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Canyon College

online child therapy course at Canyon College

COURSE SYLLABUS: Child Therapy

Course Title:
Department:
Instructor:
Prerequisites: 		Child Therapy
Social and Behavioral Sciences / Social Work
Terri Coulson, LPC, M.Coun. E-Mail Vita
None


Text: Online Bookstore
Gunaer, Jim, Counseling and Therapy for Children, New York: The Free Press, 1984. ISBN #: 0029133505

Supplementary Readings:
This is a packet of chapters from various books that may be purchased from the instructor (cost is for copying and mailing). The cost will be approximately $25. These readings are a required part of the course. Also included are parts of the assignments required by the instructor.

Course Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, students will have a basis for working with children in a counseling situation. The student will understand the basic counseling theories and be familiar with the people who were responsible for formulating them. The student will also have knowledge of basic principles of child development. In addition to this, the successful student will understand the basic tenets of play therapy, art therapy, music therapy, behavioral therapy, and biblio therapy.

Purpose:
The purpose of this course is to provide a basis for understanding and to prepare the student, at the graduate level, to work with children in a counseling situation.

Methods:
The methods will include:
a. assigned readings/lectures
b. submission of assigned papers/notes
c. submission of assigned projects
d. submission of assigned article critiques
e. e-mail correspondence with the instructor
f. participation on the message boards and/or in chat room discussions

Point and Grading System


Part 1
Biography
Summary of notes
Personal belief paper
Own development paper

Total Part 1


25
50
100
300

475

Part 2
Art journal/paper
Art ideas

Total Part 2


300
200

500

Part 3
Summary of notes
Critiques

Total Part 3


50
300

350

Part 4
Critiques
Book list
Behavior Plan

Total Part 4


300
200
200

700



TOTAL
2025


1822-2025 = A
1620-1821 = B
1418-1619 = C
1215-1417 = D
1416-0000 = F

Part One (weeks 1 & 2)
1. Theories of child therapy
2. Developmental stages of children
* Lecture/Introduction
* Readings and notes (personal belief summary)
* Paper on development
* Introduction of student to instructor

Part Two (weeks 3 & 4)
1. Art Therapy - children’s development in drawing
2. Theories/techniques
3. What do the drawings mean?
* Lecture/Introduction
* Readings
* Sketch book/writing assignment
* Project

Part Three (weeks 5 & 6)
1. Play Therapy
2. Theories/techniques
* Lecture/Introduction
* Readings and notes (personal belief summary)
* Critiques of articles

Part Four (weeks 7 & 8)
1. Music Therapy
2. Biblo Therapy
3. Behavioral Therapy
* Lecture/Introduction
* Readings
* Critiques of articles
* Project
* Treatment Plan
* Evaluation of course

Rationale for Assignments:
The instructor believes that projects and writing assignments are more effective learning tools in a class such as this, than tests. As a counselor, a person must have a true sense of self and know his or her own beliefs and biases. To discover this, a person needs to do much reflecting, reading, writing, and discussing. Personal counseling is also often desirable. Ideally, the assignments will help the student grow personally and professionally.

Confidentiality:
The counseling relationship is a confidential one. The student and instructor relationship, in this class, will also be confidential. The student is asked to write about personal experiences and to give responses to materials presented in class; all of this information will remain between the student and instructor.

Course Changes:
The materials and information may change at any time. The instructor will make every effort to cause as little disruption to the student as possible, if changes become necessary.