COURSE DESCRIPTIONOBJECTIVES1ASSEMBLIES OF GOD THEOLOGICAL SEMINARYPCP 550 Interpersonal Techniques in Helping RelationshipsM. Christine Morgan, LPC Spring 2008Office phone 869-1074 e-mail [email protected] SYLLABUS“…You can strive on your own. You can grow strong on your own. You can even prevail on our own. But you cannot become human on your own. “--Frederick BeuchnerCOURSE DESCRIPTIONThis course is designed to be a study of interpersonal techniques in the counseling/therapy relationship. This is a helping relationship and therapy techniques class designed for professional counselors, clergy, and other mental health professionals. Personal cognitive-emotional awareness and theological-psychological balance will also be promoted through the study of individual functioning in interpersonal relationships. OBJECTIVESThe student will:1. Identify terminology and techniques used in the key schools of therapy. 2. Demonstrate an understanding of the helping process from exploration to awareness and then to action.3. Explain the importance of the therapist’s awareness of the self as an enhancement to the art of counseling.4. Analyze his/her own blind spots and biases that may negatively affect the counseling outcomes.5. Formulate a personal therapy style. 6. Integrate new therapy skills and techniques into their skills repertoire. REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS:Hill, Clara. (2004) Helping Skills: Facilitating Exploration, Insight, and Action. American Psychological Association, Washington, DC.Manning, Brennan. (1990) The Ragamuffin Gospel: Embracing the Unconditional Love of God. Multnomah, Publishers, Inc. Sisters, Oregon.Small, Jacqueline. (1990) Becoming Naturally Therapeutic: A Return to the True Essence of Helping. New York, Bantam Books.PCP 550 Interpersonal Helping Techniques 2M. Christine Morgan, LPCNote: Recommended and required readings reflect a diversity of disciplines and authors’ perspectives. Professor does not expect students to agree with, nor embrace, the perspectives of the authors. Professor does reserve the right to expect graduates students to expose themselves to a variety of readings: devotional, scholarly, and practical/professional. Critical discussion of material in class is always welcome.BASIC COURSE OUTLINE : 1. Course Lectures and Assignments2. Midterm Exam 3. Completion of Assigned Role Plays4. Attendance and Active Participation with Counseling Laboratories5. Reflection Papers6. Final ExamMETHODOLOGY:The class will be conducted in a combination of lecture, group learning seminar, and counseling laboratory utilizing a participant-learner method, and multimedia presentations, including videos and power point presentations. EXPECTATIONS:1. Due to the nature of this course, consistent attendance is essential. Unexcused absences will influence the course grade. Course work is due at the assigned time unless prior arrangements have been made.2. All written work is expected to be master’s level quality. Be sure your papers are well-written and proofread. Double space all work, use 12 point type, right margin justified only. Poor spelling and grammar reflect a lack of reflection and student respect--for one’s own work as well for the professor. Papers are expected to be the original work of the student and to be properly documented. Adherence to APA or Turabian style is required.3. Participation by everyone is expected. During this course, you will be invited to self-examine and self-disclose. We will attempt to establish a collaborative environment in which you will be invited to share openly with your peers from your own experience and your own developing theoretical perspectives. The efficacy of this learning experience, therefore, will directly depend upon your honesty, openness and respect for your peers. The goal is to expand our learning and avoid intellectual compartmentalization. 4. Academic integrity--any form of academic dishonesty, including plagiarism, will not be tolerated. COURSE REQUIREMENTS:Assignment 1: Active Participation—Each student will be expected to read assigned texts and articles prior to related lecture and discussion in class. Instructor reserves the right to assign homework from the text with the expectation that assignments will be completed before the following class. Completion of these assignments and active participation in class discussion is expected. Class will gradually transition toward active involvement in techniques learned via lecture, video, and reading assignments.PCP 550 Interpersonal Helping Techniques 3M. Christine Morgan, LPCAssignment 2: Midterm Exam - A midterm exam will cover the lecture, reading materials, handouts, and videos. Assignment 3: Role Play and Growth Plan - Student will be expected to participate in a counseling laboratory outside of the class period. Each student will be required to demonstrate the “Joining” techniques and “SOLER” model learned in class to two other students. Student will then meet with the other two students and critique colleagues’ role plays. These students will review the role play with the student and tender “Feedback Sheets” as part of the learning and improvement process. The student will then be expected to submit a “Growth Plan” incorporating peer suggestions. The goal is to gain practical experience in connecting with a client, conveying warmth, assessing one’s strengths and weaknesses—with an eye toward continued growth and improvement. Assignment 4: Student is to read and write a three to four page critique/review/interaction paper for the text, Naturally Therapeutic. While reading this book, student is to assess one’s own style of interaction with others; and to evaluate whether or not any of the interpersonal modes of operation, described by the author, can be seen in his/her personal style of relating. Part of the goal is to read with a discerning, yet teachable spirit, to assist the student in the integration process.Assignment 5: In lieu of one major term paper, the student will write three, 4-5-page interaction papers. Topics are as following:In the First paper, the student will wrestle with the concept of “Unconditional Positive Regard.” Student needs to grapple with the concept of being called upon, therapeutically, to be nonjudgmental--while integrating one’s spiritual values and scriptural mandates. Student will incorporate the writings of Brennan Manning on the unconditional love