Independent Study Project

Master of Science in Nursing

NRS 514

Breyer State University

Instructor: Juan Kenigstein, PhD

SYLLABUS

COURSE OVERVIEW: Welcome to Counseling Independent Study Project. I'm pleased to offer you this course. This is an exciting course. This course will focus on you gaining experience in client services within practicum settings in the areas of completing initial diagnostic assessments/intakes, conducting counseling services, as well as assessing one’s own level of professional development.

TIME FRAME: This is a ten-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 ten semester hours of credit. You may accelerate, but may not complete this course in less than four weeks.

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.

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

Book 1: Boylan, J., Malley, P., and Reilly E., Practicum & Internship: Textbook For Counseling & Psychotherapy. 3rd Edition, Brunner-Routledge: Philadelphia. 2001.

Book 2: DSM-IV Quick Reference Guide/APA ISBN # 0-89042-025-4.

You can purchase all of your texts here:

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» Additional Student Resources at StudyTactics

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

EVALUATION AND GRADING COMPOSITION: You will receive periodic feedback concerning your performance as a counselor. The feedback will be specific with recommendations for improvement in needed areas. You should know at all times how you stand in the course in terms of the quality of your work. As far as possible, specific performance criteria will be presented. However, the very nature of counseling is subjective, and even though many specific competencies will be demonstrated, the overall performance requires a subjective judgment as to the appropriateness, timing, and intensity. Therefore, a judgment by me as to the quality of your performance will be necessary.

Grades will also be determined according to your performance on the rest of the requirements listed for this course. The grading system will be based on the following requirements. You are responsible for maintaining a well-organized system for filing logs, critiques, interview reports, documentation for each counseling session, and evaluations.

5 Videotapes                            25%
Portfolio                                   25%
Self evaluation                          10%
Discovery & Intention Statement  10%
Notebook                                  10%
Practicum Performance                20% (Hours/Activities/Professionalism/Commitment, etc)

TOTAL 100%

METHODS:

• Readings from textbook, professional books and journals
• Self-awareness/exploration activities
• Counseling interviews with elementary, high school, and college students, and also with parents and other adults in other supervised settings.
• Analysis of the records including videotapes of the counseling sessions and related activities.
• Analysis of counseling sessions by other counselors based on observation and monitoring.
• Discussion of cases and counseling topics based on interviews, readings, and other counseling resources.
• Written case notes of counseling sessions.
• Discussion of counseling topics and their relevance to counseling practice.
• Development of professional portfolio.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: A study of selected counseling theories and supervised experience in individual counseling. This course will also review counseling methods and techniques and their application in various counseling situations.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

1). Development and improvement of counseling skills.
2). Opportunity for application and integration of counseling skills and information.
3). Development of greater sensitivity to the dynamics of the counseling process.
4). Opportunity to relate the various counseling theories, methods, and techniques to counseling practice.
5). Development of a basis of self-evaluation of one’s counseling.
6). Development and improvement of counseling and guidance skills used in areas such as group counseling, marriage and family counseling and individual counseling.
7). Opportunity to relate professional ethical standards and legal issues to counseling practice.
8). Opportunity to discuss in-depth trends and issues affecting the counseling profession.
9). Opportunity to evaluate strengths and weaknesses related to interpersonal and counseling skills.

REQUIREMENTS:

1). 150 clock hours of counseling are required.
2). 50 clock hours of counseling with clients is the minimum requirement (individual or group counseling).
3). The additional 100 hours will involve indirect intervention and counseling guidance related activities. All related hours and practicum experience must be approved by me and meet counseling criteria. Documentation must be provided in notebook.
4). Do not discuss counseling cases with your colleagues or supervisors in places where you might be heard.
5). Observe ethical standards related to confidentiality.
6). If you are sincerely interested in becoming a better counselor, you will actively seek feedback from your practicum instructor and other counselors in the practicum concerning your performance. You are responsible for, and must take the initiative in arranging for critiques and discussions of counseling sessions and cases with the instructor, practicum supervisor, and colleagues. Make an appointment once a month for an individual session with me for feedback.
7). You will submit five (5) videotapes on counseling sessions for peer and instructor critiquing and evaluation (select a site that understands this requirement).
8). You must turn in a comprehensive notebook with the following: signed by the supervisor, counseling notes, contracts, counseling critiques, self-evaluations, intake forms, peer evaluations, observations and any other documents required by me such as videotape session. Logs with completed hours must be cross-referred with documentation.
9). You must submit a professional portfolio which includes the following: philosophy of counseling, theoretical orientation, professional goals, resume, counseling and counseling-related experiences, at least two letters of support, accomplishments while in the program, reflective statement on strengths and weaknesses, statement regarding compliance with professional ethical standards, list of professional literature read while in the program, and samples of work. You will schedule an exit interview with counseling professors to review the portfolio.
10). You will submit a self-evaluation report. Professional and personal growth using criteria provided in class and citing evidence from your work through the semester.
11). You are responsible for reading and becoming familiar with all materials included in the textbook, and assigned outside readings.
12). You will submit a Discovery and Intention statement. Discovery statements are a declaration of what you want, a description of your attitudes, statement of your feelings, transcripts of your thoughts, and chronicles of your behavior. Intention statements can be used to alter your life, statements of your commitment to do a specific task, or to take a certain action. An intention arises out of your choice to direct your energy toward a particular goal.

DISCOVERY AND INTENTION STATEMENT: Discovery statements are a declaration of what you want, a description of your attitudes, statement of your feelings, transcripts of your thoughts, and chronicles of your behavior. Intention statements can be used to alter your life, statements of your commitment to do a specific task, or to take a certain action. An intention arises out of your choice to direct your energy toward a particular goal.

INSTRUCTIONAL MODIFICATIONS: Students with disabilities, who need reasonable modifications to complete assignments successfully and otherwise satisfy course criteria, are encouraged to talk with the instructor early in the semester to identify and plan specific accommodations. Students may be asked to provide documentation on their disability, which will assist in planning modifications. Breyer State University offers Disability Services through the Counseling Center. To request services, contact the Counseling Center or talk to your instructor.

COPYRIGHT STATEMENT: Unauthorized photocopying of copyrighted works, including musical works, may be unlawful and may infringe the copyright of the copyright owner. Students in possession of unauthorized duplications of copyrighted material are subject to appropriate disciplinary action as well as those civil remedies and criminal penalties provided by federal law.

SYLLABUS DISCLAIMER: While the provisions of this syllabus are as accurate and complete as possible, the instructor reserves the right to change any provision herein, not covered by BSU or BSU Regent Rules, with notice if circumstances so warrant. Every effort will be made to keep students advised of such changes and information about such changes will be available at all times from the instructor. It is the responsibility of each student to know what changes, if any, have been made to the provisions of this syllabus and to successfully complete the requirements of this course. Questions regarding information on the syllabus and course requirements need to be addressed by students when the syllabus is received.

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