Psy. 428 Spring 2012

Normally for my section of Introduction to Counseling I hold informational interviews to give permission to register for the class. As I will be on sabbatical until January 2012 I will not be available to hold those interviews. Consequently this notice will give the information I normally give in person.

This class is limited to juniors, seniors and Grad students and you must be a psychology major. The prerequisite for this class is Psy. 306. It is a better learning experience if you have taken Abnormal Psychology too, but Abnormal is not required.

An important aspect of this class is the co-counseling project. From week six through week fourteen you need to be available 3 hours per week outside of class to meet with your co-counseling triad. All meeting times must occur on campus and it is best not to schedule hours back to back.

The class is designed to give you a sense of what being a counselor might be like. You cannot socialize with your triad members, do class exercises with them, nor engage in any way outside of your counseling sessions. This is to develop a sense of confidentiality and to feel what it is like to hold private space for your client, and to have your counselor hold that space for you.

If you are struggling emotionally, this class may be challenging and you might want to consider taking it another semester when you are not feeling so vulnerable. The class can bring up sensitive material, although most students feel supported and do work through the issues they originally thought problematic.

You will have four integration papers, 5 inventory style worksheets, and a 10 – 15 page co-counseling paper. Students engage in many in-class skill-building activities including fish bowl counseling demonstrations. We watch videos of master therapists, have many conversations about different aspects of psychotherapy and counseling, and enjoy guest speakers as well as each other.

The class is designed to give you what you put into it, and students have called the class rigorous fun. I too work hard, make meaningful contact, and have fun doing it. I look forward to seeing what we will create together when the class resumes in Spring 2012.