Pco 530: Marriage and Family Counseling

PCO 620 MARRIAGE AND FAMILY COUNSELING Spring 2013 ▪ 3 Credit Hours Tuesdays, 6:00 – 10:00 pm.

Professor: Douglas A. Spears, Ph.D. PCC/s (Ohio & Kentucky) Office Location: Counseling & Family Studies Department Email: [email protected] Phone: 244-8193 Class Location: PH 249

DESCRIPTION: The treatment of individuals, couples, and families from a relational/systemic perspective. Students will gain an understanding of healthy, marital and family systems, the therapeutic process, and the practice of marriage and family counseling.

RATIONALE: CACREP – The material in this course is designed to meet the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) curriculum standards for masters training. The specific standards states that students are required to have “common core curricular experiences and demonstrated knowledge in each of the eight common core curricular areas are required of all students in the program” and CMHC which states “students who are preparing to work as clinical mental health counselors will demonstrate the professional knowledge, skills, and practices necessary to address a wide variety of circumstances within the clinical mental health counseling context specific standards.

Ohio – This course meets education requirements for Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) for Licensing Requirements: 4757-13-01(A)(4)(a)(b)(f)(5)(d) and the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) for eligibility for the LPCC credential: 4757.22(C)(1).

Kentucky – This course meets education requirements for Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) for licensing requirements: 335.525(1)(d)(1,3,6,7), as well as the Kentucky Administrative Regulations (KAR) for eligibility for the LPCC credential: 201 KAR 36:070.

Indiana – This course meets education requirements for Indiana Administrative Code (IAC) for mental health counseling: 839 IAC 1-5-1(a)(6), as well as Indiana Code (IC) for eligibility for the LMHC credential: IC 25-23.6-8.5-3(1)(B,C,H,K,L).

COURSE OBJECTIVES: As a result of this course, students will be able to: 1. Review the general principles of family living: how couples and families operate as a social system, develop rules for living together, and deal with the ever-changing tasks that must be met by a family going through its life cycle: CACREP II.G.5.a; CMHC D.3; MAC 2.c. 2. Increase their self-knowledge and awareness of their own families and how their family histories impact their ability to counsel: CACREP II.G.2.d; CMHC D.5; MAC 1, 2.c. 3. Discuss assumptions of systems theory and the basic ideas of the major theoretical orientations within marriage and family counseling along with theories and models dealing with couple and family resilience and demonstrate beginning practices and techniques: CACREP II.G.3.a, d; CMHC A.5; CMHC C.8; CMHC D.3, 5; MAC 2.c.

METHOD OF INSTRUCTION In general, the class will follow a brief lecture, discussion, interaction, role-playing, exploration of issues, and utilizing class time for large/small group activities and exercises. Active participation is required to help develop a richer understanding of the ethical and professional issues facing counselors. Learning will be facilitated via discussion of readings/scenarios, research, writing, and examinations. Students are expected to discuss their application, insights, and understanding of the reading and the exercises with the instructor and other students. It is essential that students prepare for class by reading assigned material prior to class.

REQUIRED MATERIALS Moodle and Email: All students enrolled in this course are required to check Moodle and their email weekly for the duration of the course. Course announcements, changes to the syllabus, and memos from the instructor will be distributed via Moodle and/or email. Students are responsible for all information distributed in this manner.

Required Texts: Gladding, S. (2002). Family therapy: History, theory, and practice. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education. Gottman, J. (1999). Seven principles for making marriage work. New York, NY: Crown Publishers.

Requirements/Grading 1. Snapshot of Family – 20 points 2. Genogram Project – 20 points 3. Models Project- 30 Points 4. Final Exam (Movie) or Family Case Study - The family case study will be an analysis of a family applying systems and family life cycle concepts recommending techniques, interventions and strategies to assist the particular family. – 25 Points 5. Attendance, Participation & Reading Assignments 5 Points

Grading/Scale Assignment #1. Snapshots of your family. Write three (3) 100 word or less "snapshots" of times in your family-of-origin or family-of-procreation. These times can be of mundane events, tragedies, or celebrations. They should describe as well as convey feeling. Write a 500 word (2 pages) write up of what you learn from your snapshots, i.e., the way you functioned in relationship to one or more members of your family. Turn both the snapshots and reflections in on February 1st. Course Objective(s): 1 & 2.

Assignment #2. Draw a three generational genogram of your family based on what you have learned from class discussion. Write a 1000 to 1500 word (4-6 typed pages) paper discussing patterns you have discovered in your family and insights you have gained from this assignment. Be prepared to share your findings with at least one classmate in class on February 15. Questions you should ask and answer in this assignment will be posted on Moodle. Course Objective(s); Course Objective(s): 1 & 2.

