2007-2008 Academic Catalog

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• Counseling Course Descriptions
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COUN (Counseling) Course Descriptions

COUN 501 Principles and Techniques of Counseling I
3 hours. This course examines and invites the student to experience issues, topics, and foundational skill building in counseling. The focus is primarily on principles, techniques, and a personal introspective process.

COUN 502 Principles and Techniques of Counseling II
3 hours. This course builds on the concepts and introspective process of COUN 501 and moves into the mastery in application of the foundational principles and techniques learned. The integration of counseling and theological truths will be introduced.
Prerequisite: COUN 501 Principles and Techniques of Counseling I.

COUN 510 Human Growth and Development
3 hours. This course examines human development from birth through old age by surveying a variety of major developmental theories, including psychoanalytic, ego psychology, object relations, cognitive, and moral developmental theories. Development tasks appropriate for each stage in terms of physical, psychosocial, intellectual, and family development are considered, along with faith and moral development.

COUN 520 Personality and Counseling Theories
3 hours. A survey of major contemporary theories of counseling and personality development, with particular emphasis on the etiology and treatment of psychopathological states as interpreted within various theoretical frameworks. A biblical theory of personality is explored.

COUN 530 Psychopathology and Appraisal
3 hours. The treatment of individuals, couples, and families requires multidimensional assessment skills in order to ensure ethical, appropriate, and effective intervention strategies. This course is intended to begin the student's process of developing mastery in the assessment and diagnosis of psychopathology as cataloged in the DSM-IV-TR. Biological, psychological, and systemic factors are considered in the assessment, etiology, and treatment of various disorders. It is recommended that students enroll in this course in the academic year immediately preceding enrollment in COUN 591, 592 Clinical Internship.

COUN 540 Professional Orientation
3 hours. A study of the professional and ethical issues that most affect the preparation for and practice of counseling. The course is preparatory for the student's clinical experience in the community. It is recommended that students enroll in this course in the academic year immediately preceding enrollment in COUN 591, 592 Clinical Internship.

COUN 550 Group Theory and Therapy
3 hours. A study of the field of group therapy, including various therapeutic approaches and types of groups. The student will gain an understanding of group dynamics both theoretically and experientially.
Prerequisite: COUN 501 Principles and Techniques of Counseling I.

COUN 560 Social and Cultural Foundations
3 hours. This course is intended to increase the student's understanding of the issues and dynamics in counseling across social and cultural lines. Students will explore the nature of society and culture and how these impact the counseling process. Emphasis is placed on the student's examining his/her own cultural identity, attitudes, and biases. Attention will be given to developing understanding of gender, class, race, ethnicity, structure, and roles within marriage and family work, and various lifestyles. Further, the relationship of Christianity to multiple cultures will be considered.

COUN 561 Spirituality and Clinical Praxis I
3 hours. This is the first of a two-part course in spiritual traditions and clinical praxis that examines both the content and process of the Christian faith as well as its implications for clinical practice. Explored are an introduction to spirituality in mental health, basic hermeneutics as applied to Christian Scripture, basic theological concepts, the relationship between theology and psychology, health and toxic faith systems, spiritual development, spiritual/religious assessment, the spiritual/religious orientation and value system of the therapist, and treatment interventions in the spiritual/religious realm.

COUN 562 Spirituality and Clinical Praxis II
3 hours. This course examines several major spiritual traditions with a view to understanding the implications for a clinical practice with persons in these populations. Within each tradition the following are explored: history and tradition; sacred writings; central doctrines; spiritual authority; faith communities; communal and personal disciplines/rituals; health/happiness and pathology; means of grace; social and cultural practice; relationship to creator/creation; gender, blood, and faith relationships; compare and contrast with Western Christian worldview; systemic analysis; and therapeutic implications. It is recommended that students complete COUN 561 Spirituality and Clinical Praxis I prior to enrolling in this course.

COUN 570 Lifestyle and Career Development
3 hours. A study of the foundational issues and resources of career counseling, the lifestyle and career decision-making process, career guidance programs for special populations, and future issues. The integration of career counseling and psychotherapy will be considered for a "total person" approach.
Prerequisite: COUN 501 Principles and Techniques of Counseling I or equivalent.

COUN 577 Images of God
1 hour. This course seeks to facilitate the student's growing awareness of God's presence in one's life by exploring the various images of God as presented in Scripture and in our faith communities. Special emphasis is placed on exploring internalized distorted images, which impact our understanding of self and others. Through class readings, discussion, personal reflection, group sharing, meditation, and prayer, students will explore various images of God, with an extended exploration of gender-based God imagery.

COUN 578 Shame and Grace
1 hour. It is challenging to understand the difference between guilt, shame, and grace. It is also difficult to know then how to apply this to our spiritual lives, and yet harder to know how to apply this to someone else's life. This course is designed to inform the therapist about family shame, guilt, and grace. Definitions, characteristics, and change strategies for shame in clients, both individuals and families, will be discussed. Models of grace and healing for shame will be identified. There will be significant emphasis on the student's own experience of shame and grace.

