GRADUATE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS COU 6501 The Counseling Profession 3 Credits This course provides a conceptual foundation for the counseling profession. The course will focus on associations, licensure, certification, accreditation, codes of ethics, and practice settings, and will familiarize learners with the assumptions, theories, strategies, applications, and ethical and legal considerations related to counseling. Central to this course will be an ongoing self-evaluation of the learners' attitudes, values, interpersonal skills, and motives for choosing counseling as a profession. Threaded throughout the course will be the concept of a counselor as a social change agent and advocate for clients, the community, and the counseling profession. MFT 6504 Ethical and Legal Issues in Therapy 3 Credits This course familiarizes the learner with the areas of law and ethics central to the professional counselor and family therapist. Fundamental laws and principles are examined. The learner is given an opportunity to engage in the process of ethical decision making. The complex interplay between legal and ethical codes, cultural diversity issues, and the counselor’s values are explored. MFT 6513 Assessment Techniques in Therapy 3 Credits This course provides an overview of psychological tests and assessment procedures utilized in a therapeutic context. Focus is on basic psychometric properties of tests, methods of gathering and interpreting data, and the development and use of assessment tools. Emphasis is placed on how to choose, administer, and interpret individual and group tests within a culturally appropriate framework. MFT 6700 Psychopharmacology 3 Credits This course covers commonly prescribed psychotropic medications in the field of professional counseling and family therapy. Pharmacological classifications, indications, contraindications, and side effects are addressed in the treatment of adults and children with mental disorders. Focus is on an interdisciplinary approach including referral, coordination of care, and collaboration with medical professionals. Cultural diversity issues and the legal/ethical aspects of pharmacotherapy are considered. MFT 6704 Practicum I 3 Credits Prerequisites: PSY 6502, MFT 6504, PSY 6508, PSY 6505, PSY 6506. PSY 6509, PSY 6511, PSY 6510, PSY 6514, PSY 6512, PSY 6747, MFT 6513, PSY 6519, PSY 6520 This course provides the opportunity to gain experience with diverse populations in a supervised clinical setting which has been approved by CalSouthern. Learners apply counseling theories and techniques as well as practice interpersonal skills while working with individuals, couples, families, and/or groups. Learners are required to complete a minimum of 95 hours of direct client contact with a minimum of 19 units of supervision (1 unit of supervision = 1 hour of individual/triadic supervision or 2 hours of group supervision) in the proper Board-mandated ratio. Satisfactory completion of all activities and submission of all documents is required to successfully complete this course. The final grade for this course will either be (S) Satisfactory or (U) Unsatisfactory.
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