Course Code: COUN 3000
Academic Year: 2024-2025
This course is focused on the development of advanced counselling skills in Child and Youth Care. Students will expand upon counselling skills learned in previous counselling courses, with a focus on evidence-informed practice, trauma-informed care, and application of skills to special topics. Topics to be covered will include Self-Awareness, Self-Care, and Vicarious Trauma; Informed Consent and Confidentiality; Intellectual Functioning and Learning Disabilities; Bullying & Cyber-Bullying; Trauma; Sexual Development; Sexualized Behaviour and Sexual Offending; Eating Disorders; Youth Gangs; Depression; Anxiety; and Self-Injurious Behaviour. Students will be exposed to readings, lecture, and discussions that highlight empirical knowledge in these areas, evidence-informed practices, and specific relevance to the CYC field. Additionally, in this course, students will develop and regularly practice/demonstrate skills in assessment and intervention, with a focus on evidence-based/empirically-informed approaches, trauma-informed care, and clinical best-practices. Self-awareness and reflective practice, understanding the potential impact of traumatic and/or adverse experiences, utilization of strength-based, inclusive, and anti-oppressive practices, awareness of cultural context, and relationship as a critical component of intervention and counselling will all be emphasized.