Basics of Counseling Technique

Summer 2013

This two week intensive hands-on training and supervision will prepare chaplains to provide basic counseling to individuals, couples, and families, with special attention to Muslim cases. The course will provide a framework for how to set up counseling sessions, effectively interact and establish a therapeutic relationship through an empathic interactional style, establish appropriate boundaries, screen and identify mental illness, offer basic interventions and refer people to the appropriate mental health professional. We will review some of the basic principles of transference-countertransference, cognitive-behavioral theory, Emotion-Focused Therapy, integrative behavioral couples therapy, rational emotive behavioral therapy, and the role of the spiritual healing in the Islamic tradition. Specific skills that will be taught include empathic listening, emotional reprocessing, facilitating introspection, mental health screening techniques, and how to deal and diffuse emotionally intense and/or volatile situations. This is an experiential course that will involve lecture, discussion, modeling/demonstrations of technique and role-play. While these are critical skills for Islamic chaplains to learn, chaplains from other faith traditions may benefit from learning how to counsel across cultures and faith traditions, using the Muslim tradition as a case example. Dr. Hamid will be aided in teaching this course by Hooman Keshavarzi. Prerequisite: AM-653 Mental Health: An Islamic Perspective or permission of the instructor.

Monday, through Friday, June 17 through June 28, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (two weeks)

Hamada Hamid

Adjunct Professor of Arts of Ministry

860-509-9500

Read more about Hamada Hamid

Downloads:

Syllabus

Syllabus:

Course Pre-requisites: AM-653 Mental Health: An Islamic Perspective or permission of the instructors.

Course Objectives:

Be able to identify possible psychopathology and have an understanding of the system of referral.
Expand awareness of mental health referral sources and procedures to collaborate/assist with expert mental health clinicians.
Review basic counseling models with an emphasis on practical application via demonstrations, role-play etc.
Learn basic techniques to heighten introspection and self-awareness in clients
Impart active and empathic listening skills towards fostering a productive relationship between Chaplain/Imam and client.
Increase awareness of relational processes that influence self and other.

Grading:

Item	Percentage
Participation	20%
Counseling Audio Tape 1	15%
Counseling Audio Tape 2	30%
Counseling Audio Tape 3	35%

Assignments/Exams

Participation:

This is measured by a willingness on behalf of the student to engage in the learning process. This includes attendance, participation in discussions, role play and activities.

Counseling Audio Tapes:

Three counseling audio or video tapes will be self-recorded by the student in the interest of demonstrating specific techniques and/or interventions as learned in classes. Students may bring recorders to class, due to the possibility of having some role-plays recorded and may be used for submission for the assignment. All tapes MUST be transcribed and must include a double-spaced, three page reflection. It is recommended that in the reflection, the student justify why they responded or carried out the session in the manner that they did, what they might have done differently and what orientation or techniques they were trying to employ.

Tape 1 - Active/Empathatic Listening: This will be between 10-15 minutes and will be focused on empathic listening skills and response techniques/styles.
Tape 2 - Conducting Sessions: This will be between 15-25 minutes and must include listening and empathic skills learned in first sessions and additional techniques covered.
Tape 3 - Integrative Therapy: This tape will be approximately 30-40 minutes long and must demonstrate an integrative understanding of techniques that may be customized to fit the style of the Imam/Chaplain in working with the client.

Course Schedule:

