Textbook/Reference Materials

Assessment in Counseling, 4^th Edition by Albert B. Hood and Richard W. Johnson, ISBN13: 97811305865709  

Course Learning Outcomes

1.       Identify ethical issues and clients rights

2.       Explain the purpose of current assessment tools/instruments

3.       Demonstrate the use if tools/instruments

4.       Develop an appropriate treatment plan for the client

Student Learning Outcomes

1.   Demonstrate basic knowledge of essential tools when administering Psychological, Cognitive                                             and Personality Assessments. 

2.    Demonstrate basic knowledge, skills, and attitude that are essential to becoming

       effective in administering assessments.

3.   Demonstrate knowledge of a framework for making ethical decisions and issues

related to Assessments.

4.   Demonstrate basic knowledge of key concepts and commonly used tools/instruments techniques        

1. 1.       Purpose and goals of assessment process
2. 2.       Videos and PowerPoint in Blackboard
3. 3.       Screening Assessments
4. 4.       DSM V for SUD
5. 5.       Initial & Outcome Assessments in Counseling
6. 6.       Readiness for Counseling
7. 7.       Identifying Problems, Needs and Strengths
8. 8.       Getting Familiar with a Biopsychosocial Assessment
9. 9.       Biopsychosocial Assessment Practice In 10.   Class
11. 11.   Mental Health Assessment Questions & Suicide Risk Assessment
12. 115.   GAD 7, PHQ9, ASI Other MH and SUD 16.   Standardized Measures
14. 17.   Assessment documentation
15. 18.   Writing up a screening note and admission note
16. 19.   Writing a narrative for an assessment
17. 20.   Documentation continued
18. 21.   Case Studies

Contacting Instructor:

Preferred method of contact: I am available most efficiently through Email at all times during the day. You may text me if absolutely necessary, otherwise, please email. All course business will be conducted through email,  phone calls or video calls.  It is HIGHLY encouraged that students check email often. Changes made to course content, deadlines, school issues, general announcements will be communicated via email. This is very similar to your career as a counselor. Learning to stay up to date with email now, will serve you well in a job.

Note: I will not discuss grades, due dates, course assignments, tests, discussion board assignments via text.

Course Calendar and schedule of assignments

All assignments, due dates, in person lecture dates, and other needed information will be in the course calendar or assigned in class. 

 The main discussion board page appears weekly with the discussion forum. Forums are made up of individual discussion threads that can be organized around a subject. A thread is a conversation within a forum that includes the initial post and all replies to it. When you access the forum, the thread appears.

In most cases, each student must post an original thread and respond to at least two other students by the due date. A requirement of the original post must be at least 3 complete sentences.

It is suggested that you write your post as you would in a professional setting. Abbreviations, text language, or other short forms of casual conversation are not generally accepted as professional language. The post and responses are to be submitted by due date. Once a discussion board has closed, you may email me directly for extended time to be approved on a case by case basis. All late work is subject to 10 points deducted from grade. 

Discussion boards are considered professional spaces. Unprofessional communication including slang writing, incorrect spelling, lack of sentence structure, inappropriate or overall bad grammar will be graded and points taken off  within discussion board posts. Write your discussion posts as if you were talking to your instructor, a clinical supervisor, CEO of agency, or a probation officer.

 In addition, successful completion of this course requires a combination of the following:

• Reading the textbook

• Logging in regularly and actively participating online

• Completing assignments

If you are having difficulties, it is your responsibility to reach out to instructor or attend live sessions and get the classification, explanation, or additional instruction you may need.

There is no short cut for success in this course; it requires reading (and probably re- reading), following instructions, managing time well and studying the material.

Core Rules of Netiquette: Netiquette is a set of rules for behaving properly online. Your professor and fellow students wish to foster a safe online learning environment. All opinions and experiences, no matter how different or controversial they may be perceived, must be respected in the tolerant spirit of academic discourse. You are encouraged to comment, question, or critique an idea but you are not to attack an individual. Working as a community of learners, we can build a polite and respectful course community. The following communication tips apply to all classroom settings or discussion board postings.

