Advanced Counselling

Course Code

COUN 3000

Academic Year

2016-2017

This course is designed to develop students' theoretical and practical knowledge of counselling approaches with children and youth. The initial focus is on introducing students to the social-constructionist framework and strength-based approaches to counselling. In addition, students are asked to consider the role of counsellors in the lives of young people, as well as the importance of building effective therapeutic relationships among professionals, youth and family members. Knowledge in these areas is key in helping students to build a theoretical foundation for their counselling practices and to critically reflect upon their own perceptions of therapeutic work with children and youth. The second part of this course assists students in learning the skills needed to provide appropriate counselling services to clients of diverse backgrounds and needs. Students are also asked to think critically about the role of ethnicity, sexuality, cognitive ability and gender in the counselling relationship. Part of this critical orientation involves students' reflecting on how their own identity and status shapes and influences their therapeutic work with clients. The course concludes with a discussion of strategies for empowering clients and promoting resiliency, as well as an examination of the legal and ethical issues that helping professionals face. In the seminar portion of this class, students have the opportunity to practise and enhance the skills necessary for building effective therapeutic relationships, such as rapport building, active listening and questioning skills. Finally, students are required to consult current research literature in order to enhance their understanding of the counselling profession.