adulthood including a description of behaviors that are present at the various stages and explanations for those behaviors regarding relative contributions of heredity and environment. The major theories of physical, cognitive, affective and social development across the life span for individuals and
families are applied to the understanding of learning, personality development, and mental health counseling practice. The sociocultural and social economic factors that may contribute to a developmental outcome are also considered.

Exceptional children are those for whom special educational programming is considered necessary. In this course, we consider the characteristics, prevalence, etiology, neurological correlates (if applicable), developmental course, assessment, and treatment for the categories of learning disabilities (including reading disability and nonverbal LD), ADHD, Aspergers syndrome, children with limited English proficiency, children from culturally diverse backgrounds, and the gifted and talented.

The purpose of this course is to acquaint the student with the major ethical issues in the practice of psychology. The course will involve an intense analysis of the philosophical, technical, and consultative issues contributing to the professional identity and function of the counselor in a public school or clinical setting. Emphasis will be placed on the setting, the practical application of theory, and the demands placed on the practicing clinician. This course stresses professional ethics and general standards of conduct; the guide for this section of the course is the American Psychological Association’s Code of Ethics.

This course will examine the theoretical and experiential understandings of group development, purpose, dynamics, group counseling methods and skills, as well as leadership styles for group facilitation. Coursework covers the dynamics and processes of group counseling within the schools. An emphasis of this course is on personal growth and the counseling process within the group setting. Among the concepts included are curative factors, interpersonal learning, group composition, and tasks and techniques for change. Topics such as addiction, poverty, diversity,
and education will be explored in understanding the individual response to group counseling.

This course will provide students with techniques to integrate the theories of treatment into specific situations that the counselor or psychologist will confront in actual practice. Topics will range from working with clients in multiple system membership to consultation around behavioral/emotional issues in schools as well as clinics. The consultation model will be considered as it relates to counselors and psychologists within a multicultural model.

This course examines evaluative methodologies and strategies, types of research, program evaluation, needs assessments, and ethical and legal considerations. Students will link statistical analysis and research methodology so that students may become a sophisticated research consumer as well as research producer. Understanding research strategy and the logic behind the statistical tests for applied purposes is an underlying theme of the course. This course will allow students to understand the nature of empirical research in developing surveys, educational interventions, program evaluations and therapeutic strategies.

This course examines disorders in adulthood, adolescence, and childhood with consideration of the relationship between biological, social, psychological, and environmental factors, as well as problems in classification and potential behavior systems. The concepts of normal and abnormal will be explored; emphasis regarding the understanding of behaviors of culturally diverse groups. The symptomatological disorders, including borderline personalities and various phobic and obsessive-compulsive syndromes will be studied. Also covered will be dis-compensation, stress,
anxiety, and defense. Mental health diagnosis focusing on DSM 5 and issues related to children and families will also be featured in this course.

This course covers the fundamental principles of pharmacology, drug actions, tolerance, addiction, clinical use of psychotic medications, substance abuse, and addiction treatment. Research that explores the efficacy of medications taken during treatment, specific treatment programs, and the degree of recidivism is presented.

The purpose of this course is to learn to carry out a psychoeducational assessment using appropriate assessment instruments and to write an effective report of the assessment. To achieve this, the class will become familiar with the particulars of testing and test administration, and will critique and study formal and informal tests and testing procedures in the areas of reading, math, language, attention deficit, and behavior. The influence and impact of standardized tests on groups such as racial, ethnic, cultural minorities, and English language learners will be explored. This course will deal with the techniques of synthesizing and integrating psychological and practical information into an effective report and educational plan. Emphasis will be placed on assessment techniques, an overview of presenting problems, the development of appropriate intervention strategies, the presentation of psychological reports, and consultation and collaboration with both parents and professionals.

This course will focus on advancing the development of psychological, behavioral and therapeutic skills needed to provide basic counseling services to students in elementary, middle and high schools. Emphasis will be on developing strategies to help students manage their anxiety and depression and to assist students as they work on academic underachievement, peer relationship problems, cultural differences, emotional disorders, gender-related issues, and
bullying.

This course focuses on developing an understanding the nature and function of group assessments. This includes, but is not limited to, such areas as achievement, aptitude, interest, and vocational skill. The nature and purpose of tests such as the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS), SAT, GRE, ASVAB, etc. are explored. Students will understand the issues of assessment norms, validity, and reliability, as well as general principles of test construction. Emphasis will be on the ability to interpret and integrate information obtained from assessment tools for the purpose of addressing student needs and on communicating assessment results to students, parents, and teachers.

This course is designed to acquaint the student with vocational counseling practices in relation to career development and lifestyle appraisal. An understanding of and practice in career development assessment and career counseling techniques will be explored. Students will also explore professional orientation for a career in counseling. Sources of career assessment and appraisal, career information, lifestyle development, advantages and disadvantages of each
source and methods of storing and disseminating information will be explored. Current issues in college planning and school-to-work transition programming will also be addressed.

The purpose of the clinical experience is to provide a culminating experience for the student under the direct mentorship of a licensed School Adjustment Counselor with assistance from a college program supervisor. A seminar is a component of the Clinical Experience. The student has the opportunity to develop and apply skills gained during coursework to practice as a counselor. The advisor and mentor help the student develop appropriate goals, effectively use interpersonal skills, counseling skills, and consultation skills and to determine areas to be further developed. The student completes an action-based research project during this 300-hour clinical experience. Since the student must qualify for an initial license before beginning the clinical experience this experience may be done within the employment setting and is necessary for the professional license.

This course is designed to provide students with the cultural and social foundations as well as examine the research pertaining to counseling in a diverse society. Theoretical approaches and experiential exercises are used to assist in the development of personal awareness and sensitivity toward issues of diversity (e.g., ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, age, religion, gender). Attention will be paid to the way counselors and students construct meaning in a multicultural and diverse society.

This course will focus on relevant and essential topics for aspiring school counselors. Topics will include creating and delivering tier 1 school counseling curriculum, particularly in classrooms, as well as developing comprehensive school counseling programs, leadership in school counseling and the use of data in school counseling.

The purpose of this course is to provide students with an introduction to family and couple counseling theory, and perspectives of family therapy along with issues of diversity. This course will focus on theory and practice, viewing the couple/family as a unitary psychosocial system. Major topics will include history, theory, and practice models, healthy family functioning, family dysfunction, and intervention techniques. This course will also address issues relative to diversity in families and couples along with perspectives of family therapy.

This course explores the college admissions process, with emphasis on current issues confronting school counselors, application and admissions criteria for various types of 2 and 4 year colleges, and college counseling for special student populations. Students gain an understanding of the resources available to counselors in the college admissions process including print material, software, web sites, and organizations. The course will also explore the transition process for students who will enter the workforce or the military as potential career options after high school.