Students will gain experience during the semester in thinking critically about and analyzing counseling interventions. For the Final Intervention Paper, students will examine a personal problem of their own or a family member/friend (a current or past crisis situation or life challenge). In other words, they will pretend as if they are counseling themselves or the person described. When referring to yourself or a family member/friend, please use a pseudonym name for anonymity. Students are to address the following:
a) Introduction: Explain the personal issue/problem and also explain the reason for choosing your theory for the presented problem. (cite)
b) Assessment: How would the counseling theory (e.g., SFBT) describe your issues/problems and how it would explain how you have come to have that particular/issue, in other words, how did it develop? (cite)
c) Treatment: Identify at least 2 treatment objectives that would be consistent with the theory and explain how you would know these objectives had been meet, in other words, what will be different about you, what will you gain as result of receiving the specific counseling interventions. Also include how this may impact the client or yourself and why you chose these treatment.
d) Interventions: Explain at least the two interventions that would be used to treat the personal issue/problem, which should include an exploration of the counselor’s role/function. Briefly identify the primary and additional service deliveries (e.g., individual counseling, group counseling, self-help).
e) Evidence-base: Include findings from 5-6 current studies in peer-reviewed journal articles that provide support for the interventions you propose to use to address the identified problem/issue/diagnosis.
The intent of this assignment is for the student to demonstrate his or her ability to apply the specific interventions, thus, please DO NOT summarize the interventions. Rather, students will demonstrate their knowledge of the interventions in their ability to apply them to themselves as specifically as possible. For example, if a student is using relaxation skills as Trauma Focused CBT intervention for a client who experienced trauma, they model breathing techniques and progressive muscle relaxation for the client in session. They educate the client about common reactions to trauma (eg., extreme negative thinking) and encourage the client to share his/her/their experiences and emotional responses to the event. Then, the student helps the client use some of the CBT strategies (e.g., the ABC model) to replace negative thoughts. The student also assigns the client homework to try deep breathing exercises and progressive relaxation before the next session.
This paper must follow APA style beginning with a separate cover sheet, a separate abstract page, and beginning on the 3rd page, the report body consisting of a well-written and carefully thought-out review of the counseling issue. APA articles are double-spaced with no additional spacing within the text body followed by a separate reference page. Cite a minimum of 5-6 current articles (usually within 10 years) in APA style in addition to citing your textbook (recommended). The length of the body text of your paper should total between 5-6 double-spaced pages (not including the abstract page, the cover page, and the reference page).
