This course provides a history, survey, and the development of various theoretical approaches to counseling. Through study, interaction, and research of the diverse linear and systemic theoretical models, students are given the opportunity to evaluate the models and establish a personal theoretical orientation to counseling.

This course is a study of the professional roles, legal requirements, and ethical codes for professional counselors. Discussions include legal and ethical problems commonly encountered within the counseling profession. Students will engage an ethical decision- making model to effectively utilize the ACA Code of Ethics (2014), AAMFT Code of Ethics (2015). This course must be taken within the first 15 credits of enrollment at PGS.

This course provides an introduction to counseling, professional development, and consultation. This course aids the student in developing an understanding of the essential elements of the counseling profession, including history and philosophy of counseling and systemic work; responsibilities, functions, and roles of the professional counselor; collaboration and consultation skills with other professionals, groups and organizations; theories of supervision and consultation; and various professional practice settings. Students will articulate personal model of counseling that includes the development of multicultural counseling competencies and integration of a Christian worldview.

This course is designed to provide an understanding of the unique developmental issues of the child and adolescent years. Included are strategies, theories, and methodologies necessary to successfully counsel these important groups.

The purpose of this course is to provide historical, theoretical, conceptual, ethical, and practical foundation for counseling diverse couples and families from a systemic perspective. Students will explore a variety of theories, including a systems approach perspective to address the needs of couples and families in counseling. Students will also learn how to engage in the family assessment process to effectively treatment plan and implement therapeutic interventions to assist with promoting optimal wellness and growth with couples and families.

This course will examine substantive and theoretical constructs concerning the inherently complex dynamics involved in counseling people from diverse cultural contexts. An emphasis will be placed on expanding awareness about diverse cultures, personality theory development, and counselor personal bias in the effort to enhance cultural sensitivity and diffuse potential barriers in the counseling relationship and process. Current research about specific cultural issues will be addressed, including race, ethnicity, socioeconomic class, gender, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and disability.

This course is designed to help students learn the concepts and skills necessary to counsel women of all ages effectively. Counseling philosophy, theory and ethical standards are studied. The content includes a developmental framework exploring the various dimensions of a woman involving her cognitive, emotional, physical and spiritual health . Students will learn to be equipped to intervene with issues related to life adjustment and crisis situations.

This course will examine the purpose of clinical assessments in counseling and how the usage of assessments can enhance the mental health services provided to clients. Students will become familiar with statistical concepts as well as ascertain basic competency in the selection, administration, scoring, interpreting, and relaying the results generated from psychological, educational, and vocational assessments utilized in clinical practice. Students will gain the necessary skills to effectively utilize information gathered through standardized and non-standardized instruments to serve as a supportive indicator for diagnosing, intervention planning and clinical recommendations that contribute to symptom reduction, behavioral change, and client wellness.

This course provides an exploration of counselor characteristics and behaviors that influence the counseling process. Students will explore various counseling methodologies, techniques, and strategies useful in the change process when working with an individual, marital, couple, and/or family. Students will study specific techniques for effective risk assessment and crisis/trauma intervention.

This course prepares the student to facilitate a client's career and personal development. Relevant career development theories, models and approaches will be explored. Students will gain competency in the use of assessment tools related to career and life decision making. Students will be charged an additional course fee for course materials.

This course is designed to expose students to the theories and dynamics of group counseling. A variety of group settings and formats will be explored. Students will learn about group formation, therapeutic factors and effective group leadership techniques that impact the group process. Students will gain direct experience as a member and leader of a counseling group.

This course provides an in-depth exploration of the sociological aspects associated with the context of traumatic events from a local and global perspective. Extensive consideration is given to the elements that contribute to natural and human-generated disasters from a systemic theoretical construct. Various aspects of society, the existing infrastructure in an environment and culture will be studied, including barriers, challenges, resources, corruption, oppression, poverty, disease, depravity, and other factors that impact a community's ability to prevent and respond to traumatic related events.

This course is designed to prepare students to become aware of diverse critical incidents that are potentially traumatic, with specific attention given to how to respond and intervene in crisis situations. These circumstances can include situations with homicidal or suicidal clients, school shootings, natural disasters (such as earthquakes or fires), terrorism, war, sex/drug trafficking and other dangerous instances. The ethical guidelines and professional protocol will be emphasized for the purpose of preparing students for effective immediate response to the psychological impact of life- threatening situations from a professional counseling perspective to serve individuals, families, marriages/couples, and communities.

This course provides an opportunity to explore the current research about traumatology from a Christian worldview, which includes the most effective counseling theories and techniques for counseling children and adults that are recovering from traumatic events. These include instances of physical, sexual abuse and domestic violence as well as natural disasters that could cause a client to experience the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder or complex trauma. There will be an emphasis on helping clients increase their capacity for emotional/ cognitive restoration, coping skills, resiliency, and ability to optimize functioning. There will also be considerable attention given to issues associated with vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue, which can promote healthy stress management for the counselor and clients that are served.

This course will provide the clinical knowledge that is necessary to facilitate an initial intake and diagnostic orientation for the client in the counseling process. Students will learn the diagnostic skills necessary to administer a comprehensive and thorough evaluation for the purpose of determining effective treatment plans for clients who are suffering from diverse addictive and compulsive disorders. An emphasis will be placed on integrating and analyzing current research in the field of addictions counseling assessment from a Christian worldview.

This course introduces sociological and systems perspectives of addictions counseling from a Christian worldview. The environmental context of the client will be considered to promote cultural competence and an awareness of the sociopolitical and economic aspects of addictions. Special attention will be devoted to expanding awareness about collaboration, consultation, case management, client education, service coordination and how to develop a referral network in the community.

