Personal Approach to Counseling

Personal Approach to Counseling

 

Personal Approach to Counseling (Final Project)

The assignment is designed to help you integrate the theories of counseling you have learned to develop a personal approach to counseling. This paper must be written in APA format, typewritten, proofread, and is expected to show evidence of clear thought and application of theory. The paper is due to Blackboard by day 7 of week 5 at 11:59 pm. This paper will be a minimum of 15-pages in length (not including the references page/s or cover page). Suggested page ranges to help guide you are listed for each section of the paper.

 

In this paper, you will describe your personal approach to counseling and then apply your approach to a specific case.

 

Is there a template? In week one you were provided a template to help you organize your writing for the week 1-4 assignments. You may have noticed that in addition to formatting the template in APA, we used the assignment instructions to create heading to organize the paper. Next, we copy and pasted the questions that needed to be addressed under each section with screen clips of the rubric. We also suggested that you use transition sentences to begin each paragraph that included some of the same words used in the question that you were addressing in a paragraph. Last, we suggested that after you complete a section, that you should review your work against the rubric to ensure you addressed all requirements. For the final project, we would like to see you generalize those same strategies to create your own template to organize your writing for the final project. For example, the below prompts are organized into two major sections with 9 subsections, how might you organize your paper using level one and two headings? The above strategy is a sure-fire way to clearly organize your writing and make sure you do not ever forget to address a question or rubric point.

 

Personal Approach to Counseling

In this section, you will describe your personal approach to counseling. Please address the following:

  1. Philosophy of Human Nature: Discuss your personal philosophy of human nature (e.g., are humans innately good or bad, what motivates us, what is the cause of stress and suffering, how does change occur, how do we grow, how does wellness occur, how do we function?). Address at least 5 areas of human nature. –suggested 1-2 page in length.
  2. Counselor Role: Discuss what you believe your role to be as a counselor in the following ways:

Discuss the counselor role in terms of qualities important for building a therapeutic relationship (being non-judgmental, demonstrating empathy, unconditional positive regard…etc.). Discuss what role you feel a counselor should play in helping clients/students make changes, work toward goals, and overcoming obstacles. Additionally, address roles that are specific to your preferred future work setting (e.g., clinical counselors and school counselors will certainly share some roles; but, there are other roles unique to each position). –suggested 1-2 page in length.

  1. Theoretical Approach: Select at least three theories of counseling (that you learned in weeks 1-4) that you could see yourself drawing from in your preferred, future, counseling setting. Remember to identify your preferred setting (in-home, outpatient, population, elementary/middle school/high school, etc.). Discuss at least three central concepts of each approach and explain how they fit with your philosophy of human nature and role as a counselor. suggested 4-5 pages in length.
  2. Critical Evaluation of Approach: Describe the strengths and limitations of your personal approach to counseling. Also address strengths and limitations for working with a culturally diverse population. -suggested 1-3 pages in length.
Case Scenario
After reviewing the below case, use your personal approach to counseling to address the prompts listed below.
Background: Jasmine is an 18-year-old high school senior that comes from a very close family, and in general, she feels that she can typically go to her parents for help when she has a problem. However, this time is different and she feel that she cannot turn to them for help with her with her current problem. Jasmine and her boyfriend have been sexually active for the past year without using birth-control. She was sure that she would not get pregnant. However, she recently learned that she was pregnant. Jasmine informed her 15-year-old boyfriend (high school sophomore), and expected him to make the commitment to marry her. He did not agree, in fact, he even doubted whether he was the father. Jasmine felt deeply hurt and angry over her boyfriend’s reaction and sought out some friends for advice. On the advice of a girlfriend, she considered an abortion for a time. But she decided against it because she felt she could not deal with the guilt of terminating a life. Adoption was brought up as another option by a friend, but she was certain she could not live knowing that she had created a life and then “abandoned” the child. Last, Jasmine considered becoming a single parent. However, doing so would certainly prevent her from traveling out-of-state to attend college. Her pregnancy is moving into the end of her first trimester, and her panic is mounting.
For school counseling students, image that this student came to your office one day with the above concerns.
For clinical mental health counseling students image you are working at a non-profit community clinic and this high school student set up an appointment.

