HSMF 611 Counseling Children and Their Families

The developmental and psychological needs and problems of children are examined through the analysis of personality types and family structure. Counseling techniques (e.g., play therapy) for children are also examined.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

HSMF 611 is a graduate course in the development and counseling of children. America’s children are the focus of growing concern because of increasing rates of divorce, separation, and the fragmentation of cohabitate relationships. In addition, they are the victims of physical, sexual, emotional, and verbal abuse. This specific course is offered in an eight-week format. It includes extensive readings, interactions with current professionals, a research paper, and interactions with other students via a discussion board.

Textbook readings and presentations

No details available.

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in Course Overview.

Discussions (2)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the course contains 2 graded Discussions. The purpose of these Discussions is to generate interaction among students in regard to relevant current course topics. Since Discussions are a collaborative learning experience, each student is required to both initiate initial threads and to respond to the threads of others. Each of the discussions is moderated over two weeks.

Depending on the Discussion prompt, an initial thread should be at least 350 words, substantive replies should be least 100 words. The student’s statements should clearly demonstrate whether his or her ideas come from textbook readings, from scholarly articles, from conclusions drawn from consideration of those sources, and/or your own personal experience.  

Practice Exercise Assessment Quizzes (5)

The purpose of these assessments is to assess the student’s ability to apply child-centered techniques. During the first five weeks of class, the student will be doing practice exercises in the Child-Centered Play Therapy Workbook. The student will have a practice assessment during the first five weeks. Each assessment is worth 10 points and are short answers.

Multiple Choice Quizzes (3)

The student will have 3 quizzes over the reading from both textbooks and course resources.  Quiz questions are multiple choice, worth 3 points per question; Multiple Choice Quiz: Frameworks is worth 150 points, Multiple Choice Quiz: Counseling Approaches is worth 150 points, and Multiple Choice Quiz: Engagement is worth 100 points.

Essay Quizzes (3)

These assignments are focused on critical thinking and application of knowledge, principles, and strategies. The assignment questions are developed from the reading of both textbooks, and are provided in the module folders. Assignments should be submitted in the assignment link. The essay quizzes are not timed and are open-book.

1. Essay Quiz: Process and Strategies:
   The student will illustrate his or her competency and ability to apply accurate counseling skills and strategies that he or she has learned in of the Cook-Cottone, et al., textbook. This assignment has 14 questions that the student will develop narrative responses and short answers in response.
2. Essay Quiz: Child-Centered Play Therapy: For this assignment, the student will use various skills and strategies he or she has learned from the Child-Centered Play Therapy Workbook. This assignment has nine questions that the student will develop narrative responses and short answers in response.
3. Essay Quiz: Crisis Intervention & Mandated Reporting:
   For this assignment, the student will research mandated reporting laws and guidelines, use the crisis intervention resources from, and practice responding to a case study illustrating a potential crisis. This assignment has 4 questions that the student will develop narrative responses and short answers in response.

Essay Quiz: Counseling Portfolio

This assignment is a collection of ideas, practices, principles, perspectives and values that will continue to guide the student’s counseling philosophy with children. The student will summarize and reflect on the most important counseling principles he or she has gained from the course. It provides an organizational structure for the student’s professional portfolio.