CED 6333 Syllabus
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University of Houston-Victoria
Course: CED 6333 Counseling Techniques
Summer 2008
Instructor: Jeffry L. Moe, Ph.D., L.P.C. (Ohio)
Course Time and Location: Tuesday & Thursday, 4:30-6:45, Room to be assigned May 28th.
Office location: UH Sugar Land, Rooms 107 or 110
Office hours: Monday through Thursday 3-4pm and by appointment
Phone: Messages can be left with the department secretary Kathi Rich at (281) 275-3370. For
emergencies, you may call my cell at (281) 224-5603.
E-mail: moej@uhv.edu
Course Overview: The art and science of professional counseling is grounded in the acquisition
by practitioners of competency in a set of core techniques and skills. Students will come to
develop a personal awareness and engagement with the core counseling and consultation
techniques through interactive lecture, videotaped practice and evaluation, personal reflection,
role-play, supervision, and class discussion.
Course Objectives: As a result of taking this course, students will be able to:
1. Identify and describe the characteristics and behaviors of effective counselors and consultants,
including but not limited to: cultural awareness, verbal and non-verbal behaviors, self-care,
reflecting and interpretation, challenging discrepancies, goal-setting and behavioral rehearsal,
and termination skills [CACREP II.K.5.a, 5.b.].
2. Demonstrate awareness of, comprehension of, and basic competency in the foundational
counseling micro-skills necessary for therapeutic rapport building. Students will understand the
purpose of each micro-skill and be able to demonstrate adequate proficiency in the use of each
micro-skill. [CACREP II.K.5.b., 5.c.].
3. Conceptualize the foundational counseling techniques from the perspective of multiple
theoretical orientations. Students will integrate their personal views, competencies, and
experiences with the class material and experiential activities in order to facilitate their
development of a personal, integrative counseling approach. Counseling frameworks that
students will explore for this class include (but are not limited to) Person-Centered/Rogerian,
Cognitive and Cognitive-Behavioral, Solution-Oriented/Solution-Focused, FeministMulticultural, Gestalt/Process-Experiential, Existential, and Narrative counseling. [CACREP
II.K.5.c.].
4. Demonstrate awareness and understanding of the importance of research in counseling
practice. Students will be able to identify and discuss research on the effectiveness of various
counseling theories and techniques [CACREP.K.5.c., 5.e., 8e.].
5. Identify and apply concepts related to legal and ethical issues inherent in counseling and
consultation. [CACREP II.K.5.g.]
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6. Discuss the implications of ethnocentric biases, sociocultural, demographic, and lifestyle
diversity, substance abuse issues, and urban environments on counseling and consultation.
[CACREP II.K.2.a., 2.b.; 5.a.].
7. Integrate technological strategies and applications within counseling and consultation.
[CACREP II.K.5.f.]
Required Texts:
Young, M. (2009). Learning the Art of Helping (4th Ed.). New Jersey: Merrill Prentice Hall.
Recommended Texts:
American Counseling Association. (2005). Code of Ethics. West Alexandria, VA; Author.
Rogers, C. (2002). On Becoming a Person (3rd Ed.). New York: Houghton Mifflin.
Requirements:
1. Attendance and active participation are a necessary and vital part of the course. Active
participation includes attending each class session, completing reading assignments prior
to class sessions, and participating in peer observation and peer counseling and
contributing substantive feedback. Absence from class and/or nonparticipation will result
in points being deducted from your final grade. Participation will be counted primarily
when students volunteer for in-class practice/lab role-plays. Participating in at least one
role-play is worth 2 points, and attendance is worth 8 points (for a total of 10 points).
2. Informed Consent Statement: Students are to compose an adaptation of an informed
consent statement. Achieving a client’s informed consent to enter into a counseling
relationship with you is a required standard of care for professional counselors in all
practice settings. The elements that need to be included in this informed consent
statement will be covered in the first class period. This assignment is worth 5 points.