CONFIDENTIALITY/Content Advisory: It is expected that this class will contain information that at times will be of a personal nature to many students. These classes prepare you for a career in counseling. Some class discussions will deal with difficult and sensitive topics around drug use, alcohol use, consequences of that use and other matters. The topics often lead to personal information being shared in the classroom or online in discussion boards. Privileged information that is shared may under NO CIRCUMSTANCES be repeated or shared outside the classroom. I will be available to any student who wishes to discuss private matters regarding material in class/ If you feel you need professional counseling services, the College has a counseling center available to students, or I can furnish a referral for you.

This  is an opportunity for you to learn to operate in a confidential manner. If any student uses personal information shared by any class participant in  a manner deemed unprofessional or harmful, it will be considered for disciplinary action within the Department of Allied Health.

Academic Honesty

Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are not only violations of the college system and the rules of this class but are unethical and unprofessional. Plagiarism is considered the copying of information from another source and presenting it as if it was your own. This includes copy of information from a text in response to an answer to a question. You should not copy information directly. Take time to think about how to answer a question or respond to a discussion using your own words. This is NOT to be done in discussion boards, assignments, papers, presentations, or any manner of assignment. If you copy information, you MUST identify the source.

If your discussion board posts, papers or other written assignments are found to be 30% plagiarism without proper notation and quotation, you will receive a 0 for the assignment. The first offense, within the full SAC Program, not just a specific course, you may be given an opportunity to make corrections and resubmit the assignment.

Attendance Policy

This class was published as an In Person Lecture class. Attendance In Person on the dates that are posted will be considered in your attendance and participation grade.

It will NOT be my standard policy to record a live lecture class.

 Research has shown a strong positive relationship between attendance, participation and college success. I strongly suggest regular participation in this course, both mental and physical.

1.       It is the student’s responsibility to notify the instructor when possible via email,  prior to any absence for it to be excused.

2.        Excused absences include hospitalization of you or an immediate family member, participation in a college event, or a religious holy day. Prior notification to me for pending absences due to college events or religious holy days is required. Documentation of hospitalization or illness is required.

Research has shown a strong positive relationship between attendance, participation and college success. I strongly suggest regular participation in this course, both mental and physical.

1. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the instructor when possible via email,  prior to any absence for it to be excused.

2. Excused absences include hospitalization of you or an immediate family member, participation in a college event, or a religious holy day. Prior notification to me for pending absences due to college events or religious holy days is required. Documentation of hospitalization or illness is required.

General Information

·         Drop and withdraw dates as published in the student catalog.

·         Group and Individual projects will be included as part of coursework and grades. Time allotted for class may be set aside for work on projects at discretion of Instructor.

·         Power Point information will be available in Blackboard along with all other materials needed for the course. 

·         Quizzes & Exams will not be accepted late. * Special circumstances must apply. Email me personally. This will be a case-by-case review of the situation.   

·         Please Do Not Screen Shot any assignments to turn in and upload them or send via email. They will not be accepted.   If you need help learning how to upload a Word document or convert to Pdf, or other computer skills, see the Student Resources Menu item in Blackboard, or come by my office. I will happy to help you. These kinds of skills are Very important in the counseling field, and now is the best time to learn them.

·         Assignments have been developed that will enhance your learning. To better understand a topic, you will be given assignments, videos and key information that you will need to remember for your success in your career as a counseling professional.

·         In addition, successful completion of this course requires a combination of the following:

o   Reading the textbook or information distributed in class pertaining to course

o    Logging in regularly and actively participating online

o   Completing all assignments given

·         If you are having difficulties, it is your responsibility to reach out to instructor or attend live sessions and get the classification, explanation, or additional instruction you may need.

·         There is no short cut for success in this course; it requires reading (and probably re- reading), following instructions, managing time well and studying the material.