Department of Counseling and Human Services

Aligned with a spiral approach to learning, students will be introduced to theory, practice, methods, basic principles, and concepts used by counselors in educational settings and community agencies. In subsequent courses, these topics will be revisited in depth. The course will emphasize professional and ethical issues related to counseling.

A study of phase and stage theories of lifespan development with application to counseling. Current research findings on major developmental issues (e.g., gender) will be emphasized.

The course focuses on development of attitudes and skills essential to effective professional counseling. Emphasis is on conducting the helping interview, as well as conducting an intake interview, a mental status evaluation, a biopsychosocial history, a mental health history, and a psychological assessment for treatment planning and caseload management.

This course provides an overview of advanced techniques used by counselors, including crisis and trauma response and the principles of trauma-informed care.

This course is designed to prepare students to facilitate structured counseling groups for children and adolescents primarily in the K-12 school setting. CACREP Required Content: GROUP WORK - studies that provide both theoretical and experiential understandings of group purpose, development, dynamics, theories, methods, skills, and other group approaches in a multicultural society, including all of the following: (a) principles of group dynamics, including group process components, developmental stage theories, group members' roles and behaviors, and therapeutic factors of group work; (b) group leadership or facilitation styles and approaches, including characteristics of various types of group leaders and leadership styles; (c) theories of group counseling, including commonalities, distinguishing characteristics, and pertinent research and literature; and (d) group counseling methods, including group counselor orientations and behaviors, appropriate selection criteria and methods, and methods of evaluation of effectiveness. Students will be required to complete 30 hours of fieldwork with K-12 aged youth, preferably in a school setting.

Developing effective group leadership competencies is the focus for the course. Identification of group dynamics, use of group level process, and the self-development of the leader are some major topics.

This course examines individual and group approaches to formal and informal assessment techniques, including diagnosis. It includes an examination of: the history of assessment; basic test statistics; test worthiness (reliability, validity, and cross-cultural issues); the selection, administration, and interpretation of assessment instruments; and ethical and legal issues relative to assessment. The focus of this class is on major concepts and principles of psychological testing and evaluation and use of standardized instruments with differing populations. Pre- or

Examines the etiology, risk factors, assessment, counseling approaches and treatment of alcoholism and other addictions.

Principles and theories of career development, occupational and educational information, employment trends, concepts and principles for effective work in educational and career planning and development are considered.

A study of major theories of counseling and psychotherapy. The primary focus is on providing students with a theoretical foundation upon which to develop their own approach for providing counseling and psychotherapy.

Designed to engage helping professionals in cultural self-awareness and the search for solutions to disparities in society through counseling work. Emphasis on the social identities of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, ability, class, sexual orientation, and age.

This internship is designed to provide individual students with a planned program of advanced on-the-job professional experience in a college or university setting. A university instructor will coordinate internship assignments. An experienced professional in the college or university setting will provide direct supervision. Available for pass/fail grading only. Completion of a background check is required prior to commencing the field placement.

This counselor education experience is designed to provide a planned program of supervised clinical instruction in mental health counseling in an appropriate professional setting, including provision of direct service and performance of indirect professional activities under appropriate clinical supervision of a site supervisor as well as classroom instruction and supervision. This pass/fail course requires successful completion of 300 hours of counseling field placement work and 120 hours of direct service in each of two semesters of enrollment. Completion of a background check is required prior to commencing the field placement.

This internship is designed to provide individual students with a planned program of advanced on-the-job professional experience in a school setting. A university instructor will coordinate internship assignments. An experienced professional in the school setting will provide direct supervision. Available for pass/fail grading only. Completion of a background check is required prior to commencing the field placement.

This supervised experience will enable students to practice basic and intermediate individual and group counseling skills with clients while integrating knowledge and skills learned in previous course work. Completion of a background check is required prior to commencing the field placement.

This course provides an opportunity to learn one's personal style for supervision, to have supervised field supervision experiences and to gain an understanding of the different models of supervision.

A professional seminar that emphasizes the contemporary role of the school counselor as leader and advocate in delivering school counseling programs to all students. Emphasis is placed on acquiring the awareness, knowledge and skills necessary to negotiate the cultural, educational, and contextual forces that impact the lives and academic achievement of students in a pluralistic society. Twenty hours of observation in a school is required. Completion of a background check is required prior to commencing the field placement. In addition, students are also required to attend a one-day program on a pre-determined date during the semester.

School counselor's role in contributing to a safe, equitable, and culturally responsive school culture; promoting student learning and achievement; and the practice of effective teaching and classroom management. Cultural, political, economic, ethical, and legal issues are addressed. Ten hours of observation in a school is required. Completion of a background check is required prior to commencing the field placement.

This course will provide an overview of theories and techniques of counseling children and adolescents in school settings. Emphasis will be placed upon the counselor's role as a facilitator of normal developmental processes to promote academic success.

This course is designed as a capstone experience that synthesizes graduate course work into a practical school counseling program manual. Emphasis is placed on assessment, data collection and analysis, design and development, implementation and evaluation of systemic school counseling programs K-12. Specific emphasis is given to the integration of assessed needs, the National Standards for School Counseling Programs and the Virginia Standards of Learning.

This course will examine the broad range of roles and functions of the mental health counselor within contemporary professional practice settings.