3. Short Reflection Essay: Development of a personal style is one of the major
components of counselor education. Student will complete 2 short essays (4-6 pages total,
double-spaced typed) that address some or all of the following points:
 Your current strengths in regard to your basic counseling skills. Be thorough,
specific and concrete.
 Your current areas in need of improvement in regard to your basic counseling
skills. Be thorough, specific, and concrete.
 Personal values that might affect your ability to work with specific populations.
 Any personal concerns regarding your development as a counselor, including an
assessment of personal characteristics that may help or hinder your development
as a counselor.
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If students cite research or other materials in their essay, they must include an APA
formatted reference page. Citations are not necessary for this assignment.
Each essay is worth 15 points for a total of 30 points.
4.Demonstration of Techniques: Students will submit three tapes and annotated
transcripts of interviews lasting approximately 20 minutes in which they demonstrate
appropriate use of the counseling techniques discussed in class. This is NOT to be a
counseling/therapy session. Students should seek the consent of a partner to role play
the client and to sign an informed consent letter. Students can pair up with other
students in the class. Topics for the interview can be anything, but should contain
some emotional content to enable students to demonstrate skills such as reflection of
feelings (e.g., the most exciting time in my life, the saddest time of my life, an
important decision I must make, etc.). Students need to demonstrate the skills listed on
the Micro-skill Transcript and Evaluation Sheet in the following order Tape 1: Describe the process, limits, and benefits of counseling (informed
consent) and Advanced Attending/Active Listening (Minimal Encouragers,
Vocal Tone, Reflection of Content, Open & Closed Questions, Clarification,
and Summary)
 Tape 2: Advanced Empathy, Exploration, and Challenging: Reflecting Feeling
& Meaning, Providing Feedback in the Here-and-Now (Immediacy),
Challenging Discrepancy, Reframing/Encouragement
 Tape 3: Goal setting, behavioral practice and action planning, use of advanced
techniques (e.g., Socratic questioning, solution-focused interviewing, Empty
Chair Technique, etc.), Termination Skills
Each tape is worth 20 points
5. Exams: Two multiple choice exams will be given to assess students’ knowledge of
material from texts, handouts, and class lectures and discussions.
Each exam is worth 25 points.
6. Confidentiality: Students will respect and maintain confidentiality. Being actively
involved in the class sessions and the small groups may entail some level of personal
self-disclosure. Because of the nature of the vulnerability, trust, and openness needed to
learn about counseling, it is extremely important that confidentiality be maintained.
Revealing personal information about others outside of the classroom is a breach of
confidentiality. You may share with others only your own reactions and understanding,
but must avoid using names or identifying information about your classmates.
Point Scale:
Participation
Informed Consent Statement
Short Reflection Essay 1
Short Reflection Essay 2
10 pts.
5 pts.
15 pts.
15 pts.
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Videotape 1
Videotape 2
Videotape 3
Mid-term
Final Exam
15 pts.
20 pts.
20 pts.
25 pts.
25 pts.
Total
150 pts.
Grading:
92-100%
70-79%
A
C
80-91%
60-69%
B
D
59% or below F
Students earning less than a B must take the course again. Students unable to pass the course
with a B by the third attempt will not be admitted to the counseling program. Students may
appeal their grade in which case their Final Integrative Tape as well as other evidence will be
reviewed by at least two other members of the counseling faculty. If dissatisfied with the
decision of the reviewers, the student may further appeal his or her grade through the
University’s student appeals process.
Class policies:
WebCT: This course is not being taught as an online course. Our class use of WEBCT will be
as a supplement only to facilitate communication between students and between the instructor
and students. WEBCT is used as part of the course and professional and ethical behaviors are
expected.
Plagiarism: Any student who represents the written work of another person as his or her own for
an assignment will receive a grade of zero (0) for said assignment and may face disciplinary
action through the University.
