Course Syllabus
HR 5633 - Advanced Counseling Skills
Faculty Contact Information
Course Details
For a list of course activities, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Course Description
In this course, you will engage in an advanced study of various counseling approaches with opportunities for demonstration and evaluation of your counseling skills. This course is designed to provide you with advanced exploration and analysis of current counseling practice. You will be expected to demonstrate the ability to analyze, synthesize, critique, and discuss, in verbal and written form, the key concepts of traditional and contemporary counseling practice.
Course Prerequisites
- HR 5003 - Theoretical Foundations in Human Relations Counseling / HR 5533 - Counseling Theories in CMHC
- HR 5402 - Psycho-Social Development / HR 5923 - Human Growth & Development
- HR 5883 - Introduction to the Counseling Profession
- HR 5483 - Diagnosis in Human Relations Counseling
- HR 5453 - Ethics in Human Relations Counseling
- HR 5643 - Crisis Intervention / Crisis Intervention and Trauma Counseling
- HR 5593 - Multicultural Counseling
- HR5503 - Research for Counseling
- HR 5893 - Psychopharmacology
- HR 5663 - Psychopathology
- HR 5433 - Group Counseling
- HR 5613 - Assessment and Evaluation in Counseling
- HR 5463 - Counseling in Human Relations
- HR 5513 - Couples and Family Counseling
- Note: Depending on which semester your cohort started, you may or may not have completed this course prior to taking Advanced Counseling Skills and that is okay. There may be situations where you are taking this course after the Advanced Counseling Skills course.
Course Materials
- Ivey, A. E., Ivey, M. B., & Zalaquett, C. P. (2024). Essentials of intentional counseling and psychotherapy in a multicultural world (4th ed.). Cengage. ISBN 10-0357764633
- Student subscription (4 months) to Skillsetter
Methods of Instruction
The following will be used in the delivery of this course:
- Independent readings
- Lecture
- Synchronous discussion (Live Sessions)
- Presentations
- Videos
- Technological resources
- Online content (Canvas)
- Asynchronous discussion
Minimum Technology Requirements
Participating in OU Online programs requires specific technologies. To participate in class and navigate other technological requirements, you will need the following:
- Computer with webcam
- Microsoft Office
- Google Chrome/Firefox
- Reliable Internet
- OU Email
Consider the following tips:
- To be effective in your courses you will need regular access to a computer and a stable internet connection.
- Although mobile devices (i.e., smart phones) are great for checking your grades or watching a video, OU does not recommend relying on them as your primary method for taking a course online or face to face.
- Many times, professors will add course media and assignment drop boxes to Canvas and you need reliable access.
- Computer labs are available on campus in the OU library and rooms can be reserved for privacy.
- Most town libraries will also have access to technology labs in your hometown.
- You can watch and participate in online courses on your smartphone, but it may make reading the PDFs provided more difficult. We recommend a larger device to access online course content.
- Weather, or shelter-in-place mandates may require at home access to technology. Weather may be unpredictable and can cause alternate sources of class time such as an online zoom meeting. Accessing a webcam and microphone is important.
- Online courses typically have opportunities for students to use audio/video to submit assignments or participate in activities. These accessories will increase course interactivity and can connect you to your instructors as well as your fellow classmates.
For more support contact the OU Instructional Technology Service Portal
You are expected to:
- Check your OU email daily and OU Canvas for updates on classes.
- Use word processing programs such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs for assignments.
- Send or receive email attachments and communicate with your instructor or advisor.
- Search databases for research in the library resources.
Learning Outcomes & CACREP Standards
Advanced Counseling Skills
| Learning Outcome | CACREP Standard |
|---|---|
|
Self-care, self-awareness, and self-evaluation strategies for ethical and effective practice |
3.A.11 |
|
Theories and models of counseling, including relevance to clients from diverse cultural backgrounds |
3.E.1 |
|
The application of technology related to counseling |
3.E.5 |
|
Ethical and legal issues relevant to establishing and maintaining counseling relationships across service delivery modalities |
3.E.6 |
|
Culturally sustaining and responsive strategies for establishing and maintaining counseling relationships across service delivery modalities |
3.E.7 |
|
Counselor characteristics, behaviors, and strategies that facilitate effective counseling relationships |
3.E.8 |
|
Interviewing, attending, and listening skills in the counseling process |
3.E.9 |
|
Counseling strategies and techniques used to facilitate the client change process |
3.E.10 |
|
Strategies for adapting and accommodating the counseling process to client culture, context, abilities, and preferences |
3.E.11 |
|
Evidence-based counseling strategies and techniques for prevention and intervention |
3.E.15 |
|
Suicide prevention and response models and strategies |
3.E.19 |
|
Processes for developing a personal model of counseling grounded in theory and research |
3.E.21 |
|
Procedures to identify client characteristics, protective factors, risk factors, and warning signs of mental health and behavioral disorders |
3.G.16 |
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Track
| Learning Outcome | CACREP Standard |
|---|---|
|
Techniques and interventions for prevention and treatment of a broad range of mental health issues |
5.C.5 |
Grades
Breakdown
| Activity | CACREP Standards | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Sessions | 3.E.5, 3.E.6, 3.E.8, 3.E.9, 3.E.10, 3.E.11, 3.E.15, 3.E.19, 3.E.21, 5.C.5, 5.C.7 | Weekly Synchronous meetings online via Zoom | 20% |
| Discussions | 3.A.11, 3.E.2, 3.E.8, 3.E.9, 3.E.10, 3.E.15, 3.E.21, 5.C.5 | 2 course discussions | 5% |
| *Skillsetter Demonstrations | 3.E.7, 3.E.8, 3.E.9, 3.E.10, 3.E.11, 3.E.19, 5.C.5 | 7 recorded demonstration modules | 35% |
| Theory-specific Technique Presentation | 3.E.1, 3.E.7, 3.E.10, 3.E.15, 3.E.21, 5.C.5 | Narrated slideshow presentation | 20% |
| Teletherapy Resource Guide | 3.E.5, 3.E.6, 3.E.8 | Web-page resource guide | 20% |
| Total | 100% |
*Indicates Key Performance Indicator (KPI). This is an intentional formative assessment to assure you take away the core information necessary to be a successful professional counselor.
