This critical graduate course will examine various theories of healthy and disordered psychological functioning, and explore some of the many methods mental health professionals use to treat psychological distress. The course is designed to convey to counselors-in-training the basic concepts and change strategies of "traditional" post-psychoanalytic methods of psychotherapy, as well as more recent methods and intervention/ practice standards. Although it is not a counseling practicum, this overview course will provide student counselors with both theoretical and pragmatic knowledge so they may begin to form individualized conceptions of psychological health, disorder, and how people change. Students will be expected to establish a formative understanding of the therapuetic relationship and change strategies while exploring their own values and beliefs through readings and exercises. Students are not expected to emerge from the course with a preferred, crystalized theory or approach to helping people - this in fact is discouraged at this stage of training.

Specifically, course participants will learn about:

• prominent psychological theories of human thought, emotion and behavior
• the importance of establishing therapeutic relationships regardless of theoretical approach or technique
• primary concepts and strategies from several perspectives that seek to explain the etiology, description, assessment and treatment of psychological disorders, including approaches that emphasize cognitive, social, interpersonal, and humanistic facets
• the existence and utilization of empirically validated (evidence based) treatments

• the complexity of conceptualizing human thought, emotion, and behavior in health and in distress
• the role of self in the therapuetic process, and the importance of integrating theories of change with self understanding
  
  

identify characteristics of both psychological health and distress/disorder

identify and differentiate various theories of counseling and their accompanying interventions

conceptualize therapy cases from different perspectives

identify treatment approaches that are theoretically and pragmatically useful, and formulate how these might be integrated into their
   interpersonal style

locate information on empirically validated treatments for various disorders

locate and assign appropriate self-help readings to clients as homework

utilize clear and professional language in all written course products (e.g., multiple paper assignments and 1 presentation)

Prerequisites: Theories of Personality or Abnormal Psychology; Psychopathology recommended, or permission of instructor if in an allied health service field or grad program

Course Policies and Grading Weekly Course Outline Texts and Readings

Paper Guidelines Practice Guidelines & Other Relevant Reports