WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
Fairbanks Campus
School of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Wayland Baptist University exists to educate students in an academically challenging, learning-focused and distinctively Christian
environment for professional success, and service to God and humankind.
CNSL 5313 FB40 – Counseling Skills and Techniques
TERM: Winter 2014- Nov 10- Feb 14 2015
Instructor: Michael Duncan, PhD
Contact Information: 210-410-4971 Email: Michael.duncan@wayland.wbu.edu
Office Hours: Call for an appointment
Class Time and Location: DOYON INDUSTRIAL FACILITY (Off South Cushman)
NOVEMBER 14-15; DECEMBER 12-13; JANUARY 23-24 and FEBRUARY 6-7
FRIDAYS: 6- 10PM
SATURDAYS: 8AM- 4:30PM
Catalog Description: The counseling and consultation process including essential interviewing skills, micro-skills, intervention
strategies, and other factors such as counselor and client characteristics that influence the helping process in individual, family, and
group settings.
There is no prerequisite for this course
Textbook: THE SKILLED HELPER: A PROBLEM-MANAGEMNT AND OPPORTUNITY DEVELOPMENT APPROACH TO
HELPING, 10th Edition by Egan, Gerald. Student copy ISBN: 978-1-285-06571-7, published 2010.
Optional Materials: THE SKILLED HELPER: A PROBLEM-MANAGEMENT AND OPPORTUNITY DEVELOPMENT
APPROACH TO HELPING, EXERCISES IN HELPING (OPTIONAL)
Course outcome competencies:
1. Students will demonstrate critical thinking.
2. Students will display knowledge of major psychological theories, terms, and concepts of techniques of counseling on
examinations. Although, the emphases will be on techniques, students will demonstrate knowledge of the theories promote
the specific techniques.
3. Students will gain some personal insight into their own views and feelings regarding which techniques they think will be
beneficial and which ones they think they would be able to use effectively.
4. Students will demonstrate their learning of how to do treatment plans, progress notes, and progress reports on tests, short
papers, or discussions in class.
5. Students will participate in practice exercise in which they demonstrate skills and techniques.
Attendance: Students enrolled at one of the University’s external campuses should make every effort to attend all class meetings. All
absences must be explained to the instructor, who will then determine whether the omitted work may be made up. When a student
reaches that number of absences considered by the instructor to be excessive, the instructor will so advise the student and file an
unsatisfactory progress report with the campus dean. Any student who misses 25 percent or more of the regularly scheduled class
meetings may receive a grade of F in the course. Additional attendance policies for each course, as defined by the instructor in the
course syllabus, are considered a part of the University’s attendance policy.
Additional attendance policies: My first choice of communication in between sessions is EMAIL. Students MUST CHECK THEIR
EMAIL DAILY. I encourage you to review your email morning and evening. If you are unable to attend a session please let the
instructor know as soon as possible, keeping in mind WBU’s policy on attendance.
Service for the Disabled: In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), it is the policy of Wayland Baptist
University that no otherwise qualified person with a disability be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be
subject to discrimination under any educational program or activity in the university. The Coordinator of Counseling Services serves
as the coordinator of students with a disability and should be contacted concerning accommodation requests at (806) 291- 3765.
Documentation of a disability must accompany any request for accommodations.
Course requirements:
1.
Each student submit a reaction paper for every chapter assignment. Each paper should be at least one page and not more than
two pages in length. I am interested in the development of critical thinking. Therefore, please do not summarize the reading
assignment. Tell me what you think. Did the author cover the topic sufficiently? Where did he fail? What are your thoughts
about what was written? What, if any, should the author have covered? How is what your read applicable to the helping
profession? The reaction papers will be graded with a value of five points per paper.
2.
Practical Exercise: Student will participate in practical exercises provided by the instructor. Students are expected to use the
knowledge gained through the reading and lecture. Students will provide a self-evaluation regarding their work. Co-students and
the instructor will provide feedback as well.
3.
