The textbook and the readings for this first topic begin to describe some of the key elements for a successful therapeutic relationship.
Write a 1,200-1,500-word essay that describes the characteristics and roles you hope to embody as a counselor and the counselor dispositions that you want to bring with you. You may write in the first person for this assignment. Include the following in your paper:
Your role as the therapist in the counseling process within community and private mental health systems
Refer to the Counselor Dispositions. Which of these dispositions will you incorporate into the counseling relationship and how?
Counseling skills you plan to practice for building rapport with clients
Strategies to advocate for persons with mental health issues
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.
This assignment meets the following CACREP Standards:
2.F.5.f. Counselor characteristics and behaviors that influence the counseling process.
2.F.5.g. Essential interviewing, counseling, and case conceptualization skills.
5.C.3.d. Strategies for interfacing with integrated behavioral health care professionals.
5.C.3.e. Strategies to advocate for persons with mental health issues
PCN 515 Topic 2 Assignment Empathy, Probing, and Summarizing (Obj. 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3)
Details:
Write a 750-1,000-word paper outlining the importance of empathy, probing, and summarizing in the counseling process. Include the following in your paper:
The role of empathy in the counseling relationship
Techniques for establishing empathy with a client. Provide at least one example to illustrate these techniques.
The role of probing and summarizing in the counseling relationship
How the counselor knows that his/her responses effectively address the client’s message. Provide at least one example to illustrate your response.
Verbal and nonverbal cues indicating that the counselor is not effectively connecting with the client
Include at least three scholarly references in your paper.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.
PCN 515 Topic 3 Assignment Challenging a Client (Obj. 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, and 3.5)
Details:
Write a 750-1,000-word essay outlining at least four guidelines for effectively challenging a client. For each guideline, provide a case example illustrating the principle. Address the following in your paper:
How can counselors challenge a client without getting into a power struggle with a client, or provoking client defensiveness?
How can counselors help a client to identify unused resources and strengths?
How can counselors help a client to identify blind spots while continuing to provide empathy and support for the client?
How would counselors work with a client within an interdisciplinary treatment team?
How can a counselor act as a consultant when a practicing counselor asks for help to strengthen their challenging skills with clients?
For this part of the assignment, you may write in the first person. Reflect on your level of assertiveness. Do you feel you are assertive enough to challenge clients comfortably or do you feel you are too passive or aggressive? What might keep you from challenging a client?
Provide at least three scholarly references in your paper.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.
This assignment meets the following CACREP Standards:
2.F.5.c. Theories, models, and strategies for understanding and practicing consultation.
2.F.5.g. Essential interviewing, counseling, and case conceptualization skills.
5.C.3.d. Strategies for interfacing with integrated behavioral health care professionals.
PCN 515 Topic 4 Assignment Telling the Story (Obj. 4.1, 4.3, and 4.4)
Details:
Hector is a 35-year-old Hispanic male. Hector was seriously injured in an auto accident 5 months ago. He spent 4 months in the hospital. One leg and hip suffered permanent damage. He will probably always need a cane and walk with a limp. He also has limited mobility in his right arm and shoulder and cannot lift anything heavy.
Hector grew up in a family with a construction business. He has been working in construction since high school. Social work at the rehab hospital referred Hector to counseling because he is not adjusting well to his injuries. He is very depressed and angry because he cannot continue to work in his chosen occupation. Hector says, “What use am I now? I am the man in the family. I should be strong. I need to support the family. I don’t want my wife to work. I don’t know what I am going to do to make a living.”
Hector still experiences severe pain in his shoulder and his leg. He spends a lot of time watching TV and drinking. At this point, he is not looking for work. His family has reached out to him but he avoids interaction with his siblings and his parents because they remind him of what he no longer can do. He feels shame when he is around family members because of his disability. His relationship with his wife is tense because he is often angry and withdrawn.
You are meeting with Hector for the first time and want to get the story.
As we meet with a new client we develop some hypotheses to explore, as well as listening to what the client says about himself.
Write a 750-1,000-word paper addressing the following:
What are some of primary issues that Hector is addressing?
What are some of Hector’s feelings?
What are Hector’s behaviors and how are these impacting his adjustment?
How might Hector’s cultural heritage be impacting his adjustment to his injury?
What are some beliefs that may be impacting Hector’s adjustment?
How might Hector’s family background be impacting his adjustment?
What might be some issues that will need to be addressed in counseling?
What are the stages of change the counselor will help Hector through? Provide a brief definition of each stage.
What steps can a counselor take to help Hector explore his problems?
Consider the following counselor skills: eye contact, closed and open-ended questions, paraphrasing and summarizing, reflection, body language, tone, listening, empathy, genuineness, unconditional positive regard, interpretation, tracking, reflecting emotion, active presence, structuring sessions, encouragement, questioning and clarifying, counselor self-awareness, tolerating intensity, validating, challenging, multicultural awareness/acceptance, probing and questioning, posture. Pick one skill and discuss how a counselor should use this in their sessions with Hector.
