PSYC 6631 - Counseling Skills and Techniques

This course examines traditional theories of personality and counseling, as well as how to translate theory into effective practice. Students will develop basic counseling skills that include an awareness of self and a capacity to use one's self in the counseling process. Active listening, reflection of feeling, confrontation, interpretation, diagnostic interviewing, and crisis intervention skills are discussed, demonstrated, and practiced. Ethnic, culture, race, gender, and sexual orientation variables are addressed in the context of the intentionality of the interviewing process. The course is designed to teach students to select wisely from various theories and psychotherapeutic techniques, learn basic counseling skills, and begin to develop a personal style of counseling. 3 credits.