COUN 579 Spiritual Identity
1 hour. Provides an opportunity for students to develop/deepen their own spiritual identity. Views of God, creation, self, family, relationships, faith communities, personal disciplines, personality type, spiritual health, and pathology are among the topics for exploration. Students will explore literature of spiritual formation, reflect/journal on their spiritual histories, participate in intentional community experiences, and consider the therapeutic and clinical implications of their spiritual identity.

COUN 581 Tests and Measurements
3 hours. A study of the basic concepts and principles of psychological assessment tools. Builds a foundation of statistical knowledge, especially of factors influencing validity and reliability. Students will explore a broad variety of psychological testing materials. Ethical considerations in the field of assessment are emphasized.

COUN 582 Research and Evaluation
3 hours. A study of the major principles of data gathering, statistical analysis, and evaluation, with emphasis on applications within the social sciences. The student also will gain skills to evaluate and learn from published counseling/psychological research.
Prerequisite: COUN 581 Tests and Measurements.

COUN 585 Seminar
1 to 3 hours. A seminar involving a group of students with a professor studying a specially selected topic. Students are encouraged to submit suggestions for seminar topics to the department director. Such requests, as well as faculty interests and special opportunities, will be considered in arrangements for a seminar.

COUN 590 Research/Thesis
3 hours. Conduct graduate-level research in the area of counseling psychotherapy, including study design, data collection, data analysis, and drawing inferences from data. Research design will be quantitative or qualitative, and may be experimental, theoretical, or applied. Requires two faculty readers, with at least one being a Graduate Department of Counseling faculty member, and oral and written defense before full faculty.
Prerequisites: assignment of faculty research advisor; completion of or concurrent enrollment in COUN 582; approval of research plan from full faculty.

COUN 591, 592, 593, 594 Clinical Internship
Supervised clinical experience in community counseling programs. Students must sign up and attend fall and spring terms concurrently with treatment planning. Summer I and II are optional. Pass/No Pass
Prerequisites: COUN 501 Principles and Techniques of Counseling I, COUN 502 Principles and Techniques of Counseling II, plus 18 additional hours in counseling (MMFT 500 Introduction to Marriage and Family Therapy, COUN 510 Human Growth and Development, COUN 520 Personality and Counseling Theories, COUN 530 Psychopathology and Appraisal, COUN 540 Professional Orientation, and COUN 550 Group Theory and Therapy) and approved candidacy status.

Students are expected to follow the sequence COUN 592 (4 hours), COUN 593 (4 hours) beginning in the fall semester. Students who begin their internship in the summer will register for COUN 591 (an additional 2 hours). Students who do not finish client hours at the end of spring (COUN 593) will register for COUN 594 in summer (an additional 1-2 hours). Students wishing to enroll in clinical internship must have: (a) successfully passed candidacy, (b) completed all prerequisites with a B or better grade, (c) applied for internship, and (d) attended the Internship Fair (during spring semester of that year).

COUN 595 Special Study
1-3 hours. A specially designed and individually tailored course of research involving in-depth study of a particular question, problem, or issue presented by the student. The student must make application for the study prior to registration for the semester in which the study will be carried out. The application must be approved by both the faculty member overseeing the study and the department chair.

COUN 597 Treatment Planning I
1 hour. This course is intended to follow COUN 530 Psychopathology and Appraisal and operates in conjunction with COUN 592-593 Clinical Internship. The student will explore comprehensive treatment planning strategies, including the development of written statements of cognitive, behavioral, and emotional symptoms; systemic processes; short-term objectives; long-term goals; and therapeutic interventions. Various therapeutic methods utilized in treatment and management of mental disorders will be presented. Pass/No Pass.

COUN 598 Treatment Planning II
1 hour. This course is second in a series intended to follow COUN 530 Psychopathology and Appraisal and operates in conjunction with COUN 592-593 Clinical Internship. The student will explore comprehensive treatment planning strategies, including the development of written statements of cognitive, behavioral, and emotional symptoms; systemic processes; short-term objectives; long-term goals; and therapeutic interventions. Various therapeutic methods utilized in treatment and management of mental disorders will be presented. Pass/No Pass.

COUN 599 Graduate Clinical Project
1 hour. In this course, the student will complete the graduate clinical project (GCP). The GCP is a four-part clinical exam in which the student's perceptual, conceptual, and executive skills are evaluated as applied to an actual case example. In Part I, the student will prepare a comprehensive paper detailing his or her theory on the nature of persons and the therapeutic process. In Part II, through use of video, session transcripts, and written reflection, the student will demonstrate the application of this theory in an actual case presentation. In Part III, the student will present a three-year growth plan, along with a professional self-disclosure statement written in accordance with Oregon practice law. Finally, the student's theoretical paper, case presentation, growth plan, and professional disclosure statement will be evaluated by both a GDC faculty member and a licensed therapist from the community. Pass/No Pass. Additional course fee is required.