Advanced Gerontology Counseling

Masters Degree in Gerontology Counseling Psychology

GRC 630

Breyer State University
Instructor: Juan Kenigstein, PH.D, M.ED., GC-C

SYLLABUS

COURSE OVERVIEW: Welcome to Gerontology Counseling I, a Master Level course in the curriculum for the Degree, Master of Science in Gerontology Counseling Psychology. I'm pleased to offer you this course. This is an exciting course. This course will provide an in-depth exploration of the special counseling needs of the older adult. This course will examine some of the diverse experiences, challenges, social, and economic conditions of the aged. It is important to recognize the needs of the elderly and be qualified to provide competent counseling services and programs to meet those unique needs.

TIME FRAME: This is a four-semester hour course. This course is allotted ten weeks of time. You must complete all of the requirements for the course successfully by the end of the ten-week period. The first day of week one will begin the day that you register for the course, or the day which you notify me that your text book(s) have arrived and you are ready to begin your studies. Please be cognizant of the time frame. It is rare that extensions of time are permitted, unless you have good justification. Upon successful completion of this course, you will be awarded four semester hours of credit. Students may accelerate, but may not complete this course in less than four weeks.

TEXTBOOK: There are two (2) required textbooks for this course.

Book 1: Psychotherapy With Older Adults. Bob G. Knight, Sage Publications, Inc., 3rd Edition, 2004: ISBN # 0-7619-2373-X.

Book 2: The Practical Handbook of Clinical Gerontology. Laura L. Carstenses; Barry A. Edelstein and Laurie Dornbrand. Sage Publications, Inc., 1996: ISBN # 0-8039-5237-6.

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EXAMINATIONS: There are no examinations for this course; grades are based on completion of assignments and activities.

GRADING: The grading scale for this course is as follows:

90-100%    = A
80-89%      = B
70-79%      = C
Below 70% = Fail

GRADING COMPOSITION:

15 Activities                               60%
Self evaluation                           10%
Discovery & Intention Statement 10%
Research Report                        20%

TOTAL 100%

GOALS: The goal of this course is to provide a comprehensive combination of perspectives, assessment procedures, treatment approaches, psychological disorders and behavioral problems when working with older adults.

COMMUNICATION: You are encouraged to communicate with me. I am available as a teacher, coach, and mentor to assist you in meeting your goals for this course. Primarily, communication is through email. However, I am also available for conversation by telephone if you would like. Our classroom for this course has a "chat" room. I am also very willing to meet with you one-on-one in the chat room at your request. From time to time, depending on how many students are enrolled in this course at a particular time, we will have some scheduled group chats. You will receive more detailed information at the time such chat sessions are scheduled. Please keep my email address handy so that you can contact me whenever necessary. Upon registration, you will receive my email address. If at any time during this course you change your email address, please be sure to notify me right away.

METHODS: Readings from textbook, professional books and journals Self-awareness/exploration activities

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this course you will be able to:

1). Acquire insight into the physiological changes, common health problems, and psychosocial conceptualizations of life in later years.
2). Gain an understanding of the special "service needs" of the aged.
3). Enhance counselor awareness of ageism and its impact on therapy with the aged.
4). Develop effective counseling techniques with the aged.
5). Obtain exposure on multicultural aging issues and the social history that shapes a minority individual's health.
6). Acquire significant knowledge of the academic literature on counseling with the aged.
6). Develop therapeutic competence with counseling care of the elderly from diverse cultural backgrounds.
7). Work effectively with older people.
8). Enhance personal understanding of your own and other's aging.
9). Demonstrate a knowledge of the transitional processes of aging.
10). Demonstrate a knowledge of the current research in the areas of coping with aging.
11). Demonstrate knowledge of different groups and individual psychological assessment techniques which may or may not be appropriate for the older adult.
12). Demonstrate a knowledge of various counseling skills and techniques that are appropriate for group and individual counseling with older adults and their families.

COURSE OUTLINE:

1). Gerontology for psychotherapists.
2). Adaptations of psychotherapy for older adults.
3). Building rapport with the older client.
4). Transference and countertransference with older clients.
5). Guidance for assessment in the context of the practice of psychotherapy.
6). Grief work with older adults.
7). Chronic illness in later life.
8). Psychotherapy and the person with dementia.
9). Psychotherapy with family caregivers of frail older adults.
10). Life review in psychotherapy with older adults.
11). Ethical issues.
12). Concluding thoughts on psychotherapy with older adults.
13). General issues in the treatment of the elderly.
14). Special issues in assessment.
15). Psychological disorders and behavioral problems.
16). Interfacing with Geriatrics.

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