PSC 501A Theories of Psychotherapy in Context
3 units

In this course, students critically examine some of influential theories of counseling and psychotherapy by exploring the social, cultural and historical contexts that produced them. Theories are considered in terms of their relevance in the contemporary social context.  The course compares and contrasts theories in terms of key theoretical concepts such as personality development, health and illness, therapeutic techniques and relevance in the contemporary social context   Students begin the process of developing their philosophy of treatment and therapeutic orientation.

PSC 503 Methods of Inquiry: Evaluating Approaches to Psychological Knowledge
3 units

This course examines different approaches to the generation and evaluation of psychological theory and data. Strengths, weaknesses, and ethical practice of quantitative and qualitative methods are examined with attention to the descriptive and inferential statistical methods used in hypothesis testing and psychological assessment.

PSC 504A Lifespan Human Development
3 units

This course examines the process of human growth and development throughout the lifespan with an emphasis on how developmental models inform the work of the clinician.  Students will learn the use of developmental, family, socio-economic and cultural context in their conceptualizations of psychological health and psychopathology.   Particular attention is paid to the transitions between developmental periods.

PSC 504G  Lifespan Human Development:  The Older Adult
1 unit

This course meets the ten-hour BBS requirement for the study of the biological, psychological and social aspects of aging.  Students will learn to identify red flags, assess common disorders such as depression and dementia, consider treatment options for elderly clients and their families, and make community referrals.

PSC 505A Multicultural Awareness: Self, Culture and Context
3 units

Professionals in a multicultural society must be aware of psychological, social, economic and political issues associated with culture, race, class, ethnicity, age and gender. This course examines the experience of cultural difference, with particular emphasis on power, oppression and marginalization. The course promotes self-awareness and cross-cultural exploration of cultural heritage as well as student’s attitudes and biases.

PSC 505 Clinical Skills in the Multicultural Context
3 units  

This experiential course builds on the student’s developing multicultural awareness and clinical skill repertoire.  Students are introduced to culturally responsive assessment practices and work to develop case conceptualization and treatment planning skills that integrate knowledge about cultural influences and identities as well as the concepts of oppression, power, poverty, and acculturation into their clinical practice.     

PSC 506A Psychopathology
3 units

In this course students develop basic competency in formulating a psychological diagnosis using the most up-to-date DSM criteria.  Using knowledge of the etiology and diagnostic criteria of psychological disorders, participants will learn to view symptoms of psychopathology from a biopsychosocial framework in order to assess, diagnose, and plan treatment.  

PSC 507A Family Systems Theories
3 units

This course examines the major concepts and theories of the family systems movement in psychotherapy. By exploring the history, premises, cultural influences and approaches of family therapy practice, students learn to conceptualize about individuals, couples, and families from a systemic point of view.

PSC 507 Clinical Skills with Families and Couples
3 units

This experiential course focuses on the application of systems theory to psychotherapy with couples and families. Students learn assessment and intervention techniques that consider the context of the client and are aimed at changing the interactions between individuals as well as at the level of the system.

PSC 508 Psychological Assessment: Evaluating Individuals and Systems in Context
3 units

This survey course covers the major psychological assessment instruments used with normal and pathological populations.  Evaluating the psychometric properties of tests and their use in planning treatment are addressed.  Students will learn to administer level B instruments and to interpret them within the cultural, developmental and systemic context of the individual.  

PSC 511 Latino Mental Health
3 units

The course focuses on the understanding of the sociopolitical context of Latinos and its effects on the mental health and psychosocial development of Latino adults, families and children within the social context.  The course addresses multicultural issues such as Latino subgroup differences, immigration, acculturation, family values, gender socialization, and language and how these relate to providing culturally responsive therapy.

PSC 512 Clinical Skills in the Latino Context
3 units

In this experiential course students work on the development of basic counseling skills and the building of a therapeutic relationship that is accomplished within and with reference to the Latino cultural context and healing practices.

PSC 513 Culture & Diagnosis
1 unit

This course is designed to help students differentiate between behavior and thinking that is culturally determined vs. symptomatic of psychiatric and/or emotional distress.  

PSC 514 Process of Bilingual Therapy
3 units

This course focuses on developing fluency and clinical competency in psychotherapy with the Latino client using  learning methods. Skills are developed for differentiating between content and process, and for working with client affect, resistance and defense, transference and counter transference as they relate to the bilingual Latino client.

PSC 515   Interventions w/ Latino Couples & Families
3 units

This experiential course focuses on the applications of systems theories to Latino couples and families.  Students will learn assessment and intervention techniques that consider the systemic context of the client with the aim of changing family interaction patterns.

PSC 516  The Process of Bilingual Group Psychotherapy
3 units

This course serves as an introduction to the theories and concepts of bilingual group psychotherapy including group development, membership, and dynamic processes.  Students will learn about the curative power of group therapy, leadership skills and treatment strategies and how cultural factors affect group behavior.  All students participate in the classroom process group under the supervision of the instructor and an opportunity is provided to practice group facilitation skills in Spanish.

PSC 520 The Process of Group Psychotherapy
3 units

This course serves as an introduction to theories and concepts of group psychotherapy including stages of group development, membership, and systemic behavior.  Students will learn the curative power of group therapy, leadership skills and treatment strategies.  All students participate in the classroom process group under the leadership of the instructor and an opportunity is provided to practice group facilitation skills.