Day	Time	Topic	Readings/Assignments
1	9-11:15am	Introduction to the course Role of the Counselor and Client in Relationship Fundamentals of Forming the Relationship During Initial Screening Core Conditions Counseling stance Hearing, Listening and Following your client How to Screen	Chapter 1 – Martin Chapter 5 – Martin Chapter 4 - Counseling Muslims Handbook
	12pm-1:30pm	Forming the Relationship: the Process Demonstration Role play	Chapter 2 - Martin
2	9-11:15am	Relationship issues Transference/Counter-transference Confrontation Resistance	Chapter 6 - Martin
	12pm-1:30pm	Increasing self-awareness and practicing empathy Discussion Q&A Role play
3	9-11:15am	Identifying Types of Problems and Responding Effectively Quick overview of most prevalent mental disorders What to treat and what not to treat Referral	Ali, O. M., Milstein, G., & Marzuk, P. M. (2005). The Imam’s role in meeting the counseling needs of Muslim communities in the United States. Psychiatric Services, 56(2), 202-205.
	12-1:30pm	How to respond to psychopathology in the moment? Demonstration Role play	Martin - Chapter 3 Tape 1: Due
4	9-11:15am	Understanding and Working with Emotions Adaptive vs. Maladaptive emotions Needs of emotions Emotional reprocessing	Izard, C. A. (2002). Translating emotion theory and research into preventive interventions. Psychological Bulletin, 128 (5), 796-824. See attached - primary emotions - adaptive response
	12-1:30pm	Working with emotions, hearing and accessing them: Self-assessment exercise. How emotionally accessible are you? Role play/Demonstrations	Greenberg, L.S. & Paivio, S.C. (1997). Working with the Emotions, New York: Guilford., Chapter 3: Emotion Assessment.
5	9-11:15am	Understanding and working with Cognition/Thoughts Cognitive distortions Cognitive techniques to address distortions Thought mapping
	12-1:30pm	How to apply cognitive techniques in an empathic way. Exposure to cognitive techniques in demonstration Role play	Martin - Chapter 4 Tape 2: Due
6	9-11:15am	Reforming/shaping behavior and behavioral impulses. Reinforcement cycles Shaping Impulse control
	12-1:30pm	Behavioral principles in application Activities Video Case examples (what to prescribe) Discussion
7	9-11:15am	Integrative Behavioral Couples Therapy Goals Techniques	Barlow, D.H. (Ed.) (2008). Clinical handbook of psychological disorders: A step-by-step manual (4th ed.). New York: The Guilford Press. ISBN-10: 1-59385-572-9: Chapter 16: Couple Distress.
	12-1:30pm	Couples Counseling: Religious/cultural issues and additional considerations Discussion
8	9-11:15am	Integrative Behavioral Couples Therapy Applying the theory Demonstration Role play
	12-1:30pm	Couples Counseling: Exercises, resources and aids	Gottman, J. (1999). The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work: A Practical Guide from the Country’s Foremost Relationship Expert. New York: Crown Publishers Inc.
9	9-11:15am	Integrating and Incorporating Spirituality into Therapy Integrative theory Conceptualization	Keshavarzi, H & Haque, A. (2012). Outlining a psychotherapy model for enhancing Muslim mental health in an Islamic context. International Journal for the Psychology of Religion.
	12-1:30pm	Experiencing in the moment. Demonstrations Role Play
10	9-11:15am	Understanding the Psychological Trauma The physiology of stress.
	12-1:30pm	Coping Mechanisms Discussions Role play	Final Tape Due

Policy

Academic Dishonesty/Plagiarism

In an effort to foster a spirit of honesty and integrity during the learning process, Instructors require that the submission of all course assignments represent the original work produced by that student. All sources must be documented through normal scholarly references/citations and all work must be submitted using the current edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. Students are encouraged to purchase this manual and become familiar with its content as well as consulting your instructor for further information regarding academic dishonesty and plagiarism.

Scholarly Writing

It is expected that students can read and write at a college level. The instructor will have the expectation that students’ writings be free of grammatical and spelling errors and be in compliance with APA standards. Additionally, writing must reflect critical thinking and an integrative synthesis of the material presented in lecture, readings and your personal thought. As potential leaders of your respective communities, we demand an exerted effort and that you take your education very seriously.

Books:

Required Texts:

Martin, D. G. (2000). Counseling and Therapy Skills, California: Brooks/Cole, ISBN# 1-57766-068-4.

**All journal articles in the syllabus will be included in the course pack

Recommended Texts:

Counseling Muslims: Handbook of Mental Health Issues and Interventions by Sameera Ahmed and Mona Amer. (2012) New York City: Routledge Publishers

American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed., text rev.). Washington, DC: Author.

- Note: This text will be used as an aid. Thorough readings of the sections will not be necessary

- The Diagnostic manual used here is an American diagnostic system. The International Code for diagnosis (ICD-10) is not covered in this course, though there is much overlap. One may choose to purchase and browse through the ICD if so desired.

Various articles will be made available to students either electronically or handouts at the beginning of the first class.

Academic Programs

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