HS-212, Mental Health Counseling
Course Syllabus, continued
PASSAICCOUNTYCOMMUNITY COLLEGE
HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAM
Course Syllabus
Semester/Year: Spring 2013
I.Course Code:HS 212
II.Course Title:Mental Health Counseling
III.Prerequisites/Corequisites:HS-111
IV.Number of Credits:3
V.Instructor’s Name:Jennifer Gasparino, MSW, LSW
Office Location:Room
PassaicCountyCommunity College
One College Boulevard, Paterson, NJ07505
Telephone:973-619-2375
Email:
Office Hours:By appointment
VI.Course Description:
This course will instruct students in the basic diagnostic categories for mental illness as listed and described in the currentDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(DSM) and how to apply specific evidenced-based counseling techniques used throughout the mental health agency system. Students will conductmulti-axial assessments using basic clinical terminology and examine mental disorders in the context of biopsychosocial etiologies, cultural relevance, epidemiology, and evidence-based practices. The significance of labeling, stigma, and bias with regard to the diagnostic process will be critiqued throughout the course in keeping with the values and ethics of the human services profession. Students will be introduced to clinical documentation, research, literature, oral presentation, and APA format.
VII.Course Objective:
Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:
1.Distinguish the relationship between diagnosis, treatment planning, and delivery of direct practicethrough application of the DSM classification system
2.Demonstrate an understanding of culture, race, ethnicity, diagnosis, access to services and interventions offered through a biopsychosocial perspective.
3.Research literature on current evidenced based treatment interventions used within the mental health agency system.
4.Present oral and written case studies
5.Use APA writing style
VIII.Course Outline:
Week 1: Introductions; Review Syllabus
A brief review and elaboration of Mental Health history, philosophy, and values of mental health services. Review of utilization of DSM-IV
Week 2: APA style writing
Week 3: Types of writing
Progress Notes (DAP, SOAP), Biopsychosocial Assessments, Assessment summaries, Case studies, Clinical Reports
Week 4: Literature Review
Understanding Peer Review Journal Articles
Researching articles
Week 5: Assessment
Cultural competency
Code of Ethics
Week 6: Clinical Disorders
Differential Diagnosis and Treatment modalities
Case Studies with Role Play
Literature Review DUE
Week 7: Clinical Disorders
Identifying Personality Disorders
Differential Diagnosis and Treatment modalities
Case Studies with Role Play
Week 8: Personality Disorders
Identifying Personality Disorders
Differential Diagnosis and Treatment modalities
Case Studies with Role Play
Week 9: Personality Disorders
Differential Diagnosis and Treatment modalities
Case Studies with Role Play
Biopsychosocial Assessment Due
Week 10: Clinical Disorders
Differential Diagnosis and Treatment modalities
Case Studies with Role Play
Week 11: Clinical Disorders
Differential Diagnosis and Treatment modalities
Case Studies with Role Play
First Draft of Research Paper Due
Week12: Case Presentation
Second Draft of Research Paper Due
Week 13: Case Presentation
Week 14: Case Presentation
Week 15:
Research Paper Due
Final Exam
ASSIGNMENTS
You will be required to complete 3 formal writing assignments and an oral presentation over the course of the semester. These assignments will address areas of course study as well as critical thinking and research; however, there will be elements of the assignments that will focus on these areas and will be labeled as such. There will be a series of informal writing; you will be required to keep a journal in the class, which will be collected periodically. The journal will contain spontaneous writing done in class and homework assignments.
The following is an outline of the assignments:
- Research paper
- A topic will be given to each student
- Literature Review
- Based on peer reviewed journal articles reviewed in class
- Case Study/Progress Notes/Case Presentation
- Client cases will be presented in class
- Biopsychosocial Assessment
- A character from A Child Called “It” will be used to develop the assessment
WritingCenter
Students may take any writing assignment to the WritingCenter for extra help. The Center also offers a series of workshops designed to help students with general writing concerns. The WritingCenter’s libguide (website) is located at and gives information about the Center, scheduling appointments, and upcoming workshops.
You do not need to make an appointment to use the WritingCenter, but it is highly recommended. Information on setting up an account and using WC Online (the scheduling software) can also be found at (the Writing Center LibGuide), by clicking on the “Meeting with a Writing Consultant” tab. Students are strongly recommended to visit the WritingCenter at least once for assistance on their assignments. Going to the WritingCenter unprepared will prevent you from getting help with your writing.
eTutoring
eTutoring is a professional tutoring service, paid for by PCCC, provided free to all PCCC students. The URL is Students upload writing assignments (for this or any class) to eTutoring and will receive feedback on their assignments within 48 hours. Information on using eTutoring is available in the WritingCenter and at
Use of WritingCenter and eTutoring in assignments
You are strongly recommended to submit all written work to either eTutoring or make use of the WritingCenter; however, you are not required to do so. Students who submit their work to either tutoring will receive additional credit on their assignments. Each assignment will list the point/percentage value associated with submission. At least one assignment should be submitted to eTutoring or the WritingCenter; failure to utilize these tools will be evaluated in the students final grade. Students should provide proof of utilization.
