DEPARTMENT OF
COUNSELOR EDUCATION
DOCTORAL
PROGRAM IN COUNSELING
MHS
7402-BRIEF THERAPIES (3 credit hours)
Catalog Description
Prerequisites: MHS 6401 or equivalent and permission of instructor.
Description: This course is intended to introduce students to
theoretical principles and applied skills in current counseling theories with an
emphasis on the brief therapy models. Students will develop knowledge of the
specific brief therapy models, learn to integrate the various strategies and
techniques into a comprehensive framework for brief counseling practice, and
review the empirical research regarding process and outcomes in brief counseling
and therapy.
Text and Supplemental
Materials
Carlson, J. & Sperry, L. (200). Brief therapy with individuals and
couples.
Additional text selected by student with instructor approval in a specific brief therapy approach.
Course Objectives
1. Students will become familiar with the current brief therapy counseling and therapy models in practice.
2. Students will learn at least one brief therapy approach in depth regarding process
and techniques.
3. Students will become familiar with the process and outcome research literature
pertaining to the brief therapies.
4. Students will be able to conceptualize cases in brief therapy terms and apply
appropriate strategies and techniques to case studies.
5. Students will be able to identify appropriate vs. inappropriate cases for brief
counseling and therapy interventions.
6. Students will learn to utilize supportive intervention strategies in addition to
individual counseling sessions.
CACREP
Doctoral Standards Addressed
Section – C1, C2, C6, C9, and E
Teaching
Methodology and Technology
Course will be taught in a seminar format emphasizing demonstrations and case studies for applying the theories and techniques of the brief counseling and therapy models studied. Each student will also be responsible for identifying one specific theoretical approach and developing an in-depth understanding of the theory and application in counseling and therapy. Students will also be expected to complete a thorough review of the empirical process and outcome literature in regard to brief counseling and therapy.
Attendance
Policy
Students are expected to attend and participate in all class sessions. Failure to participate in class discussions and activities will have an adverse effect on student grades. Extraordinary conditions such as illness or family emergency may warrant an absence. Students are expected to notify the instructor of their absence prior to the missed class. Students will be responsible for all materials missed.
Cell phones and audible beepers must be turned off during class session.
Course
Requirements
1. Attend and participate in all scheduled class sessions.
2. Read the required text along with any additional assigned readings.
3. Develop a plan to obtain in-depth knowledge and skill in one particular model of
brief counseling and therapy. This plan shall include reading at least one
additional text and must be approved by the instructor. A final case study take-
home exam will be required in which students must demonstrate their knowledge
of theory and practice by employing the counseling approach to the case. In
addition, each student will make a presentation to the course on the model studied
with case study material and specific strategies and techniques presented.
4. Complete a brief review of the empirical literature on some aspect of the research
related to brief counseling; e.g. process or outcome research, applications in
specific settings or with specific populations, etc. Paper shall be submitted in
APA format with a summary and conclusion section appropriate for submission to
a professional journal. Students may work in research teams for this assignment.
Course
Schedule
Week Topic
1 Introduction to course and Overview of Brief Counseling and Therapy
2 The MRI & Strategic Models
Demonstration
3 Solution Focused Brief Therapy
Demonstration
4 Adlerian Brief Therapy
Demonstration
5 Cognitive-Behavioral Strategies: Brief RET and Reality therapies approaches
Demonstration
6 Object Relations Brief Therapy
Demonstration
7 EMDR and NLP based approaches
Demonstration
8 Ethical Issues in Brief Counseling and Therapy
9 Applications in Case Studies
10 Psychoeducational and other supportive approaches to brief counseling
& therapy
11 Case Presentations
12 Case Presentations
13 Case Presentations
14 Research in Brief Counseling & Therapies
15 Research in Brief Counseling & Therapies
Bibliography
Cummings, N. & Sayama, M. (1995). Focused psychotherapy: A casebook of brief,
intermittent psychotherapy throughout the life cycle.
Cade, B. & O’Hanlon, W.H. (1993). A brief guide to brief
therapy.
Norton.
Fisch, R., Weakland, J.H., & Segal, L. (1986). The tactics of change: Doing therapy
briefly.
Furman, B. & Ahola, T. (1992). Solution talk: Hosting therapeutic conversations.
Hoyt,
M.F. (1995). Brief therapy and
managed care:
Individual Psychology: The journal of Adlerian theory, research, and practice (1989).
Special Issue: Varieties of Brief Therapy, 45 (1&2).
Kopp,
R.R. (1995). Methaphor Therapy.
Littrell, J.M. (1998). Brief Counseling in
Action.
Molnar, A. & Lindquist, B. (1989). Changing problem behavior in schools. San
Nicoll, W.G. (1999). Brief therapy strategies and techniques. In R.E. Watts and J.
Carlson (eds), Interventions and strategies in counseling and psychotherapy.
Steenbarger, B.N. (1992). Toward science-practice integration in brief counseling and
therapy. Counseling Psychologist, 20(3), 403-450.
Walter, J.L. & Peller, J.E. (1992). Becoming solution-focused in brief therapy. New