Counseling Skills/Theories I

Catalog description

As an introduction to the professional practice of counseling, this course presents both essential skills and current theories, a culturally sensitive orientation to the interpersonal work of counseling, and a review of contemplative self-care strategies for counselors. The course utilizes experiential training and practice in clinical skills, and students are observed and given faculty and peer feedback. Counseling theories and their historical contexts are presented, including psychoanalytic, classic behavioral, humanistic, existential and liberation psychology approaches. The Contemplative approach to counseling, the specialty of this concentration, is explored. The course emphasizes how the practices of mindfulness-awareness and compassion may inform skillful and empathic therapeutic presence which, in turn, fosters healing relationships.