Pipher, M.(1996).  The shelter of each other: Rebuilding our families.  New York: Ballantine Books.

 Orton, G.O. (1997).  Strategies for counseling with children and their parents.  Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks Cole.

 Vernon, A. (1999).  Counseling children and adolescents.  Denver: Love.

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course will examine family life with children and youth, and survey techniques for both individual and systemic counseling.  An understanding of children's problems from a family systems as well as an individual perspective will be covered.  Course work will focus on assessment of family life with children and youth, as well as treatment techniques as they apply to contemporary issues, (i.e., school personnel, social service professionals, and family).

COURSE OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this course are to help students acquire:

 1. knowledge of what family life is like with children and youth present;
 2. understanding the struggles of parenthood;
 3. knowledge of the historical development of the specialty, and current trends and practices;
 4. knowledge and initial application of processes, major theories, and techniques of iindividual, group, family counseling with children and youth;
 5. knowledge of the legal system and surrounding children and youth, and the ethics surrounding this work;
 6. experience in intereacting with a preschool child (2-5), a school age child (6-11) and an  adolescent (12-18) and their family systems;
 7. experience in testing and evaluating a child.

ASSIGNMENTS

I have rigorous standards for writing assignments.  All papers must be written according to the American Psychological Association's (APA) Publication Manual (5th edition).  As students are preparing for careers as professional counselors, papers must be grammatically correct and reflective of this level of education.  Please consult the writing tips sheet on the website for more specific recommendations.  Papers will only be accepted if stapled or clipped in the left hand corner.  Please do not place papers in folders or binders.

1. Interactional- Assessment papers.  Students will observe, assess, and interact with one preschool age child, one school age child, and one adolescent.  Students will spend 30 minutes observing the child with the family, and 30 to 45 minutes interviewing the family and child.  The student will also implement one treatment intervention with the child during the interview.  Students will complete an intake assessment and treatment plan for the child and family based on the interview and observation  (60% of grade.)

2. Student presentation.  Students will develop a curriculum for a counseling program for children or adolescents.   The curriculum will be presented to the class who will serve as a school board, local town council, or administrators of a community agency or organization.  Programs may include but not be limited to: substance abuse education; groups for children of divorce, remarriage; programs for children in substance abuse families; sex education; self-esteem programs; cultural diversity programs; peer conflict resolution programs; character education programs; parent support groups.  Presentations will be 30 minutes in length, and students will need to submit written curriculum (30% of grade.)

3. Pipher reaction paper.  Students will write a reaction paper on the Pipher text.  The paper should include a discussion of the historical perspective of families, the influence of families and family dynamics on children, and implications for counseling (10% of grade.)

There will be no exceptions for deadlines of assignments.

Grading scale: 90-100 A 89-80 B 79-70 C

ATTENDANCE
Attendance to class is mandatory.  See official university policy in the catalogue.

Date                       Topic                                                             Assignments
Week1                  Introduction

Week 2                  Child development                                           Vernon ch. 1, Orton ch. 2

Week 3                  Influences on childhood- Family                     Orton ch. 1, Pipher

Week 4              Influences on childhood- Stressors                     Orton ch. 3, Vernon ch. 9

Week 5              Influences on childhood- Culture                         Vernon ch. 8

Week 6              Approaches to children-  Assessment                  Orton ch. 4
                                                                                                        Pipher reaction paper due

Week 7              Approaches to children-  Individual counseling       Vernon ch. 2, Orton ch. 5 (p. 172-193)

Week 8              Approaches to children-  Play therapy                Vernon ch. 4, Orton ch. 6

Week 9             Approaches to children-  Expressive therapies        Vernon ch. 3, Orton ch. 7

Week 10            Approaches to children-  Bibliotherapy                Orton ch. 8
                                                                                                       Preschool assessment due
Week 11             Approaches to children-  Behaviorism                Orton ch. 9, Vernon ch. 6

Week 12              Approaches to children- Group counseling         Vernon ch. 11, Orton ch. 5 (p.193-210)

Week 13              School interventions                                             Vernon ch. 12

Week 14              Parenting                                                                Orton chs. 11-12,  Vernon ch. 13
                                                                                                    School age assessment due
Week 15              Ethics                                                                 Orton ch. 10
                                                                                                   Adolescent assessment due

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