PSC 520A Clinical Skills I: The Psychotherapeutic Relationship
3 units

This course provides an introduction to basic psychotherapeutic concepts and skills, with particular attention to the nature of the relationship between psychotherapist and client. Students learn fundamental clinical skills aimed at establishing core therapeutic conditions, building a therapeutic alliance, and an identifying a treatment focus in the initial phase of psychotherapy.  

PSC 520B Clinical Skills II: The Psychotherapy Process
3 units

In this course, students learn to attend to process variables in psychotherapy and gain practice experience in applied psychotherapy techniques. Skills are developed for differentiating between content and process, and for working with client affect, resistance and defense, transference and counter transference.

PSC 521 Professional Seminar: Integrating Clinical Cases
3 units

In the capstone class, students integrate their prior learning from coursework and skills acquired in clinical training experiences to develop advanced clinical case conceptualization and treatment planning skills. Professional development and career options are explored and students learn the importance of ongoing supervision as an essential element in the development of one’s professional identity. A final professional paper is submitted as a graduation requirement.

PSC 530 Psychotherapy with Children and Adolescents
3 units

This course focuses on the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of children and adolescents.  Students learn to assess and integrate the child or adolescent’s developmental, social, cultural, educational, and familial context in the formulation of a clinical case conceptualization and treatment plan.

PSC 531A Intimate Relationships
3 units

In this course, students examine relationships of intimacy, including same-sex and opposite-sex partnering, and marriage. Systemic theories and processes for facilitating change in intimate relationships will be explored, including communications theory, cognitive-behavioral theory, psychodynamic theory, and research based methods.

PSC 537A Human Sexuality
1 unit

In this course students examine current topics including biological, psychological, psychosocial and cultural aspects of sexuality. Students explore their own personal values regarding sexual behavior as it relates to clinical practice.   

PSC 538 Professional Orientation
1.5 units

In this course students are oriented towards beginning practice in their traineeships as licensed professionals.  The policies and procedures of the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) including knowledge of the required paperwork and regulations involving training that meets BBS standards are covered.  Students will gain an overview of the licensure process and their responsibilities and limitations at the Trainee level. Professional persona is addressed and a vocational component helps prepare students to apply for and interview with training sites.  

PSC 538B Professional Ethics and the Law
3 units

This course addresses the most up-to-date statutes, regulations and ethical standards governing the practice of marriage and family therapy in California.  Students will become familiar with the therapeutic, clinical, and practical considerations involved in the legal and ethical practice of marriage and family therapy as well as current legal patterns and trends in the mental health professions. Emphasis is placed on the application of legal and ethical standards to cases, and upon learning a structured approach to ethical decision making in clinical practice.

PSC 545 Substance Abuse: Prevention and Treatment
3 units

This course provides an overview of the critical topics in the field of substance abuse, dependence and treatment. Topics include a classification of the major substances of abuse; discussion of the theories and models of addiction; summary of current approaches to assessment, diagnosis and treatment; and working with diverse populations.  

PSC 546 Psychopharmacology for Therapists
3 units

This course covers fundamentals of psychopharmacology needed to inform practitioners when referring clients for psychotropic medication consultations and in working collaboratively with psychiatrists.  Students will learn the various classifications of psychotropic medications, their indications, contraindications and efficacies.  Attention will be given to the diagnostic criteria for major DSM disorders that are treatable with medication, including a list of these medications, their therapeutic dosage ranges, side effects, and drug interactions

PSC 549A Child Abuse Assessment & Reporting
1 unit

This course meets the BBS seven-hour requirement for the study of assessment and mandated reporting of child abuse of various types.  Physical and behavioral indicators of abuse and trauma, crisis counseling techniques, community referral resources, and treatment issues are also covered.

PSC 550 Domestic Violence: Prevention and Treatment
2 units

This course examines the causes and consequences of the cycle of violence within intimate relationships.   Topics include the psychology of abuse, assessment of violence and its traumatic effects, community resources and methods for prevention and treatment.

PSC 551 Community Mental Health
3 units

This course examines the theories, history, research, and practice of community mental health as a foundation for effective community based treatments for people with serious mental illness.  The biopsychosocial factors that support this population’s ability to live as symptom free as possible, with the highest quality of life in the least restrictive environment will be examined.  Additionally, evidence based methods and promising practices of rehabilitation, recovery, and empowerment for currently served and underserved people with serious mental illness will be explored.

PSC 563K  Professional Skills for Therapists
1 unit

This course will give students an understanding of the professional role of a therapist and assist in the development of the skills needed to start a traineeship. Students also gain an overview of the process of psychotherapy from the initial contact through termination. Specific skills are addressed such  as;  initial protocol with clients, completion of agency paperwork, progress notes, handling fees and financial issues, setting boundaries, making referrals, and handling no shows and terminations.

PSI 510 Career and Lifestyle Planning
3 units

This course introduces career planning concepts to clinicians and counselors.  Students will learn major theories, and assessment techniques that allow for an initial formulation of a client’s vocational needs or problems. Also covered are basic interventions such as helping clients prepare for job searches.  Students will explore career topics by an examination of their personal career trajectories.

PSC 600 Applied Psychotherapeutic Techniques of Marriage, Family and Child Counseling
9-12 units

As part of the degree program, students participate in clinical traineeships within community agencies that provide them with experience in psychotherapy and counseling under the supervision of a licensed professional. Students are required to accrue 150 hours of face-to-face counseling experience with individuals, couples, families, and/or groups.  Pre-requisites include 18 units of course work, including PSC 501A, 520A, 538 and PSC 538B.  Supervised hours may also be applied toward licensure with the Board of Behavioral Science.