Chabot College
Fall 2002
Replaced Fall 2010
Course Outline for Psychology 7
INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELING THEORY AND SKILLS
Catalog Description:
7- Introduction to Counseling Theory and Skills
3 units
Introduction to counseling theory and process with emphasis on fundamental principles
of behavior change. Includes essential counseling skills, major counseling theories, and
legal and ethical issues. Strongly Recommended: Psychology 1 or 50. 3 hours.
[Typical contact hours: 52.5]
Prerequisite Skills:
None
Expected Outcomes for Students:
Upon completion of the course the student should be able to:
1.
describe major theoretical models of behavior change;
2.
describe fundamental principles of behavior change;
3.
develop a counseling plan based on a clear strategy;
4.
describe counseling skills in three areas: Communication, behavioral
intervention, and cognitive intervention;
5.
describe the legal and ethical considerations involved in counseling.
Course Content:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Overview
a.
Definition of counseling
b.
Key skills and characteristics of successful counselors
c.
Overview of counseling and therapy, theory and practice
Theory in counseling
a.
The purpose of theory in counseling
b.
Theory constructing and testing
Theoretical models of behavior change
a.
Medical models
b.
Intrapsychic (quasi-medical) models
c.
Behavioral and cognitive-behavioral models
Principles of behavior change derived from learning theory
a.
Antecedents and consequences of behavior
b.
Classical conditioning
c.
Operant conditioning
d.
Observational learning (modeling)
The strategy of counseling
a.
Establishing an appropriate relationship
b.
Problem identification
c.
Setting treatment goals
d.
Delivering treatments and interventions
e.
Measurement of progress toward goals
Chabot College
Course Outline for Psychology 7
Fall 2002
Page 2
Course Content (Cont'd):
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
f.
Reevaluation and revision of treatment plan
g.
Follow-up
Communication Skills
a.
Attending skills
b.
Client observation skills
c.
Questioning, focusing skills
d.
Reflecting, clarifying, summarizing skills
Behavioral intervention skills
a.
Increasing behavior: Reinforcement, modeling, contracts
b.
Decreasing behavior: Extinction, punishment
c.
Prompting new behavior: Modeling, contracts, homework, chaining,
altering behavior antecedents
Cognitive intervention skills
a.
Increasing self-efficacy
b.
Altering attributions
c.
Modifying verbal and imaginable mediators of behavior
d.
Enhancing problem-solving abilities
Assessment skills
a.
Measurement of baseline, progress, and follow-up
b.
Common assessment techniques and instruments
Legal and ethical consideration
a.
Legal concerns in counseling
b.
Ethical concerns in counseling
Recent developments in counseling
Methods of Presentation:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Lecture - discussion
Guest speakers
Role-playing and simulation
Mutli-media
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
1.
Typical Assignments
a.
Assigned reading
b.
Preparation and review of written counseling plans
c.
Preparation of in-class practice of various counseling skills, including
 Communication skills;
 Behavioral intervention skills;
 Cognitive intervention skills;
 Assessment skills.
Chabot College
Course Outline for Psychology 7
Fall 2002
Page 3
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress (Cont'd):
2.
Methods of Evaluating Student Progress
a.
Midterm
b.
Case studies; case problems
c.
Individual and/or group projects
d.
Final examination
Textbook(s) (Typical):
Messages: The Communication Skills Book, McKay, M., Davis, M, & Fanning, P.,
New Harbinger Publications., 2001, or latest edition.
Special Student Materials:
None
Tf: A:/Psy 7.doc
Revised 2-12-2002