Instructor: Monir Atta-Alla, Ph.D..

                    Email: monir.attaalla@gmail.con

                    Tel #  412-251-3701

                     

I. Course Description

      Counseling children includes a range of school and clinical approaches used by mental health professionals to help children. The course combines theory and research findings with practical application of techniques so that students can develop a wide range of knowledge and skills for integration into their individual counseling model and professional situation. The course also focuses on children's position in and impact upon the family, emotional development, assessment of behavioral and emotional problems, adjustment issues at school and social/developmental situations. The course includes approaches to and models of counseling children as well as ethical and legal responsibilities in regard to children.  

 

II. Course Objectives/Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, you are expected to be able to:

1. Recognize particular developmental issues and concerns at various ages;

2. Demonstrate an understanding of the  counseling theories and techniques adaptations for children;

3. Demonstrate an understanding of the counseling process and skills in individual and group counseling with children;

4. Develop competencies for entering counseling relationships with children.

5. Use core counseling skills including attending, listening, empathic resonance with children;

6. Develop competencies in specific techniques for individual and group counseling with children

7. Demonstrate an understanding of ethical and legal considerations involved in counseling children;

8. Explain and defend their personal approach to counseling children.

 

III. Course Structure and Methods of Instruction 

You shall no longer take things at second or third hand…nor look through

the eyes of the dead…nor shall feed on the specters in books.

You not look through my eyes either, nor take things from me. 

You shall listen to all sides and filter them from yourself.

      Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass  

    This is not a lecture course. The course is designed as a laboratory experience, using multiple methods of instruction. The course content is delivered via direct instruction, modeling/ demonstration, online group discussions, various technology, interactive modules, experiential learning, and supervised practical application where applicable. Your participation is essential. You will find that you learn far more by doing than by merely observing. 

 

IV. Required Text 

Thompson, C.L. Rudolph, L & Henderson, D.A.(2004) Counseling Children (6th Ed). Pacific Grove, CA:  Brooks-Cole.  

 

V. Course Requirements: 

1.  Active participation in class: You are expected to attend the onsite class(s) and participate actively, responsively and respectfully in online discussions and exercises, and in a way that demonstrates completion and integration of reading and assignments (15 points). 

2. Reading response log (journal)- You are expected to prepare and email a 1-2 page weekly log that shows reflect your understanding of the reading assignment The log should include a summary of the reading and your self-reflection on it (5 points each).  

3.   Position paper-.Prepare and submit a position paper. The purpose of this paper is to pull together the learning experience related to the course as a whole. In the paper you are asked to take and defend a position on your personal approach to counseling children. You are free to take essentially any position on the issue. Whichever direction you choose, you will need to provide a minimum of 3 reference citations from professional journals in support for your position. Online citations are acceptable if the source is a peer-reviewed journal. The paper should be in narrative form. It is anticipated that a typical paper will be no more than approximately 10      to 12 double-spaced pages in length (longer is not necessarily better). Reference citations must be in APA format. The paper is due by the end of the 12th week       (30 points). 

VI. GRADING

Grades will be assigned according to points earned in graded assignments.       

 

 

90-100 pts   = A      Distinguished scholarly work

80-89 pts    = B      Normal progress toward degree

70-79 pts     = C       Work of a low quality

69 & below = F       Failure of course  

VII.  COURSE SCHEDULE ( Subject to Minor Changes) 

Week #	Topic	Assigned Readings
Week 1	Understanding interactive systems and life span development and counseling process, common factors, stages, and outcomes.	Thompson, Rudolph, & Henderson, Chapters 1 & 2
Week 2	Counseling theories and techniques: Adaptations for children (1) Psychoanalytic counseling	Thompson, Rudolph, & Henderson, Chapters 3
Week 3	Counseling theories and techniques: Adaptations for children (2) Humanistic Therapies: Individual therapy, Person-centered therapy, and  Gestalt therapy	Thompson, Rudolph, & Henderson, Chapters 11, 6, & 7
Week 4 On Site Teaching	Week 4: Counseling theories and techniques: Adaptations for children (3) Reality therapy and Brief therapy	Thompson, Rudolph, & Henderson, Chapters 4 & 5
Week 5	Counseling theories and techniques: Adaptations for children (4) Cognitive –Behavioral therapies: Behavioral counseling,  REBT, and CBT	Thompson, Rudolph, & Henderson, Chapters 9 & 8
Week 6	Counseling theories and techniques: Adaptations for children (5) Transactional Analysis and Family  counseling	Thompson, Rudolph, & Henderson, Chapters 11 & 12
Week 7	Play therapy and Art therapy	Thompson, Rudolph, & Henderson, Chapter 14 and Handout
Week 8	Counseling Children from Different Cultures	Thompson, Rudolph, & Henderson, Chapter 15
Week 9	Counseling Children with Special Concerns and group Counseling	Thompson, Rudolph, & Henderson, Chapters 18 &17
Week 10	Personality Types and Counseling Exceptional Children.	Thompson, Rudolph, & Henderson, Chapters 13 & 19
Week 11	Miscellaneous	Thompson, Rudolph, & Henderson, Chapters 16
Week 12	Theoretical orientation Paper

 

On Site Lesson Schedule:

Come ready to share and discuss at least an outline of your position paper.