IX.Materials Used in the Course:
Required Text:
Pelzer, David. (1995). A child called “It”, one child’s courage to survive. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, Inc.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSMIV), which is available in the PCCC Bookstore or linked on the Human Services Program homepage.
Highly Recommended Text:
APA writing manual – version and edition TBD
X.Methods of Evaluation:
A.Grade Determinants:
20%Research Paper
20%Biopsychosocial Assessment
10%Literature Review
10%Case Study/Progress Notes
25%Case Presentation
15%Final Exam
B.Course Grading:
A 95-100
A-90-94
B+87-89
B 84-86
B-80-83
C+77-79
C 70-76
D 60-69
F Below 60
XI.Program Policies:
PLEASE NOTE:
This course consists of two components:
College credits toward your degree
Domain Certification Hours.
All students are required to attend all classes.
If you arrive late, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to make sure you are marked “present”. The Professor’s attendance records are the standard.
For students WORKING TOWARD DOMAIN CERTIFICATION HOURS, missed classes will result in a loss of Domain Certification Hours. Because The Certification Board requires a specific number of hours, if you are late or absent, the class is cancelled, or the College is closed, the Domain Certification Hours must be made up.
Domain Certification Hours may be made up by the handwritten submission of complete DSMIV diagnoses according to the following schedule (Professor will provide list):
First submission: 1 through 25.
Second submission: 26 through 50.
Third submission: 51 through 75.
Domain Certification Hours will NOT be issued if there is any outstanding responsibility.
If you fail the course, you cannot receive Domain Certification Hours.
Exams cannot be made up.
All Papers, Definitions, and Diagnoses MUST include (on the first page) student’s name, course name, course code, section number, semester, and year.
Do NOT submit papers, definitions, and diagnoses with a cover page; keep a copy of your paper.
Ten (10%) per cent will be deducted from final grade for not following directions.
Any student arriving late or leaving early will have one (1%) per cent deducted from their final grade OR can hand write and submit 20 definitions for each occurrence. Students arriving late by more than fifteen minutes or leaving early by more than fifteen minutes also will be required to hand write and submit one DSMIV diagnosis for each additional five minutes.
Any student whose cell phone or other electronic device goes off in class will have final grade lowered by three (3%) per cent for the first occurrence and five (5%) per cent for each additional occurrence OR can hand write and submit 20 for each occurrence.
Do not disrupt the class by getting up to answer a cell phone or other electronic device or throw out garbage. Your final grade will be lowered by three (3%) per cent for the first occurrence and five (5%) per cent for each additional occurrence.
Checking your cell phone or other electronic device during class will lower your final grade by three (3%) per cent for the first occurrence and five (5%) per cent for each additional occurrence.
If you disrupt the class, you will be asked to leave and you will receive a “zero” for the day.
All Definitions and DSM-IV Diagnoses must be handwritten.
All Definitions and DSM-IV Diagnoses are due one week after the occurrence. DEFINITIONS AND DIAGNOSES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE DUE DATE.
IF YOU ARE CAUGHT CHEATING, YOUR FINAL GRADE WILL BE “F”.
XII.College Policies:
Please refer to the PCCC Student Handbook and PCCC Catalog for information regarding:
PCCC’s Academic Integrity Code
Student Conduct Code
Student Grade Appeal Process
Please refer to the PCCC Catalog for the catalog year listed on your degree audit for information regarding the Intensive Writing Requirements.
Panther Alert: The College will announce delayed openings, closings, and other emergency situations through the Panther Alert System. Students are encouraged to sign up for the Panther Alert Notification. Students can sign up once they log into their Campus Cruiser Portal account through the PCCC website at
Cell Phone Policy: Use of cellular telephones, audible pagers, or other forms of audible electronic devices in all academic learning environments (including but not limited to, laboratories, testing centers, classroom, library, learning centers, theater, and so forth) is prohibited unless previously approved by the instructor or other authorized administrator.
XIII.Notification for Students with Disabilities:
If you have a disability and believe you need accommodations in my classroom, call 973-684-6395 to make an appointment, preferably within the first two weeks of classes for Fall/Spring semesters. If you require testing accommodations, you must remind me one week in advance of the test.
“It is not the problems we face that define us; it is how we choose to handle them.”
Author Unknown
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