Catalog Description: The history and overview of the counseling profession, current trends and settings for counselors. Professional roles and functions, including school counselors, professional counselors, and marriage and family therapists. Introduction to professional organizations, legal and ethical issues, and certification and licensure issues.

Purpose of this Course: To provide an understanding of professional roles, functions (including professional organizations, associations, history, trends, ethical and legal standards, preparation standards, and credentialing), goals, and objectives of the counselor.

Course Objectives: The following objectives meet the contextual dimensions of the CACREP standards for Professional Identity (CNS 550). Upon completion of this course, the student should understand and know how to:

Knowledge:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of history and philosophy of the helping profession including significant factors and events;
2. Demonstrate knowledge of professional roles, functions, and relationships with other human service providers;
3. Demonstrate knowledge of technological competence and computer literacy;
4. Demonstrate knowledge of professional organizations, primarily ACA, its divisions, branches, and affiliates, including membership benefits, activities, services to members, and current emphases;
5. Demonstrate an understanding of professional credentialing, including certification, licensure, and accreditation practices and standards, and the effects of public policy on these issues;
6. Demonstrate an understanding of public and private policy processes, including the role of the professional counselor in advocating on behalf of the profession;
7. Demonstrate an understanding of the advocacy processes needed to address institutional and social barriers that impede access, equity, and success for clients; and
8. Demonstrate an understanding of the Ethical standards of ACA and related entities, and applications of ethical and legal considerations in professional counseling.

Skills:
1. Demonstrate the ability to recognize age-appropriate developmental levels of children.
2. Demonstrate the ability to recognize physical, mental, emotional, and moral growth in normal and developmentally delayed individuals.
3. Demonstrate the ability to recognize multiple factors related to social concerns affecting individuals in multicultural settings.

Dispositions:
1. Demonstrate a value base that respects different multicultural backgrounds of students and clients.
2. Demonstrate a value base that recognizes the worth of guidance and counseling services in the lives of clients and/or students.
3. Demonstrate a value base that recognizes the importance of providing for affective and cognitive needs of individuals.
4. Demonstrate recognition of the value of working with lay groups, parents, and other individuals to coordinate school and community resources and activities which contribute to the overall effectiveness of guidance and counseling services.

Text for the Course:
Corey, S. C. & Corey, G. (2003). Becoming a Helper. (4th Ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.

Course Format: This course is a mixture of lecture, large and small group discussions, video presentations, research efforts, and communication between the student and professor through written work prepared outside of class.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Course Requirements:

1. Attendance and class participation (20%)
2. Professional Journal Reading (1) (10%)
3. Mid-Term Exam (20%)
4. Class Presentation (Group) (10%)
5. Professional Counselor Interview (10%)
6. Final Exam (20%)
7. Optional: Research Paper (10%)

(1) Attendance and Class Participation. Each student is expected to attend all class sessions and to be prepared to contribute meaningfully at those sessions. Each student is expected to read the assignments in depth prior to the class period in which they will be discussed.
(2) Professional Journal Reading. Each student must locate, read, and summarize a professional journal article that relates to issues in school or mental health counseling. You are to present your article to the class for discussion and turn it in either typewritten or word processed. (Maximum of 3, minimum of 2 full typed pages, double-spaced).

Format:
1. Title of Article
2. Summary
3. What you learned from the article.
4. Include copy of article.

(3) Mid-Term and Final Exam. Knowledge of the required text and materials presented in class lecture will be assessed by the use of exams.

(4) Class Presentation (Group). Several topics will be provided. Students will sign-up for their choice providing there are no more than 5 individuals for the same topic. Time will be provided for groups to decide on the format for their presentation and the date (each student must have a specific task to do).

