REQUIRED TEXTBOOK(S)
None.
Readings to be assigned.

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This is an advanced class for students preparing for their practicum experiences. The class will cover skill development through active practice and review of tapes and in-class role playing, Skills to be covered include empathy, reflection, rudimentary Gestalt techniques, basic behavioral and cognitive restructuring interventions, treatment planning, intake and diagnostic interviewing, and termination. Ethical issues and self-reflection will also be addressed.

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK PRINCIPLES:
1. The student understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the fields of knowledge. (Principle #1)
2. The student understands and uses formal and informal assessment strategies to evaluate and ensure the continued intellectual, social, and physical development of the client. (Principle #8)
3. The student is a reflective practitioner who continually evaluates, using qualitative and quantitative resources, the effects of his or her choices and actions on others and who actively seeks out opportunities to grow professionally. (Principle #9)

COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. Students will learn basic therapeutic skills including reflection and empathy.
2. Students will become familiar with applying several types of therapeutic techniques, including Gestalt, behavioral, and cognitive interventions.
3. Students will learn to write progress notes for therapeutic interactions.
4. Students will be able to conduct and write summaries of interviews reflecting their intended forum of practice.
5. Students will be able to write up appropriate treatment plans.
6. Students will be familiar with ethical standards governing practice.
7. Students will learn to reflect on their own development of skills and performance through review of tapes of sessions.

COURSE EVALUATION
Quizzes: There will be five quizzes given at the beginning of class (see calendar below for dates). These quizzes will each be worth 5% of your grade and will cover material presented and covered, both in class and in the readings, since the last quiz. The format for quiz items will primarily skill assessment items. Missed quizzes will NOT be made up.

Therapeutic and Interview Practice:
Video/audio tapes: Students will pair up with a partner in the class to conduct mock therapy sessions. Under no conditions should students assume that actual therapy or therapeutic interventions will be administered! All sessions will be audio or video recorded. At least two therapy sessions must be videotaped.  Tapes will be reviewed in class by the instructor and fellow students, for the purpose of furthering skill development and constructive feedback to improve student practice.  Failure to hand in tapes when scheduled will result in a penalty of 5% of the course grade.

Progress Notes: Students will hand in progress notes to accompany each of the three therapy sessions. Notes will be reviewed for efficiency, lack of jargon, and appropriateness. Failure to hand in progress notes when scheduled will result in a penalty of 2% of the course grade.

Treatment Plan: Students will be required to construct a treatment plan for a hypothetical case. Assignments of cases will be made on October 12, and the completed treatment plan, worth 10 % of the grade, will be due November 9. The plan should include specific targets for change (behavioral, affective, and/or cognitive), and mechanisms or techniques to be used to address each targeted dimension. Specificity is necessary! For each weekday the assignment is late, 10% of the grade will be deducted from the assignment.

Interview/Write-up: During the week of November 9, students will be required to conduct an interview with Dr. Wasieleski, to be scheduled ahead of time. For school counseling students, the interview will be a first session or intake interview. For clinical students, the interview will be a clinical/diagnostic interview. Dr. Wasieleski will take the role of an individual in need of intervention (not that this is a far-flung idea!) and students will demonstrate their interviewing skills. The interview itself, which will take no more than an hour, will be evaluated and count for 15% of your grade. Students will then write up the interview as if in a report, including treatment recommendations and diagnostic impressions where appropriate. The write-up will count for another 10% of your grade. Failure to schedule the interview or to hand in the write-up on time will result in a zero grade for this assignment.

Exam: There will be one exam, worth 20% of your grade. This exam will consist of essay and short-answer questions to reflect material discussed in class and appearing in the assigned reading. Missing an exam for any reason deemed avoidable by the instructor will result in failure of the course.

Grading Criteria:
Quizzes (5% each): 25%
Taped sessions (5% each): 15%
Progress Notes 5%
Treatment Plan: 10%
Interview w/ Dr. W: 15%
Write-up of interview 10%
Final Exam 20%

ATTENDANCE POLICY
VSU policy requires class attendance. You will be expected to attend all class sessions unless outstanding and demonstrable circumstances arise. Unexcused absences and/or repeated late attendance will result in a penalty of one percentage point deducted from course average per hour of class missed without an excuse deemed acceptable by the instructor. In accordance with VSU policy, missing greater than 20% of in-class time will result in an automatic failure of the course.

SPECIAL NEEDS STATEMENT
Valdosta State University, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, will make arrangements for students who require special assistance due to a disability. If you require some assistance, do not hesitate to make me aware of it. In addition, if you are not already registered with the Special Services Program, you must contact the Special Services Office in Nevins Hall, Room 226-A, or call 245-2498.

INSTRUCTOR
David Wasieleski, Ph.D.
#14 Psychology Building
Phone: 229-333-5620
dwasiele@valdosta.edu
http:chiron.valdosta.edu/dtwasieleski
Office hours:  MW 2:00-4:30 pm
                     TR 1:00-4:30 pm
(Available at other times by appointment)

COURSE SCHEDULE
Note: Other readings and handouts may be assigned as needed.
 

8/17	Topics: Outline of class and assignments, Intro to therapy skills
8/24	Reading on Gestalt Techniques Topic: Therapy skills
8/31	First Quiz  First therapy tape and progress notes due
9/7	Topic: Interviewing skills
9/14	Topic: Interviewing skills
9/21	Second Quiz
9/28	Topic: Progress Notes
10/5	Topics: Goal Setting; Treatment Planning Second therapy tape and progress notes due
10/12	Third Quiz
10/19	Tape review
10/26	Topic: Responding to Client Anger
11/2	Fourth Quiz Third therapy tape and progress notes due Have interviews scheduled with Dr. W. for following week
11/9	Treatment plan due Topic: Self-reflection and awareness
11/16	Fifth Quiz
11/30	Interview Write-up Due
TBA	Comprehensive Final Exam