Couples counseling focuses on development of effective counseling skills in working with couples.

A course focused on developing knowledge, attitudes, and skills essential to effective DSM-5 diagnosis, client conceptualization assessment, and clinical treatment planning. Emphasis on the use of client conceptualization models as a basis for treatment planning in mental health counseling.

Overview of counseling services provided on college and university campuses. Topics include wellness of students, multicultural issues, ethical and legal issues, crisis and disaster response, advocacy, and program evaluation.

Participants will learn about the unique academic, social, and emotional challenges faced by military connected children and their families. Participants will review, analyze and practice research-based learning and behavioral strategies and interventions to address these needs. This course will also introduce effective practices for supporting children through deployment separation, reunion and reintegration, and grief and trauma, including promoting school connectedness, fostering resiliency, facilitating coping skills, and designing customized academic, social, and behavioral supports. This course is required for completion of the Military Child and Family Education graduate certificate.

The course offers a study of the family as a system, family life cycle stages, tasks, and difficulties that families may experience as they move through their developmental stages. Concepts and principles applicable to helping people within a systems perspective will also be discussed.

The study of selected topics in counseling.

Individualized study under the supervision of a graduate faculty member.

Research on a topic or project related to counseling.

Exploration of theories informing practice regarding late adolescent, young adult, and adult psychological and cognitive development, adjustment, and learning in the two- and four- year college and university context. Influences of individual differences highlighted. Applications for college counseling, higher education, and community college practitioners, professionals, and leaders.

An in-depth study of selected counseling theories through the study of cases.

Development of group leadership skills through group experiences in class and in the field.

This course provides an overview of complementary and alternative therapies being used in mental health today, looking at their effectiveness and safety in treating specific client populations and for use in treating specific disorders, including ADHD, addictions, and anxiety. Modalities covered include acupuncture, nutritional medicine, herbal medicine, biofeedback, meditation, hypnotherapy, aromatherapy, and others.

An overview of methods for integrating spirituality into counseling as a means of promoting holistic wellness for both clients and counselors. Emphasis will be placed upon theories of spiritual development, beliefs inherent in major wisdom traditions, implicit and explicit strategies for integrating spirituality into counseling, and the counselor's own personal and professional awareness and growth.

The study of selected topics in counseling.

Individual study under the supervision of a graduate faculty member.

The course will focus on the current issues in counseling to include the role of ethical and legal considerations in counselor education and supervision, theories and skills in leadership, social and cultural issues to include social change theory and advocacy action planning, and developmental counseling.

Exploration of theories informing practice regarding late adolescent, young adult, and adult psychological and cognitive development, adjustment, and learning in the two- and four- year college and university context. Influences of individual differences highlighted. Applications for college counseling, higher education, and community college practitioners, professionals, and leaders.

This course prepares students to teach counseling and related courses. Topics covered are learning theories, retention of material, motivation, classroom instructional strategies and techniques, and assessment of learning from the core learning expectations.

The doctoral-level course examines advanced topics and controversies in qualitative and quantitative counseling research; this integration of theoretical with applied counseling material will augment the department's standard doctoral research offerings.

An in-depth study of selected counseling theories through the study of cases.

Development of group leadership skills through group experiences in class and in the field.

This course provides advanced training and skill development in supervision. Specific topics in supervision will also be examined. These include: ethical and legal issues, multicultural competency in supervision; theories of counselor development; theories/models, processes, and skills in supervision.

Counseling doctoral students will study multicultural issues in counselor preparation graduate programs, counseling supervision, and counseling research.

This internship is designed to provide individual students with a planned program of advanced on-the-job professional experience in a college, school, or community/agency setting. In addition, supervisory and teaching experiences are required. Internship assignments will be controlled and coordinated by a university instructor. Direct supervision is given by an experienced professional in the setting. Minimum of 600 hours.

This advanced supervised practicum in counseling experience will enable doctoral-level students to develop and/or refine advanced counseling skills and conceptually link counselor practice and supervision. Minimum of 200 hours.

The course provides an overview of complementary and alternative therapies being used in mental health today, looking at their effectiveness and safety in treating specific client populations and for use in treating specific disorders, including ADHD, depression, addictions, and anxiety. Modalities covered include acupuncture, nutritional medicine, herbal medicine, biofeedback, meditation, hypnotherapy, aromatherapy, and others.

An overview of methods for integrating spirituality into counseling as a means of promoting holistic wellness for both clients and counselors. Emphasis will be placed upon theories of spiritual development, beliefs inherent in major wisdom traditions, implicit and explicit strategies for integrating spirituality into counseling, and the counselor's own personal and professional awareness and growth.

The study of selected topics in counseling.

Individualized study under the supervision of a graduate faculty member.

This seminar is designed to assist students in making substantive progress in identifying and developing their dissertation proposal. Students will critically examine the current literature associated with their research interests and examine applicable conceptual constructs and methodologies.

1-12 credits.

This course is a pass/fail course for master's students in their final semester. It may be taken to fulfill the registration requirement necessary for graduation. All master's students are required to be registered for at least one graduate credit hour in the semester of their graduation.

This course is a pass/fail course doctoral students may take to maintain active status after successfully passing the candidacy examination. All doctoral students are required to be registered for at least one graduate credit hour every semester until their graduation.