COUN 5XX – SEMINAR IN CLINICAL INTERVENTION
3 Credits
I. PURPOSE
The seminar in clinical intervention is designed for students enrolled in the Collaborative
Master’s Program (UofS/UIA) to examine the culturally sensitive knowledge and clinical
intervention skills necessary to work with individuals of Latino descent in the United States.
Theoretical models of clinical intervention will be emphasized in combination with training in
acquiring proficiency of the Spanish language. This three-credit seminar is part (I) of the 9-credit
seminar sequence requirement for students enrolled in the Collaborative Master’s Degree in
Community Counseling. There will be an equal emphasis of ½ of the course addressing ongoing
Spanish language acquisition and ½ on clinical preparation toward participation in the
didactic/internship exchange semester in Mexico City, Mexico.
II.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
(1).
To become familiar with the essential components of developing cultural competence as
counseling professionals to effectively respond to the mental health needs of Latinos.
(2)
To develop foundational knowledge of clinical intervention models in working with
Latino individuals
(3).
To develop ongoing language proficiency in Spanish through participating in language
training.
(4).
To develop knowledge of differences in symptom expression and symptomatic patterns in
Latinos with mental illness/emotional disturbance to aid clinical intervention
(5)
in
To develop culturally sensitive clinical intervention skills that recognize the differences
the acceptability and effectiveness of different treatment modalities in Latino populations.
(6).
To identify the role of culture-specific issues and Culture-bound syndromes associated
with Latino populations and subcultures in conceptualization of client presenting
concerns
and treatment planning.
III. TEXTS
Ponterotto, J., Casas, Manuel-J., Suzuki, L. A., & Alexander, C. M (2001). The handbook of
multicultural counseling. (2nd ed). Thousand Oaks: Sage.
IV.
PROCEDURES
The instructional methods to be employed for Part I of this course (seminar in clinical
intervention) will be a combination of lecture, discussion, small group work, field placement,
discussion, small group supervision, guest speakers, and the development of clinical intervention
programs for specific issues within the Latino community. These methods are complementary to
attendance and careful reading of the required texts.
The instructional methods to be employed for Part II of this course (Spanish language
training) will be participation in level-specific language coursework. Students will be expected to
develop ongoing proficiency in Spanish to adhere to the language competency guidelines for
providers established by to serve the mental health needs of monolingual and bilingual Latino
consumers
V.
ASSIGNMENTS/EVALUATION
1. Students will participate in clinical activities (i.e., counseling, clinical assessment,
case conceptualizations and clinical intervention planning) over the course of the
semester at an advanced level.
2. Clinical Intervention Self-Assessment: As a way of assessing present counseling
skills students will be required to write a summary of present relevant skills prior to
beginning this seminar. This pre-assessment summary should include clinical
background (strengths and weaknesses), an overview of your model of counseling,
your experiences in clinical intervention development, clinical assessment, and
incorporation of sensitivity to Latino issues in counseling.
3. Clinical Intervention Program Development. You will do a literature review on the
pertinent issues in counseling Latinos and its implications on developing clinical
intervention programs. The following areas from provider competencies may be
utilized to examine culture-specific issues facing the Latino communities.

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Conduct ethnographic interviews;
Communicate and listen effectively across cultures
Assess Latino consumers with an understanding of cultural differences in
psychopathology. Ability to avoid under-diagnosis, misdiagnosis or overdiagnosis.
Formulate culturally competent treatment plans that are appropriate for the
client and the family’s concept of mental illness;
Create multidimensional treatment plans which include culture, family and
community;
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Utilize culturally appropriate community resources (i.e. family, church,
community members and other groups).
Know when to recommend culturally factored psychological assessment and
testing procedures for Latino consumers and when not to use tests which are
biased towards Latino consumers
Write a paper developing a specific community intervention program proposal, which
you will present to an identified local community agency providing services to the
Latino population.
4. Class Participation: Students are expected to have read the assigned materials and
to come to the seminar prepared to discuss them.
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