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Overview

PSYC 406 showcases 12 therapeutic perspectives and provides a historical context for the current practice of counselling psychology. There is no perfect, universal model for understanding human behaviour or the therapeutic process of enabling change and growth.

PSYC 406 encourages students to think critically by comparing the various approaches, watching for converging and diverging themes, and evaluating the strengths and limitations of each therapeutic perspective. A critical analysis of the various perspectives is emphasized, as is self-reflection in relation to values, beliefs, assumptions about human nature, and worldview. The combination of approaches and learning tools are intended to help students sharpen their critical analysis skills and equip them for the life-long learning needed for successful counselling.

Outline

PSYC 406 consists of 17 chapters, organized in five sections.

Section I: Basic Issues in Counselling Practice

Section II: The Importance of the Therapeutic Relationship in Facilitating Change

Section III: The Importance of Active Client Participation

Section IV: The Importance of Relationships and Power Dynamics

Section V: Integration and Application

Learning outcomes

PSYC 406 has 10 major learning outcomes. After completing this course, students should be able to:

1. Explain how worldview, personal characteristics, cultural background, and positionality shape the development and application of counselling theory.
2. Identify the essential components of a complete theory of counselling or psychotherapy, and articulate how those components are addressed across the major therapeutic models.
3. Critically assess the similarities and differences across therapeutic approaches and the strengths and limitations of each, drawing on empirical evidence and theoretical coherence.
4. Identify their personal values, beliefs, and worldview, and evaluate how those assumptions shape their personal alignment with each theoretical framework and its application to the counselling process.
5. Apply the various counselling and psychotherapy models to case studies of diverse client-presenting concerns. In the role of a counsellor, demonstrate the use of model-specific concepts, interventions, and techniques.
6. Critically evaluate the theoretical coherence, empirical support, and practical viability of integrative approaches that draw on components across conceptual models.
7. Develop and articulate a preliminary personal framework that encompasses a perspective on human nature, the development and definition of client problems, the client–counsellor relationship, and the processes and techniques for facilitating change and growth.
8. Demonstrate an awareness of their personal social location, analyze the impact of that positionality on counsellor identity formation, and apply a decolonizing lens to the practice of counselling.
9. Integrate multicultural competencies and an understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion into the analysis and application of counselling theories and practices.
10. Apply professional ethical principles and standards to the analysis of counselling theories, therapeutic relationships, and client-related decision-making across diverse practice contexts.

Evaluation

To receive credit for PSYC 406, students must complete and submit all of the assignments and quizzes. They must achieve an average grade of D (50 percent) on the quizzes and an overall grade of at least D (50 percent) for the course.

Students will be evaluated on their understanding of the concepts presented in the course and on their ability to apply those concepts. The final grade in the course will be based on the marks achieved for the following activities.

Materials

Digital course materials

Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:

Corey, G. (2024). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy (11th ed.). Cengage Learning.

Other Materials

All other materials can be accessed online via the course website.

Challenge for credit

Overview

The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.

Full information about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.

Evaluation

To receive credit for the PSYC 406 challenge registration, students must complete and submit the Case Study and write the Exam. Students must achieve a minimum grade of D (50 percent) on the Exam, and an overall grade of D (50 percent) for the challenge activities.

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