Introduction to Guidance and Counseling Psychology

Course presents main issues of counseling including different forms of counseling and its settings, assessment, leading approaches, techniques and ethics.

Course introduces topics concerning main aspects of psychological counseling. We start from discussing counseling definition, its forms, counselor’s role and ethics. Crisis intervention, rehabilitation, psycho-prevention and psychotherapy are discussed within evidence based major approaches in counseling (e.g. psychoanalytic, psychodynamic, humanistic, existential, cognitive-behavioral, systemic and postmodern models). Each approach is presented including its concepts explaining symptoms development, counseling principles, specific therapeutic techniques and their limitations. In general presented approaches keep historical order of their development, addressing differences and similarities between them, finishing with the idea of integration in counseling. We discuss specific settings and principles of family, couple and group counseling with their use in rehabilitation and prevention counseling.

Presented issues are illustrated with counseling cases and session videos.

1. Forms and goals of counseling

 Berven, N. L., Thomas, K. R., Chan, F. (2004). An Introduction to Counseling for Rehabilitation Health Professionals. Pg. 3- 20.

2. Evidence based practice, professional issues and ethics.

 Corey, G. (2005). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy, Thomson Brooks/Cole. Chapter 2&3. ed. Belmont, CA

3. Classic psychoanalysis and psychodynamic approach.

 Corey, G. (2005). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy, Thomson Brooks/Cole. Chapter 4&5. ed. Belmont, CA:

4. Psychodynamic approach

 Gabbard G.O.(2004) Long – Term psychodynamic psychotherapy. A basic text. Chapter 1 Key Concepts (1 – 21). American Psychiatric Publishing , Washington DC.

5. Crisis management is existential approach and logotherapy

 Corey, G. (2005) Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy, Thomson Brooks/Cole. Chapter 6. ed. Belmont, CA

 Langle A. (1990) Existential analysis psychotherapy. The international forum of logotherapy. Journal of search and meaning. 13 (2), 17 – 19.

 Kirchbach G. (2003) Existential analysis. European Psychotherapy, 1, 4, 33-46.

6. Gestalt approach

 Corey, G. (2005). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy, Thomson Brooks/Cole. Chapter 8 ed. Belmont, CA

7. Person centered approach

 Corey, G. (2005). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy, Thomson Brooks/Cole. Chapter 7. ed. Belmont, CA

8. CBT Therapy

 Corey, G. (2005). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy, Thomson Brooks/Cole. Chapter 9 - 10 ed. Belmont, CA

9. Modern CBT approach

 Herbert J.D., Forman E.M.(2011) Acceptance and Mindfulness in CBT. Chapter 1. The evolution of CBT. The rise of psychological Acceptance and Mindfulness. Wiley

10. Rehabilitation in Glasser’s reality therapy approach

 Corey, G. (2005). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy, 8th, ed. Belmont, CA: Thomson Brooks/Cole. Chapter 11

11. Prevention and rehabilitation counseling in family systems approach.

 Goldenberg H., Goldenberg I. (2004), Family Therapy: An overview, 7th Edition. Chapter 1, The perspective of family Therapy, pg.12 – 23

12. Postmodern approaches

 Goldenberg H., Goldenberg I. (2004), Family Therapy: An overview, 7th Edition. Chapter 14. Social – construction Models, Solution – Focused

Therapy and Collaborative Therapy pg. 341 – 361. Chapter 15. Social-construction Models II. Narrative Therapy pg.365 – 376

13. Couple marital and pre-marital prevention counseling.

 Goldenberg, H., Goldenberg, I. (2008). Family therapy. An overview .7th edition. Belmont, CA: Thomson Brooks/Cole. Chapter 5, p. 107-112.

14. Summary – case study workshop

15. Exam

After completing this course students should be able to:

 Define principles, forms and goals of psychological counseling.

 Explain ethical guidelines in counseling practice.

 Characterize major approaches to counseling based on therapy models (including theories of symptoms development).

 Explain goals of rehabilitation counseling, psychotherapy, crisis interventions and prevention.

 Describe basics of counseling tailored to specific settings: individual, family, couple and group counseling.

- Written exam

- Extra points for active class participation (taking part in literature discussions, case analyses, critical thinking) - additional points max. 10%

Attendance is obligatory. 2 meetings can be missed without any consequences.

Students must respect the principles of academic integrity. Cheating and plagiarism (including copying work from other students, internet or other sources) are serious violations that are punishable and instructors are required to report all cases to the administration.