Counseling Methods.

Catalog description

This experiential course introduces students to core counseling skills while bridging theory and practice. The course emphasizes the development of self-awareness, interpersonal effectiveness, and foundational techniques essential to the helping relationship. Students will engage in hands-on learning to build competence in the early stages of mental health and addiction counseling, integrating multicultural responsiveness, social justice principles, trauma-informed care, and ethical considerations. The course provides opportunities to apply skills with diverse client presentations, including individuals experiencing substance use and co-occurring disorders, while exploring how theoretical concepts inform culturally relevant and recovery-oriented practices in mental health and addiction counseling. A distinctive feature of this course is the intensive residency experience, in which students engage in structured, face-to-face practice of counseling methods. During the residency, students participate in mock counseling sessions, rotating through the roles of counselor, client, and observer. This immersive setting allows students to apply core counseling skills in real time, receive immediate supervision and feedback, and deepen their self-awareness as developing counselors. The residency provides an opportunity to practice establishing rapport, demonstrating empathy, responding to diverse client needs, and integrating ethical and culturally responsive approaches into counseling practice. Prerequisite: MHA 512 .