This course is designed to help the student become more knowledgeable about counseling philosophy, techniques, theory, and professional/ethical standards that are most effective in counseling clients who have been diagnosed with an addictive or compulsive disorder. Current research about the most effective and practical theoretical counseling models that foster personal growth, recovery, healing, and change are studied. There will be a concentration on documentation/record keeping, crisis intervention, treatment planning and the important aspects of clinical supervision. Students will also have an opportunity to learn and critically examine how their intrapersonal awareness can enhance the counseling process.

This course will examine the neurobiological and medical etiology of mental health, co-occurring and addiction disorders and normalcy across the lifespan. Students will gain experience in making efficient diagnoses using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). Relevant cultural factors, differential diagnosis and evidence-based approaches will be emphasized to make appropriate diagnoses.

This course is designed to introduce students to a meaningful exploration of human development throughout the lifespan. Core themes from the disciplines of individual and family developmental psychology will be emphasized with consideration to a multicultural context. Special attention will be devoted to studying broad theoretical perspectives about the various aspects of optimal human development as well as factors that impede or diminish a person's ability to thrive and flourish.

This course provides an in-depth study of the complex nature of the diagnostic process from a clinical and practical perspective with the use of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (DSM-5). Special attention will be devoted to cultivating the clinical skills necessary for counselors to formulate a multiaxial diagnosis for clients that meets the criteria for mental disorders. Students will have an opportunity to develop a diagnostic framework from a Christian worldview that will be foundational to learning the professional skills necessary for the treatment planning process. This course is administered online.

Students will become knowledgeable in the development of measurable client outcomes, effective treatment plans and biopsychosocial/spiritual case conceptualizations. Consideration will be given to relational, systematic, trauma-informed, and community-based strategies that impact treatment planning. Students will be exposed to classifications, indications, and contraindications of commonly prescribed psychopharmacological medications for appropriate medical referral.

This course is designed to inform students about telemental/telehealth counseling, ethical and legal requirements to ensure competency and best practices to serve clients. This course provides an overview of technology requirements needed for HIPPA compliance, to ensure effective assessment competencies to manage emergency situations, and appropriateness of services with diverse individuals, relationships, and families.

This course is a presentation of basic neuroscience competencies, theory, research, practice issues, and the psychological and physiological implications of psychopharmacology when treating mental disorders as a non-medical professional.

This course is a presentation of the basic research designs used by counselors. The student will be introduced to quantitative, qualitative, and mixed research methodologies. The course will explore research ethics, statistical analysis, needs assessment, evidence-based practice, and program evaluation.

The study, application, and development of premarital, marital, and couple's theories, diagnosis/assessments, treatment planning, techniques, and interventions from a systemic methodology. Additional focus will include human sexuality and sex therapy, affair work, and other relevant topics when working with premarital, marital, and couples. This course is an extension of the Foundations of Marriage and Family Therapy with a focus on clinical skill development.

The study, application, and development of family therapy theories, diagnosis/assessments, treatment planning, techniques, and interventions from a systemic methodology. This course is an extension of the Foundations of Marriage and Family Therapy with a focus on clinical skill development.

An introductory supervised field experience that provides students the opportunity to practice clinical counseling skills in an established professional counseling setting. Students will have the opportunity to develop competencies in interviewing, clinical assessment, case conceptualization and documentation when working with individuals, couples and marital, family, and/or groups. Students' clinical counseling abilities will be evaluated by both self- assessment and supervisory assessment throughout the placement.

An extended supervised field experience that provides students the opportunity to practice clinical counseling skills in an established professional counseling setting. Students will have the opportunity to develop competencies in interviewing, clinical assessment, case conceptualization and documentation when working with individuals, couples and marital, family, and/or groups. Students' clinical counseling abilities will be evaluated by both self- assessment and supervisory assessment throughout the placement.

An extended supervised field experience that provides students the opportunity to practice clinical counseling skills in an established professional counseling setting. Students will have the opportunity to develop competencies in interviewing, clinical assessment, case conceptualization and documentation when working with individuals, couples and marital, family, and/or groups. Students' clinical counseling abilities will be evaluated by both self-assessment and supervisory assessment throughout the placement.

A continued supervised field experience that provides students the opportunity to practice clinical counseling skills in an established professional counseling setting. Students will have the opportunity to develop competencies in interviewing, clinical assessment, case conceptualization and documentation when working with individuals, couples and marital, family, and/or groups. This course is intended for students who completed all course assignments for COU-784 Internship I and COU- 785 Internship II but need to complete outstanding hours remaining for COU-785 Internship II.

An extended supervised field experience that provides students the opportunity to practice clinical counseling skills in an established professional counseling setting. Students will have the opportunity to develop competencies in interviewing, clinical assessment, case conceptualization and documentation when working with individuals, couples and marital, family, and/or groups. Students' clinical counseling abilities will be evaluated by both self-assessment and supervisory assessment throughout the placement.

An extended supervised field experience that provides students the opportunity to practice clinical counseling skills in an established professional counseling setting. Students will have the opportunity to develop competencies in interviewing, clinical assessment, case conceptualization and documentation when working with individuals, couples and marital, family, and/or groups. Students' clinical counseling abilities will be evaluated by both self-assessment and supervisory assessment throughout the placement.

A formal class which addresses the interests of students and faculty. Courses may include current issues in counseling and other subjects which call for special analysis.

Supervised independent study for advanced students in counseling. Registration for this course requires adviser approval.