(5) Professional Counselor Interview. Each student must schedule and interview either a school counselor or a mental health counselor. This interview must be typed or word processed and turned in by the due date. Your questions for the professional should be well thought out. The first part of the assignment will include your questions and the interviewee’s answers which clarify the roles, issues, and attitudes of a particular type of counselor (school, agency, etc.). The second part of the assignment will include your self analysis in relation to that type of job.

Grading Scale:

90 - 100 = A (with no more than 1 absence, 90 average on mid-term and final exam, and a 12-15 page research paper with at least 12-15 references, APA style)
80 - 89 = B
70 - 79 = C
60 - 69 = D

Note: Research papers must be written on a specific topic related to school or mental health counseling (APA style – you may use the APA Manual in the library or purchase your own). Presentations will be made during the last class meeting. Writing the paper does not guarantee an “?” for the course; the quality of all assignments will be considered.

E-mail address: cynthia.mason@wku.edu
Office hours: Monday 12:30-4:30; Tuesday 2:00-5:00; Thursday 2:00-5:00; and on Wednesdays by appointment.

Tentative Class Schedule

Thursday, August 26 Introductions, Requirements, Expectations
The Essence of Counseling (power-point presentation and/or transparencies depicting societal changes)

Standards for New and Experienced Counselors (As adopted by The Education Professional Standards Board)

Chap. 1, “Are the Helping Professions for You?” Obj.1, 2, 3, 4

Thursday, Sept. 2 Chapter 2, “Getting the Most From Your Education and Training” Obj. 1, 2, 3, 4

Thursday, Sept. 9 Chapter 3, “Helper, Know Thyself” Obj. 2
Chapter 4, “Understanding Life Transitions” Obj. 1

Thursday, Sept. 16 Chapter 5, “Stages in the Helping Process” Obj. 1, 2

Thursday, Sept. 23 Chapter 6,“Common Concerns of Beginning Helpers”Obj.1, 2, 5

Thursday, Sept. 30 Chapter 7, “Values and the Helping Relationship” Obj. 6, 7

Thursday, October 14 Mid-Term Exam (Chapters 1-7).
Chapter 8, “Cultural Diversity in the Helping Professions” (Video Presentation - World of Diversity) Obj. 1, 7
(October 21 – 23, KCA Conference)

Thursday, October 28 Chapter 9, “Ethical and Legal Issues Facing Helpers” Obj. 8
(Video Presentation – Confidentiality)

Thursday, November 4 Chapter 10, “Managing Boundary Issues” Obj. 2

Thursday, November 11 Chapter 11, “Working in the Community” Obj. 7

Thursday, November 18 Chapter 12, “Understanding Special Populations” Obj. 7

Thursday, December 2 Chapter 13, “Working with Groups and Families” Obj. 6,7,8

Thursday, December 9 Chapter 14, “Stress and Burnout” Obj. 2
Chapter 15, “Take Care of Yourself” Obj. 2
Thursday, December 16 Final Exam

All course work for this class must be turned in by the end of class on Thursday, December 9 (except research papers).

This syllabus and grading requirements may be changed if unforeseen, extenuating circumstances occur.

“Students with disabilities who require accommodations (academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids or services) for this course must contact the Office for Student Disability Services, Room 101, Garrett Conference Center. The OFSDS telephone number is (270) 745-5004 V/TDD.

Please DO NOT request accommodations directly from the professor or instructor without a letter of accommodation from the Office for Student Disability Services.”

“Criminal check, TB test and a health screening are required prior to any work in the schools. Additional information is available in Tate Page Hall 408.”

“The maintenance of academic integrity is of fundamental importance to the University. Acts of plagiarism or any other forms of cheating will not be tolerated. To present ideas or interpretations taken from another source as one’s own is plagiarism. Plagiarism is a serious offense. The academic work of students must be their own. Students must give the author(s) credit for any source material used. To lift content directly from a source without giving credit is a flagrant act. To present a borrowed passage after having changed a few words, even if the source is cited, is also plagiarism.” (From Faculty Handbook, WKU, 2001)