Scale
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 90–100% | A |
| 80–89% | B |
| 70–79% | C |
| 60–69% | D |
| Below 60% | F |
Course Components
Live Sessions
- Participate Live: This option should be your preferred choice. When possible, you should attend and participate in the Live Sessions in real-time. Your attendance will be cross-checked against the attendance tracker in Zoom.
- Make-Up (Watch Recording-Submit Written Summary): In the event that your work or personal schedule makes it impossible for you to attend, please review the recording of the Live Session then write a paragraph summarizing the Live Session from your perspective. Click on the "Start Assignment" button to type (or copy/paste) your paragraph into the text field. Don't worry if the system indicates your submission is late. You will have until 11:59pm on Sunday to submit your paragraph summary.
Note: You only need to submit something here in option 2 for a missed Live Session to receive full points by 11:59pm Central on Sunday.
Discussions
You will complete two essay-style discussion assignments in this course.
First, you will complete an original post in response to the discussion questions provided.
- Responses should be equal to a half-page essay post (approximately 2 paragraphs).
- The initial response posts are due on Friday by 11:59 PM.
Next, you will be required to reply to at least two of your classmates' posts.
- These replies are due on Sunday by 11:59 PM. Replies should be respectful and insightful.
- Replies are to be a minimum of four full sentences in length.
Skillsetter Demonstrations (KPI)
You will practice and record seven advanced counseling skills modules on Skillsetter. In addition, you will provide feedback to your peers on their recordings.
Theory-specific Technique Presentation
For this project, you will research and practice a technique specific to the your theoretical orientation. You will present the technique and demonstration to the class in a pre-recorded / narrated slideshow format.
Teletherapy Resource Guide
You will develop a web page of teletherapy resources and best practices for fellow clinicians. Note: You have the option to complete this individually or in a group.
Course Policies
Communication
If you need to get in touch with me, please do so by email at cwebster@ou.edu.
I will respond within 24 hours on Monday through Friday. I do not always check email over the weekend, so please wait until Monday for a reply.
Late Policy
No late work will be accepted. Exceptions will be made only for documented Provost-approved University-sponsored activities or legally required activities such as emergency military service, jury duty, or documented serious illness or emergency and then only after discussion with me. Contact me by email if an emergency occurs.
Technical difficulties do not qualify as an emergency unless the problem is severe, prolonged, and on the server end (the problem is with Canvas). In such cases, the due date will be modified, and a new due date specified. Expect technical difficulties on your end and plan for a secondary location from which to post or an alternative Internet Service Provider.
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
per CACREP Standards 1.I. & 1.M.8
The OU CMHC program fosters a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment. Our OU Human Relations faculty and students are diverse in their cultures and beliefs. Throughout the OU environment, including the CMHC program, we uphold the pillars of awareness, education, and advocacy. We critically examine campus climate with its biases, assumptions, institutional structure, and worldviews. We strive together to mitigate inequities, to grow intellectually and personally through meaningful diversity interactions, conscious conversations, and meaningful experiences. We work to reduce barriers, to promote conscious civil conversations, and to help all contribute as individuals, community members, and professionals in preparing our students to compete in a diverse, global, and integrated world.
As faculty of the CMHC program and mental health professionals, we strive to uphold ACA ethical guidelines important to the counseling profession in addition to the OU values of empathy, accountability, civil dialogue, collaboration, equity, integrity, and mutual respect. The goal of the CMHC program is to engage, serve and yield qualified and diverse students, equipping them with the tools needed to serve, educate, and empower our diverse communities.
Posting Difficulties
Files that do not post correctly in the assignments area or responses which do not correctly post on the discussion board will not be accepted for a grade. If your file does not post (you are timed out, for example), becomes corrupted, contains a virus, or if your response is blank/partial, you should re-post before the deadline so that you may receive a grade.
Always check to see that your response or file has been correctly posted before you exit Canvas. Be sure to post in advance so that you have enough time to correct any posting difficulties.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Access the University Academic Policies Document.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|