Short-Term Counselling

Study Course Description

Course Description Statuss:Approved

Course Description Version:8.00

Study Course Accepted:19.02.2024 09:04:29

Study Course Information
Course Code:		VPUPK_180		LQF level:		Level 7
Credit Points:		2.00		ECTS:		3.00
Branch of Science:		Psychology; General Psychology		Target Audience:		Psychology
Study Course Supervisor
Course Supervisor:		Jeļena Koļesņikova
Study Course Implementer
Structural Unit:		Department of Health Psychology and Paedagogy
The Head of Structural Unit:
Contacts:		Riga, 5 J. Asara Street, vppkrsu[pnkts]lv, +37167061587
Study Course Planning
Full-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)		6	Lecture Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Lectures		12
Classes (count)		6	Class Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Classes		12
Total Contact Hours								24
Study course description
Preliminary Knowledge:
General Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Biological Foundation of Psyche, Psychophysiology, Clinical Psychology, Health Psychology, Pathopsychology, Psychological Counselling.
Objective:
To develop the Master’s student’s knowledge, skills and competence about the short-term counselling process in working with different client groups and patient groups in the healthcare environment, to develop the ability to formulate a short-term counselling plan for different clients and different patients in different clinical settings, to acquire and improve skills in managing the psychological counselling.
Topic Layout (Full-Time)
No.	Topic			Type of Implementation		Number	Venue
1	History and development of short-term psychological counselling. Basic principles of short-term counselling (specifics, limitations, organisational features) and structure (approaches oriented on problem-solving and solution). Application of evidence-based short-term counselling in health care, review of effectiveness.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
2	Establishing contact with the client and the factors influencing it. Client / patient evaluation and hypothesis formulation. Setting goals for short-term psychological counselling and planning the work process for different groups of clients / patients. Integration of short-term counselling goals in the work of a multidisciplinary team, cooperation with other specialists. Ethical issues.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
3	Developing client contact, patient evaluation and goal setting skills through case studies and role plays. Solution-focused listening. Promotion of motivation.			Classes		2.00	auditorium
4	Short-term counselling techniques / methods. Solution-focused approach: miracle questions, evaluation questions, questions about exceptions, questions about overcoming and a conversation without problems. Approach oriented on problem-solving: brainstorming, evaluation of the solution, development of an action plan.			Lectures		2.00	auditorium
5	Acquisition of practical skills of short-term counselling techniques and methods through case analysis and role plays. Role play demonstration, difficulty analysis, discussion.			Classes		3.00	auditorium
6	Conclusion of short-term counselling. Promoting change between and after sessions.			Classes		1.00	auditorium
7	Evaluation of the results of short-term psychological counselling and development of recommendations, their recording in medical documents.			Lectures		2.00	auditorium
Assessment
Unaided Work:
To independently consolidate the lecture material by reading the indicated literature; to prepare for the test on the understanding of basic concepts. Case study in small groups, development of a short-term counselling plan and demonstration of one applied technique / method in a role play. To carry out role plays in small groups (3-4 people: client, consultant, observer(s)), using short-term counselling oriented on problem-solving and solution-focused short-term counselling, accurately recording processes in protocols, in accordance with evidence-based practice, carry out protocol analysis and submit them. In order to evaluate the quality of the study course as a whole, the student must fill out the study course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal.
Assessment Criteria:
1. Attendance of lectures and active work in classes, learning and applying various short-term counselling techniques in practice (30%). 2. Independent work (to analyse in writing one of the cases, which was developed in a small group, where the master student has been in the role of a consultant and applied solution-focused and problem-solving short-term counselling according to the given plan (40%). Explains in writing the basic principles of short-term psychological counselling, problem-solving and solution-oriented short-term counselling structure, short-term counselling techniques / methods. Requirements: Successfully completes the written test. In a small group, perform a case analysis based on theory, develop a short-term counseling plan, present the results of the group work and demonstrate the use of one technique / method in a role play. Requirements: 1) Orally present the results of the group work: • Client problem. • Purpose of short-term counselling. • Justification of the chosen methods. 2) Role play demonstration. 