Assignment #3. Team Presentation on a Family Counseling Approach. In the group in which you are assigned, prepare a presentation on a family counseling approach that you are assigned. The presentation should last 35 to 40 minutes and should include a handout. Techniques used in the approach should be presented on video or should be enacted using a script in class. The presentation should explain the context in which the family counseling approach was developed, its founder(s), the theory behind it, techniques, research supporting it, and its uniqueness. (20% of final grade). Begins March 29 Course Objective(s): 1 & 3.

Assignment #4. In class you will work in small groups and watch a selected movie. From the movie you will develop a case study and write a paper on your small group treatment of the family. Course Objective(s). Course Objective(s): 1,2 3.

IMPORTANT NOTES

Attendance and Participation: Because active discussion and experiential exercises are integral parts of the learning experiences in this course, class attendance is expected and participation in class activities and assignments is critical to your success in the course. If, for any reason, you are unable to attend class, you are still held responsible for all in-class material and any announcements made during class. Per the university’s policy (see the CCU student handbook), you have two days that are excused without penalty. If you miss three days, an additional assignment will be added. If you miss more than three classes, you will be dropped from the class and will be required to reapply for readmission to the class. A decision about your return to the class will be decided by the counseling academic committee. Because class time should be a priority, absences for lateness will be assigned as follows: 15 minutes late = ¼ day absence, 30 minutes late = ½ day absence, and over 45 minutes = 1 day absence.

Graduate Coursework: Students who are planning on applying for licensure in Ohio as a Professional Counselor, the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board states (1) “Graduate Coursework” is any coursework that meets the requirements of a post-baccalaureate degree in which the applicant received a grade of “B-“ or highter.

Late Assignments & Missed Exams/Quizzes: All assignments and exams are expected to be completed on time and due at the beginning of class on the due date. Late assignments will be accepted only at the discretion of the instructor and will incur a penalty of 10% per day. If an assignment is turned in after the start of class, it is considered late. Exams will not be given late unless there is a personal medical or family emergency.

Christian Component: As we strive to provide a biblically-based approach to counseling, we expect you to evaluate all readings and discussions from a Christian perspective and work to integrate biblical truth into your life, thought, and work.

Student Conduct: Except under unusual circumstances, you should not arrive late or leave early. Cell phones should be turned off. You should not IM, text-message, or surf the web during class. Grades may be lowered a full letter grade for infractions. During discussions, everyone is expected to be respectful of themselves and others. Keep in mind that it may not be appropriate to disclose your own psychological struggles to the class. If you become distressed about any material/discussions, please talk with me and/or make an appointment to see a counselor.

Accommodations : Students with special needs should speak with me or provide documentation to the office of Student Retention specifying accommodations required to help assure success.

Flexibility Clause: This syllabus is NOT a binding contract. The dates of lectures, exams, projects, etc. may be revised as the term progresses. All modifications to the syllabus will be announced in class and/or via Moodle.

Class Outline: Week 1 Overview of Course Foundations of Marriage and Family A Theology of Marriage Handling Conflict and Preserving Oneness The Family as a System Miscommunication and Filters Expressing Criticism Constructively Status of Marriage/Family Today First Session Reading - Gottman Chapter One Course Objectives: 1, 2, 3.

Week 2 Solving Problems and Disagreements Expectations of Marriages and Families Marriage Life/Cycle Development Hidden Issues/Themes in Marriage and Family Healthy and Dysfunctional Characteristics of Families Family Life Cycle and Development Commitment in Marriage and Family Forgiveness Reading Gottman Chapters Two-Four; Gladding Chapter One – Three Course Objectives: 1, 2, 3.

Week 3 Blessings in Marriage and Family: Fun, Friendship, Intimacy Spirituality History of Marital and Family Therapy Overview of Marriage & Family Counseling - Strategies and Techniques Reading - Gottman Chapters Eight & Eleven Course Objectives: 1, 2, 3.

Week 4 Models/ of Marriage Counseling Models Project * Reading - Gladding Chapters Five – Ten Gottman Chapters Five & Seven Course Objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Week 5 Models/ of Marriage Counseling Models Project * (Continued) Reading - Gladding Chapters Five – Ten Course Objectives: 1, 2, 3.

Week 6 Working with Single-Parent Families Working with Remarried Families Working with Substance Abuse Marriage & Family Counseling Lab * Reading - Gladding Chapters Eleven, Twelve & Fourteen Course Objectives: 1, 2, 3.

Week 7 Research in Marriage and Family Ethical Practice of Marriage and Family Counseling Legal Issues in Marriage and Family Counseling Assessment in Marriage and Family Counseling Marriage & Family Counseling Lab * Reading - Gladding Chapter Thirteen, Fifteen & Sixteen Course Objectives: 1, 2, 3.

Week 8 Final Exam Case Study - Movie

Week 9 Final Exam Course Objectives: 1, 2, 3.