Class attendance and participation is expected. You will be expected to attend the scheduled class meeting times and to
participate in the classroom discussion. It is expected that you will readily accept feedback from fellow students and the
instructor and that you will provide feedback in a professional and supportive fashion.
4.
The final requirement will be a research paper. Each student will be required to write a fifteen page research paper. Paper should
be no more/ less than fifteen pages. The paper should include no less than 10 references and no more than fifteen references.
The student will use scholarly professional articles as their source. Discuss with your instructor any concerns you may have
about the research sources. Topic must be approved by the instructor. You must make a selection receive instructor approval by
the second class meeting. Start early in reviewing the text and identify areas that are of interest to you. SUGGESTION: Do not
wait until the end of the term to write your paper. Work on your paper as the semester progresses and as you learn new ideas,
theories and concepts. Your paper is worth 40 % of your grade and presentation of paper is worth 10%. Give it the attention it
deserves. You will provide a 10-15 minute discussion of your selected topic. Be prepared to answer questions from fellow
students and the instructor.
Method of determining course grade:
The University has a standard grade scale:
A = 90-100, B = 80-89, C = 70-79, D = 60-69, F= below 60, W = Withdrawal, WP = withdrew passing, WF = withdrew failing, I =
incomplete. An incomplete may be given within the last two weeks of a long term or within the last two days of a microterm to a
student who is passing, but has not completed a term paper, examination, or other required work for reasons beyond the student’s
control. A grade of “incomplete” is changed if the work required is completed prior to the last day of the next long (10 to 15 weeks)
term, unless the instructor designates an earlier date for completion. If the work is not completed by the appropriate date, the I is
converted to an F.
Evaluation of Student Performance: The term paper will comprise 40% of the student’s overall grade. The student’s class
presentation of their term paper will provide 10% of their grade. Students should spend ample time preparing a concise and
informative presentation and be prepared to answer questions from classmates and the instructor. The reaction papers will provide
20% of the overall grade. Each reaction paper will be graded on a scale of 0-5. The average of the reaction papers will be the score
used in compiling the final score. In class participation will be worth 30% of the final grade. You work in the exercises will be scored
0-5 with the average score being used in the final analysis.
Instructor's policy on Academic Dishonesty: Wayland Baptist University’s policy on academic honesty and/or plagiarism will be
strictly adhered to in this class. Any plagiarized work will be referred to the Dean and may result in an automatic No Pass grade.
Please refer to the Academic Catalog for further information.
Tentative Schedule:
1.
November 14-15
A. Review/discuss syllabus, goals, instructor expectations and student expectations
B. Students will have read chapters 1 and 2.
C. Students will have completed reaction papers for chapters 1 and 2.
D. Students will discuss their reactions papers in class.
E. Instructor/students will discuss the practical exercise process.
F. Instructor/students will practice the practical exercise process.
2.
December 12-13
A. Students will have read chapters 3, 4, 5 and 6.
B. Students will have completed reaction papers for each chapter.
C. Students will discuss each reaction papers in class.
D. Students will participate in practical exercises selected by the instructor.
E. Students will accept and provide feedback to fellow students.
F. Students will provide the instructor their topic choice for their research paper.
3.
January 23-24
A. Students will have read chapters 7,8,9,and 10
B. Students will have completed reaction papers for each chapter.
C. Students will discuss reaction papers in class.
D. Students will participate in practical exercises selected by the instructor.
E. Students will accept and provide feedback to fellow students.
4.
February 6-7
A. Students will have read chapters 11, 1213 and 14.
B. Students will have completed reaction papers for each chapter
C. Students will discuss reaction papers in class.
D. Students will participate in practical exercises selected by the instructor.
E. Students will accept and provide feedback to fellow students.
F. Students will turn in research paper.
G. Students will provide 10-15 minute discussion of your selected topic.
H. Student will field questions from fellow students and instructor.
Additional Information: Communication in this class is important both in the classroom and beyond. Students are expected to check
their Wayland email daily. Communicate honestly and openly with your fellow students and with faculty. If you have questions or
issues arise do not hesitate to contact me via email or phone/text as the situation warrants.