3) Self-reflection. To analyse in writing one of the cases, which was developed in a small group, where the student has been in the role of a consultant and applied short-term counselling (with prior agreement and consent from the student in the role of the client) according to the given plan: Requirements: 1) Basic information about the customer. 2) Description of the situation. 3) Determining and formulating the client's current problem. 4) Generating solutions, "brainstorming". 5) Decision making and evaluation. 6) Development and implementation of an action plan. 7) Assessment of whether the purpose of the consultation has been achieved. 8) Analyse what has been done and note what could have been improved in this consultation process. To analyse in writing one of the cases, which was developed in a small group, where the student has been in the role of a consultant and applied short-term counselling focused on the solution (with prior agreement and consent from the student in the role of the client) according to the given plan: Requirements: 1) Basic information about the customer. 2) Description of the situation. 3) Identification and formulation of the client`s/patient's current problem. 4) What techniques were used to justify their choice. 5) Evaluation of the solution. 6) Assess whether the goal of counseling has been achieved. 7) Analyse what has been done and note what could have been improved in this consultation process. 3. Test on understanding the basic concepts of short-term counselling (30%).
Final Examination (Full-Time):		Exam (Written)
Final Examination (Part-Time):
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:		The student theoretically explains the specifics of the process, limitations, peculiarities of the organisation of short-term counselling. Names and describes the methods / techniques used in short-term counselling. Describes the structure of short-term counselling approach oriented on problem-solving and solution. Characterises and describes the advantages of different methods in certain phases of short-term counselling.
Skills:		Provides short-term counselling of individuals, groups or organisations using scientifically based methods. Establishes a contact with the client / patient for commencing the short-term counselling process. Formulates the goal of short-term counselling and draws up a counselling plan according to the specific situation and client / patient needs. Depending on the counselling goals set for the client / patient, selects and applies the most suitable short-term counselling techniques. Carries out short-term counselling. Provides feedback to the client / patient regarding the short-term counselling carried out. Concludes the short-term counselling process.
Competencies:		Using the knowledge acquired, formulates the goal of short-term counselling according to the specific situation and client / patient needs. Develops a counselling plan and selects suitable methods and techniques for short-term counselling. Organises and manages the short-term psychological counselling process (case studies). Checks the compliance of the selected short-term counselling strategy with the psychological counselling process. Evaluates the short-term counselling process.
Bibliography
No.	Reference
Required Reading
1	Barry Winbolt. (2011). Solution Focused Therapy for the Helping Professions. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
2	Elliott Connie, M. L. (2013). Solution Building in Couples Therapy. Springer Publishing Company.
3	Lee, S. A., & Edget, D. M. (2012). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Applications, Methods and Outcomes. Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
4	Linda Metcalf, Me. P. L. L. (2017). Solution Focused Narrative Therapy. Springer Publishing Company.
5	Newton, K. (2016). Problem-Solving: Strategies, Challenges and Outcomes. Nova.
6	Ratner, H., George, E., & Iveson, C. (2012). Solution Focused Brief Therapy: 100 Key Points and Techniques. London: Routledge.
Additional Reading
1	Aleksandrowicz, D. R., & Aleksandrowicz, A. O. (Eds.). (2022). Countertransference in perspective: The double-edged sword of the patient-therapist emotional relationship. Liverpool University Press.
2	Arthur M. Nezu, P. A., Christine Maguth Nezu, P. A., & Thomas J. D’Zurilla, P. (2012). Problem-Solving Therapy : A Treatment Manual. Springer Publishing Company.
3	Garrett, V. (2010). Effective Short-Term Counselling Within the Primary Care Setting: Psychodynamic and Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy Approaches. Taylor & Francis Group. ProQuest Ebook Central.
4	Feltham, C. & Windy D. (2005). Brief Counselling: A Practical Guide for Beginning Practitioners. McGraw-Hill Education. ProQuest Ebook Central.
5	Ellen K. Quick. (2008). Doing What Works in Brief Therapy: A Strategic Solution Focused Approach: Vol. 2nd ed. Academic Press.
6	Nelson-Jones, R. (2015). Theory and practice of counselling and psychotherapy. London: SAGE Publications Ltd.
7	Pinsof, W.M. (2005). Integrative Problem-Centered Therapy. In J.C. Norcross & M.R. Goldfried (Eds.). Handbook of Psychotherapy Integration. 2nd ed. pp.382 – 403. New York: Oxford University Press.
8	Zhang, A., Franklin, C., Currin-McCulloch, J., Park, S., & Kim, J. (2018). The effectiveness of strength-based, solution-focused brief therapy in medical settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 41(2), 139–151.
Other Information Sources
1	International Journal of Solution-Focused Practices
2	Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings
3	Brief. The Centre for Solution Focused Practice
4	http://www.problemsolvingtherapy.org/