 

Questions:
  • Values: What are your values as they pertain to Jasmine’s case, and how do you think they will affect the way in which you counsel her, if at all? Explain. -suggested 1-2 pages in length.
  • Presenting Concern/s: What do you see as Jasmine’s presenting concerns/basic conflicts (identify and discuss at least two)? How would you summarize the nature of her struggle through the lens of your personal approach to counseling? Based upon the concerns you identified, discuss which you would address first and why based upon your personal approach to counseling. -suggested 1-2 pages in length.
  • Strategies and/or Techniques: Drawing upon your personal approach to counseling, what strategies and/or techniques might you utilize when working with Jasmine and why (i.e., connect the strategy/techniques to theory)? Provide three examples. -suggested 1-2 pages in length.
  • Critical Evaluation of Approach: What limitations did you notice when applying your personal approach to counseling to Jasmine’s case. What where some of the strengths you noticed when applying your personal approach to counseling to Jasmine’s case. -suggested 1 pages in length.
  • Professional Compliance: With consideration of your work setting (school vs. clinical), discuss any legal, ethical, or professional responsibilities you might have as a counselor.-suggested 1-2 pages in length.

 

TIP: Review the rubric while writing each section of your paper. The rubric contains specific information regarding how your responses to the above prompts will be evaluated and scored.

 

 

                      Rubric for Final Project

 

CriteriaWell Developed

(A to High A)

Developed

(B to Low A)

Emerging

(C to Low B)

Undeveloped

(Less than a C)

Philosophy of Human Nature: 30 points

Discuss your personal philosophy of human nature (e.g., are humans innately good or bad, what motivates us, what is the cause of stress and suffering, how does change occur, how do we grow, how do we function?)

28-30 points

At least 5 areas of human nature were presented with clear descriptions.

25-27 points

At least 5 areas of human nature were presented with general descriptions.

21-24 points

5 areas of human nature or less were presented, with unclear descriptions in some areas.

0-20 points

5 areas of human nature or less were presented, with unclear and incomplete descriptions.

Counselor Role: 20 points

Discuss the counselor role in terms of qualities important for building a therapeutic relationship. Discuss roles you feel a counselor should play in helping clients/ students make changes, work toward goals, and overcoming obstacles. Discuss roles specific to your preferred future work setting.

19-20 points

Response demonstrated clear and concisely represented ideas. Each prompt was thoroughly addressed.

17-18 points

Ideas were generally represented. Responses to each prompt were adequate.

14-16 points

Not all prompts were responded to and/or ideas lacked thoroughness and clarity in some areas.

0-13 points

Not all prompts were responded to and/or ideas contained unclear and incomplete descriptions.

Theoretical Approach:  70 points

Select at least three theories of counseling that you could see yourself drawing from in your preferred, future, counseling setting. Remember to identify your preferred setting (in-home, outpatient, population, elementary/middle school/high school…etc.). Discuss at least three central concepts of each approach and explain how they fit with your philosophy of human nature and role as a counselor.

66-70 points

Three theories were identified. A strong understanding of at least three central concepts of each approach was evident. Key concepts were clearly selected with consideration of the student’s philosophy of human nature and role as a counselor.

60-65 points

Three theories were identified. An adequate understanding of at least three central concepts of each approach was evident. Key concepts were selected with consideration of the student’s philosophy of human nature and role as a counselor.

49-59 points

Three theories or less were identified. An underdeveloped understanding of three central concepts or less was presented. Key concepts were not clearly selected with consideration of the student’s philosophy of human nature and role as a counselor.

0-48 points

Three theories or less were identified. A weak understanding of three central concepts or less was presented. Key concepts were not selected with consideration of the student’s philosophy of human nature and role as a counselor.

Critical Evaluation of Approach:  30 points

Describe the strengths and limitations of your personal approach to counseling. Remember to also address strengths and limitations for working with a culturally diverse population.

28-30 points

Limitations and strengths were clearly explained with thorough consideration of working with a culturally diverse population.

25-27 points

Limitations and strengths were explained, with some consideration of working with a culturally diverse population.

21-24 points

Limitations and strengths were identified, but the explanations were unclear in some areas.

0-20 points

Limitations and strengths were unable to be determined or were unclear throughout the section.

Values:  20 points

What are your values as they pertain to Jasmine’s case, and how do you think they will affect the way in which you counsel her, if at all?