Include at three scholarly references in your paper. At least two resources should identify issues that need to be addressed when you are working with someone who is being rehabilitated from a serious injury.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.
PCN 515 Topic 5 Assignment Crisis Counseling (Obj. 5.1 and 5.5)
Details:
Sometimes clients come into the counseling session with an immediate crisis. They need an immediate solution to a problem. Counseling in these situations needs to be focused and goal oriented.
Jamila has been working with her counselor on learning to better manage her 9-year-old son. Last night, her son was hit by a car and is in the hospital. This has created a number of problems:
She has to arrange childcare for her daughter so she can stay with her son in the hospital.
He will need some special care when he gets home because he will be in a wheelchair.
She is fearful that she will lose her job as a teacher’s aide in the local public school.
Write a 500-750-word paper addressing the following:
How would you prioritize Jamila’s concerns in the counseling session? What would you address first?
What steps would you take in this session to make sure that Jamila has the resources she needs right now?
How would you help Jamila develop a plan to manage the current crisis?
Include at least three scholarly references in your paper.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is required.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.
This assignment meets the following CACREP Standards:
2.F.5.j. Evidence-based counseling strategies and techniques for prevention and intervention.
2.F.5.m. Crisis intervention, trauma-informed, and community-based strategies, such as Psychological First Aid.
PCN 515 Topic 6 Assignment The Creation of Hope (Obj. 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, and 6.4)
Details:
Chapter 11 in the textbook emphasizes the importance of hope and possibility in the counseling process. Clients come into counseling having tried many different solutions that have failed. In many cases, they are discouraged and hopeless about resolving their problems in a way that creates a better life.
In some cases, clients face significant barriers of physical disability or illness, histories of trauma, occupational disadvantages, or addictions. Throughout the counseling process the counselor attempts to create hope.
Write a 750-1,000-word paper discussing the following:
How can the counselor create a sense of hope and possibility for the client?
How does establishing goals help clients to develop hope?
What steps can the counselor take to help clients identify goals for change?
What strategies can a counselor utilize to help clients commit to change?
Include at least three scholarly references in your paper.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is required.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.
PCN 515 Topic 7 Assignment Action Planning and Overcoming Barriers (Obj. 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, and 7.5)
Details:
If counseling is all talk and no action it is not effective counseling. The problem is that clients encounter many barriers in carrying out actions they identify in the counseling process.
Write a 750-1,000-word paper discussing action planning and overcoming barriers for client treatment. Please use headings and include the following in your paper:
Discuss the principles for effectively implementing an action plan.
Describe at least five barriers that might interfere with client implementation of the action plans that are created. Include a case example of each barrier.
Outline a counselor intervention that would help to overcome each barrier.
A list of your local community resources for different types of needs.
Outline an aftercare plan that utilized local community resources.
Include at least three scholarly references in your paper.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.
This assignment meets the following CACREP Standards:
2.F.5.g. Essential interviewing, counseling, and case conceptualization skills.
2.F.5.i. Development of measurable outcomes for clients.
2.F.5.k. Strategies to promote client understanding of and access to a variety of community-based resources.
PCN 515 Topic 8 Assignment Self-Reflection (Obj. 8.4)
Details:
You have been practicing counseling skills either on a volunteer or on yourself throughout this course. This paper is an opportunity to reflect on everything you learned. It is also an opportunity to examine yourself as a potential counselor. You may write in the first-person perspective in this assignment.
Write a 500-750-word paper addressing the following:
What is the most significant information you learned about the skills required to be an effective counselor? Were there any skills that surprised you as you worked through the course?
What are your strengths as a potential counselor? These could be attending or communication skills, attitudes or behaviors that will be an asset in the counseling role.
What skills do you think will be most difficult for you? What might be your handicaps as a counselor?
What are some specific actions you will take to prepare yourself for your future practicum experience?
Review your text regarding consultant-counselor and the additional reading on the topic. Explain the role of consultant-counselor. Do you see yourself acting in this role? Why or why not?
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.
This assignment meets the following CACREP Standard: 2.F.5.c. Theories, models, and strategies for understanding and practicing consultation.
PCN 515 Topic 8 Assignment Termination of the Counseling Relationship (Obj. 8.1 and 8.2)
Details:
In a 250-500-word essay, hypothetically terminate the counseling relationship with a client who has experienced trauma and abuse in the past and has now seen you, the counselor, for 8 months regarding this trauma.
Describe the successful termination of the client relationship.
Discuss strategies for helping the client to maintain change post-termination.
Include at least one scholarly reference in your paper.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.
