Fall 2017 - EDUC 801 G001

Counselling Practicum I (1.5)

Class Number: 4503

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Location: TBA

  • Instructor:

    Alanaise Goodwill
  • Prerequisites:

    EDUC 800. Students must successfully complete a Criminal Record Check.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Supervised clinical experience for students enrolled in the MEd or MA Counselling Psychology Program. Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.

COURSE DETAILS:

By working with clients in a community or school site, students in this practicum course will concentrate on developing sound and consistent case management that includes implementing theoretically based counselling strategies and assessment skills.   The SFU seminar portion of the course provides students with opportunities to:   (1) Develop and practice counselling strategies through instruction, discussions, role play, and demonstration by instructor; (2) Receive supervision and feedback from instructor and peers through client case presentations and/or videotaped demonstrations with clients; (3) Become familiar with a team approach to case management; (4) Develop fundamental supervisory skills that include such activities as offering appropriate feedback, skills practice in dyads or triads, and the use of visual recordings as a supervisory tool. (5) Develop your professional counsellor identity by researching professional memberships, affiliations, licensure options, and other practice and research activities relevant to your career and professional goals.  

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

At the end of the practicum first semester, we expect students to demonstrate progress towards these outcomes/competencies: 1. The student is capable of demonstrating the purposeful use of all the basic counselling skills at a level of a beginning professional. 2. The student is able to implement and evaluate an appropriate range of intervention strategies; he/she is able to demonstrate client changes resulting from the deployment of these strategies. 3. The student is able to develop and continually refine hypotheses and to design interventions that are integrated combinations of appropriate strategies matched to the client’s unique situation. The student is able to maintain a close coordination between the working hypothesis and all aspects of the intervention. 4. The student’s theoretical and philosophical approach to counselling has become consistent. He/she is able to articulate this position in various situations, both with respect to client and with respect to self. 5. The student demonstrates consistent self-monitoring. Strengths and weaknesses in counselling are consistently evaluated. The student shows a high degree of commitment to professional development and self-reflection. 6. The student is aware of ethical guidelines for counselling and behaves in accordance with such guidelines. This includes identifying and bringing ethical issues to the attention of the site supervisor and practicum class instructor.   Students who attain the competency levels described above by the end of EDUC 802 will complete only two semesters of Practicum. Other students may require additional supervised practice in order to achieve the outcomes described. It is our practice to inform students at the earliest time possible that their performance may not reach a satisfactory level by the end of the Practicum and that an extension may be warranted.

Grading

  • The course is graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. All assignments must be completed in a satisfactory manner based on expected competencies for a beginning counsellor, in order to pass the course (see http://www.compassexams.ca/assets/2007CompetencyProfile.pdf). Students' performance in the field will be evaluated formally at mid-term and end of term with meetings between the SFU supervisor, site supervisor, and student through a conference call/skype at the midterm and a face-to-face meeting at the practicum site at the end of term. Stu-dents must be evaluated as being prepared and ready to work with the public in a skilled, safe, and ethical manner in order to pass the course with a satisfactory rating.

NOTES:

At the end of the practicum first semester, we expect students to demonstrate progress towards these outcomes/competencies: 1. The student is capable of demonstrating the purposeful use of all the basic counselling skills at a level of a beginning professional. 2. The student is able to implement and evaluate an appropriate range of intervention strategies; he/she is able to demonstrate client changes resulting from the deployment of these strategies. 3. The student is able to develop and continually refine hypotheses and to design interventions that are integrated combinations of appropriate strategies matched to the client’s unique situation. The student is able to maintain a close coordination between the working hypothesis and all aspects of the intervention. 4. The student’s theoretical and philosophical approach to counselling has become consistent. He/she is able to articulate this position in various situations, both with respect to client and with respect to self. 5. The student demonstrates consistent self-monitoring. Strengths and weaknesses in counselling are consistently evaluated. The student shows a high degree of commitment to professional development and self-reflection. 6. The student is aware of ethical guidelines for counselling and behaves in accordance with such guidelines. This includes identifying and bringing ethical issues to the attention of the site supervisor and practicum class instructor.   Students who attain the competency levels described above by the end of EDUC 802 will complete only two semesters of Practicum. Other students may require additional supervised practice in order to achieve the outcomes described. It is our practice to inform students at the earliest time possible that their performance may not reach a satisfactory level by the end of the Practicum and that an extension may be warranted.

REQUIREMENTS:

Class Conduct and Special Considerations Please note that this class is not based on competition among students. There is no pre-set grade distribution. Thus, the course instructor is responsible for creating a class atmosphere conducive to students' self-exploration, simulated counselling interaction, and open communication. The psychological safety of all the students is paramount. Student behaviours that interfere with the development and maintenance of psychological safety for themselves and/or others are not tolerated. If such behaviours should arise, the instructor will approach and problem-solve with the concerned individual or individuals. For example, the instructor will approach and deal with students who show discrimination (i.e. racism, sexism, homophobia, ableism), insensitivity to others' feelings and needs, intolerance of individual and cultural differences, indifference or failure to become involved in group process and learning, judgmental attitudes toward others, or inappropriate behaviours toward peers and the instructor.   Students are expected to work with clients, peers, and supervisors in a manner reflective of the profession. Any unethical, professionally inappropriate, or disruptive behavior may result in the student’s dismissal from the course. Students in all Faculty of Education courses are responsible for knowing policies pertaining to academic integrity available on the https://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

There is no required reading for this course. However, students are expected to review the literature on issues related to the clients with whom they work. Reading material may be provided in class or assigned to specific students, particularly as pertains to intervention demos. Students may also provide handouts of relevant materials during their case presentations, for reading/review by the class.

Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS