Coaching and Positive Interventions

Master of Art in Positive Psychology

PSY 630

Breyer State University
Professor: Thomas Schear, Ph.D.

SYLLABUS

COURSE OVERVIEW: Welcome to Coaching & Positive Interventions, a Masters Level course in the curriculum for the Degree, Masters of Positive Psychology.  I am pleased to instruct you in this course, which will be a vital course for the remainder of your studies in the master program.

This course further introduces the student to some of some key elements, qualities, strategies, attitudes, techniques, characteristic and practice of a positive psychology approach towards persons who may be their clients.

I know that as you take the time to learn as much as you can about this topic it will serve you well as you contemplate providing counseling services to future clients.

TIME FRAME: This is a six-semester hour course and is allotted 10 weeks of time.  The first day of the week will begin the day that you register for the course, or the day you should notify me that your textbook has 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 six semester hours or credit.

TEXTBOOK: There are three (3) textbooks required for this course. 

Book 1: The Mindful Coach: Seven Roles For Helping People. Douglas Silsbee. Marshall, NC. Ivy River Press. 2004. ISBN # 0974500348

Book 2: Techniques for Coaching & Mentoring. David Megginson & David Clutterbuck. Burlington, MA Elsevier, Butterworth  Heinemann. 2005. ISBN # 075065287X.

Book 3: Total Life Coaching: A Compendium of Resources. Patrick Williams & Lloyd J. Thomas. WW Norton & Co. Inc. New York. 2005. ISBN # 0393704343.

The text may be found at your local bookstore. Your local bookstore will most often special order your them as a special order for you. Or, you may purchase them online from:

	» Click Here to Enter
» Additional Student Resources at StudyTactics

EXAMINATIONS: There are two examinations for this course.  The first exam covers the Silsbee text.  The last exam covers the Megginson/Clutterbuck text.

The first exam must be taken by the end of the 5th week of the course.
The last exam must be taken by the end of the 10th week of the course.

All of the exams are programmed and are located in the classroom for this course.  I will setup the program so you will have access to the test when you are ready.  Please contact me prior to the time you take the first test so I can give you specific instructions and ensure that the test is ready for you.

The Williams/Thomas book is a book I recommended for the Positive Interventions (PSY 605) course but is actually going to be used for this course. Starting with the first week of this course I would like you to get this book and discuss a Section each week (8 sections for 8 weeks).  Specifically what I want you to discuss is what are you learning from the book, how is what you are learning different from and similar to traditional counseling/therapy.  Finally, give an example of how you are working with a client/coworker/whatever differently from what you are learning and what seems to be the results.

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

91-100%    = A
81-90%      = B
71-80%      = C
Below 70% = Failed

COMMUNICATION & WRITING ASSIGNMENTS: 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 e-mail. 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 that chat realm 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 schedule group chats. You'll receive more detailed information at the time such chat sessions are scheduled. Please keep my e-mail address handy so that you can contact me whenever necessary. If at any time during this course you change your e-mail address or other contact information please be sure to notify me right away.

While there are no written assignments for this course you can feel free to contact me about any questions you may have about what you are reading.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR: My name is Tom Schear. I have a BA, MA and Ph.D. in social work, MA in counseling, and have taken some additional graduate level courses in business and human services administration. Finally, I am an E-Myth trained business coach and a graduate of Coach University. I have worked at all levels of counseling agencies in Iowa and Montana, including front-line counselor, clinical director and executive director. I now live in the town where I grew up, working out of my home providing continuing education courses for helping professionals, teaching online courses for virtual universities including Breyer State University, Canyon College and EarthNet Institute, and provide both online and telephone-based counseling and personal and business coaching services. In my spare time I enjoy hiking, biking, fishing, hunting and spending time with my wife, Kathy and adult children, Brian and Steven and dog, Solo.

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

1). Enhance what was learned in the Positive Intervention course.
2). Learn and try out strategies learned in the two Intervention courses on clients and/or others.
3). Report on progress and learn to refine and enhance techniques, attitudes and strategies to obtain better results.

INFORMATION: If you have any questions regarding this program, you may contact the instructor at tschear@ccmsinc.net.

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