19-20 points

Personal values and their influence, or lack thereof, on the case were clearly explained in detail.

17-18 points

Personal values and their influence, or lack thereof, on the case were adequately explained.

14-16 points

Personal values and their influence, or lack thereof, on the case were not clearly explained.

0-13 points

Personal values and their influence, or lack thereof, on the case were either not explained or unable to be determined.

Presenting Concern/s: 20 points

What do you see as Jasmine’s presenting concerns/basic conflicts? How would you summarize the nature of her struggle through the lens of your personal approach to counseling? Based upon the concerns you identified, discuss which you would address first and why based upon your personal approach to counseling.

19-20 points

Identified and discussed at least two presenting concerns. Responses to prompts demonstrated clear, thorough, and concisely represented ideas.

17-18 points

Identified and discussed at least two presenting concerns. Responses to prompts were not fully explained, but ideas were still clearly represented.

14-16 points

Identified and discussed two presenting concerns or less. Responses to prompts lacked thoroughness and clarity.

0-13 points

Identified and discussed two presenting concerns or less. Responses to prompts were either unable to be identified or contained unclear and incomplete descriptions.

Strategies and Techniques:  20 points

Drawing upon your personal approach to counseling, what strategies and/or techniques might you utilize when working with Jasmine and why? Provide three examples.

19-20 points

Three strategies and/or approaches were clearly described with a well thought out rationale that was strongly connected to theory.

17-18 points

Three strategies and/or approaches were generally described with a rationale that was adequately connected to theory.

14-16 points

Three or less strategies and/or approaches were partially described with a limited rationale for use. Not well connected to theory.

0-13 points

Three or less strategies and/or approaches were described and not connected to theory.

Evaluation of Approach: 20 points

What limitations did you notice when applying your personal approach to counseling to Jasmine’s case? What where some of the strengths you noticed when applying your personal approach to counseling to Jasmine’s case?

19-20 points

Limitations and strengths were clearly explained, with a strong connection to the case.

17-18 points

Limitations and strengths were explained and adequately connected to the case.

14-16 points

Limitations and strengths were identified, but the explanation and connection to the case was unclear in some areas.

0-13 points

Limitations/strengths could not be identified or were unclear throughout the section. Connection to the case could not be determined.

Professional Compliance: 20 points

With consideration of your work setting (school vs. clinical), discuss any legal, ethical, or professional responsibilities you might have as a counselor.

19-20 points

The identified potential legal, ethical, and/or professional issues were clearly explained and well connected to the case and counselor work setting.

17-18 points

The identified potential legal, ethical, and/or professional issues were generally explained and adequately connected to the case and counselor work setting.

14-16 points

The description of identified potential legal, ethical, and/or professional issues was unclear in some areas not well connected to the case and counselor work setting.

0-13 points

The description of identified potential legal, ethical, and/or professional issues was unclear throughout the section and a connection to the case and counselor work setting could not be determined.

Writing Mechanics and APA Format: 20 points19-20 points

No more than three grammatical, spelling, punctuation, and/or APA errors. Clarity of paper was not influenced by the errors.

17-18 points

More than three grammatical, spelling, punctuation, or APA errors. Clarity of paper was not strongly influenced by the errors.

14-16 points

More than three grammatical, spelling, punctuation, or APA errors that had a negative influence on the clarity of the paper.

0-13 points

More than three grammatical, spelling, punctuation, or APA errors that had a strong negative influence on the clarity of the paper.

Page Length: 10 points10 points

A minimum of 15 pages were submitted (not including the cover or reference pages).

9 points

A minimum of 14 pages were submitted (not including the cover or reference pages).

7 points

A minimum of 13 pages were submitted (not including the cover or reference pages).

0-6 points

12 pages or less were submitted (not including the cover or reference pages).

Sources: 20 points19-20 points

5 professional sources or more are used throughout the paper as appropriate to support ideas, and documented in the references list.

17-18 points

4 professional sources or more are used throughout the paper to support ideas, and documented in the references list.

14-16 points

3 professional sources or more are used throughout the paper to support ideas, and documented in the references list.

0-13 points

2 professional sources or less are used throughout the paper to support ideas, and documented in the references list.

Total: 300    

 

 

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