Attendance: As per University policy, students are expected to attend every class. Exigent and
dire circumstances may preclude student attendance, and should such events occur students are
expected to contact the instructor via either the e-mail address provided on this syllabus.
Coordinating absences with the instructor is the first step to minimizing the impact of said
absences on student grades.
Extra credit: Students are afforded sufficient credit opportunities by fulfilling class
requirements. Barring exigent and dire circumstances, extra credit will not be accepted or
approved.
Incompletes: Incompletes will only be given under exigent and dire circumstances.
Professionalism and Diversity: Acting within the bounds of professionalism and the student
code of conduct is required. Encountering new ideas, new ways of knowing, and interacting with
people different from ourselves are pillars of the college experience. Intimidating (e.g., Racist,
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sexist, anti-Semitic, homophobic, etc.,) language will be challenged in this classroom. Students
will be encouraged and expected to be mindful of this and other diversity related issues.
Accommodations: Students requiring personalized arrangements for test taking, classroom
access, or other accessibility concerns should notify the Office of Student Relations so that the
University may provide appropriate support services to facilitate your learning. Additional
information is provided in the Student Handbook.
Electronic devices: Ringing and beeping devices are expected to be set on vibrate or non-audio
during class time in order to reduce disruption.
Course changes: I reserve the right to modify assignment structure, re-arrange topic discussion,
and to make as needed changes to the course. Students will always be notified in advance of said
changes. Students will be asked to contribute feedback and input to changes instituted by the
instructor.
Tentative Class Schedule
Class One:
June 3rd
Class Two:
June 5th
Class Three:
June 10th
Class Four:
June 12th
Class Five:
June 17th
Class Six:
June 19th
Class Seven:
June 24th
Class Eight:
June 26th
Class Nine:
July 1st
Overview of Syllabus; Characteristics of
effective helpers; Text Ch. 1; Intro to
experiential activities; Informed Consent;
Lab
The Counselor stance: Advanced attending
and Minimal Encouragers; Text Ch. 2 & 5;
Lab
Avoiding Ethno-centrism; Self-Disclosure
& Congruence; Text Ch. 4; DUE: Selfreflection essay one, informed consent
letter; Lab
Effective inquiry; Open & Closed
Questions; Humor & Encouragement; Text
Ch. 3; Lab
Reflecting Content; Paraphrasing,
Interpreting, & Summarizing; Information
Giving; Text Ch. 6 & 8; Lab
Self-Study: Students are to use this time to
prepare their tape and transcripts for class
Viewing Tapes of Counselors, DUE: Tape
One with Transcript
Reflecting Feeling & Meaning; Immediacy;
Genuineness; Text Ch. 7 & 8; Lab
*Mid-Term will be distributed on this day
Challenging & Confronting; Socratic
Questioning; Paradoxical Interventions;
Text Ch. 9; Lab; *DUE: Mid-term
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Class Ten:
July 3rd
Self-study: Students are to use this time to
prepare their second tapes
Class Eleven:
July 8th
Assessing progress: Research and
Evidenced-based techniques; Mini-Mental
State Exams; Text Ch. 10; Lab;
Objective and Goal Setting; Solutionoriented interviewing; Text Ch. 11 & 12;
Lab
Action Strategies: Assigning homework;
Role-plays, Biblio-therapy, & Behavioral
techniques; Lab; *DUE: Tape Two
Terminating Counseling; Lab
Class Twelve:
July 10th
Class Thirteen:
July 15th
Class Fourteen:
July 17nd
Class Fifteen:
July 22th
Class Sixteen:
July 24th
Class Seventeen:
July 29th
Class Eighteen:
July 31st
Class Nineteen: August 5th
Advanced Techniques Review; Lab;
*DUE: Self-reflection essay two
Self-study: Students are to use this time to
prepare their third and final tapes
Video
Final Class Period; review for final exam,
Student evaluations of instructor are
available on WebCT; *DUE: Tape 3;
Finals and all outstanding assignments due
on this date