GCAP Course Descriptions
The Graduate Centre for Applied Psychology offers the following courses. The course syllabi provide important information about prerequisites required. We encourage practitioners or students from other graduate programs to take advantage of the opportunity to join our courses.
Core Courses:
GCAP 631: Models of Counselling and Client Change
GCAP 632: Professional Ethics
GCAP 633: Infusing Culture into Counselling
GCAP 634: Assessment Processes
GCAP 635: Intervening to Facilitate Client Change
GCAP 671: Developing a Working Alliance
GCAP 681: Counselling Practicum I
GCAP 682: Counselling Practicum II
GCAP 685: Advanced Counselling Practicum (in lieu of GCAP 681 and GCAP 682)
GCAP 691: Methods of Inquiry
GCAP 695: Specialization Seminar - Knowledge Transfer
Note: These core courses apply to students in the Master of Counselling. Students in the Certificate programs may take some of these courses as options.
Elective Courses:
GCAP 641: Learning Processes
GCAP 642: Human Development
GCAP 643: Health Psychology
GCAP 644: Introductory Data Analysis
GCAP 645: Foundations of Career Development
GCAP 646: Processes and Resources for Facilitating Career-Life Transitions
GCAP 647: Career Development in Organizational Settings
GCAP 651: Art Therapy History and Theory
GCAP 672: Group Counselling and Process Skills
Brief Course Descriptions
GCAP 631: Models of Counselling and Client Change
The theories course is intended to engage students in a critical evaluation of a range of contemporary counselling theories, and to help them begin to develop a description of their own emerging theory. GCAP 631 syllabus
GCAP 632: Professional Ethics
The ethics course addresses personal and professional ethical issues in counselling. The perspectives of different professional disciplines will be used to highlight commonalities and differences. Students will reflect critically on both personal and collective worldviews and values and will explore the effects of those perspectives on counselling processes and contexts. GCAP 632 syllabus
GCAP 633: Infusing Culture into Counselling
This course will focus on increasing personal awareness, identification of conceptual frameworks, and development of in-depth knowledge of equity and diversity issues in counselling. Students will be expected to examine their own attitudes, behaviours, perceptions, and biases. GCAP 633 syllabus
GCAP 634: Assessment Processes
This course combines a theoretical and practical focus to develop a framework from which to approach the assessment of client change in a variety of contexts. Data from assessments are used frequently in the process of self-exploration, to assist in decision-making, to help formulate intervention plans, and to document client change. In order for such procedures to be effective, counsellors need a thorough understanding of the nature of assessment procedures, the nature of the data obtained from such procedures, and how the data may be used within the counselling process. GCAP 634 is offered in modular format. GCAP 634 syllabus
GCAP 635: Intervening to Facilitate Client Change
This course combines a theoretical and practical focus to develop a framework from which to approach the planning and implementation of client change interventions in a variety of contexts. It assumes that students have already attained mastery of a repertoire of basic skills for establishing a working alliance. The course teaches students to use those skills in the design and implementation of intervention strategies that help promote change that is consistent with client goals. GCAP 635 is offered in modular format. GCAP 635 syllabus
GCAP 641: Learning Processes
The field of learning is dynamic and ever-changing. This course will identify and discuss the essential features of the major theories of learning and present the most current research in each area of learning. Students will discover how the principles of learning relate to their own learning and behaviour, and how the principles can be used to understand the behaviour of others. In addition, there will be opportunities to apply the learning principles in case study situations and explore the practical implications of learning theory in educational and therapeutic settings. Students will explore the relationships that exist between theories of learning and counselling practice. GCAP 641 syllabus
GCAP 642: Human Development
This course introduces a comprehensive view of human development across the lifespan, drawing on the major theoretical positions - both historical and current. It provides a basis for study in more specialized areas of human development. Developmental themes are discussed in terms of their application to typical and atypical human development in children, adolescents, and adults. Concepts related to the significant role that transitions play in development throughout the lifespan will be integrated throughout the course. GCAP 642 syllabus
GCAP 643: Health Psychology
This course is designed as a broad introduction to the study of how human psychology and human health intersect. It will provide students with the skills necessary to critically evaluate theories, findings, and methods relevant to the field of health psychology and to enhance the practical skills of counsellors in general practice. The course is intended to support the acquisition of knowledge about the application of health psychology by students who choose it as an elective, are pursuing a specialization in health psychology, or may be interested in learning intervention strategies in order to prepare for a professional counselling role in general practice. This course is also an opportunity for non-psychologist professionals to become more knowledgeable about the application of health psychology to their professional interests. GCAP 643 syllabus
GCAP 644: Introductory Data Analysis for Counsellors
This is an introductory course on descriptive and inferential statistics. Topics will include: displaying and graphing data and computing and interpreting measures of central tendency, variability, and correlation. Regression analysis and prediction, probability, parameter estimation, hypothesis testing and one-way analysis of variance will all be addressed. The emphasis will be on understanding the basic concepts, using software to conduct actual analyses, and the interpretation of results. GCAP 644 syllabus
GCAP 645: Foundations of Career Development
In this course students will explore fundamental principles that guide contemporary practices in career development. The course focuses on major theories and models of career choice and development and related research. Emphasis will be placed on the integration of theory with career counselling practice. Selected course readings and assignments will allow students to develop a broad understanding of the roles of career counsellors and of the major concepts and principles that guide effective career interventions. GCAP 645 syllabus
GCAP 646: Processes and Resources for Facilitating Career-Life Transitions
This course focuses on career counselling processes and resources for facilitating career-life transitions. An emphasis is placed on applying foundations of career development to counselling practice. Students gain knowledge about common issues associated with career-life transitions with selected populations. Models of career counselling and transition are reviewed as the basis for developing knowledge and skills required in program interventions for individuals and groups. Students also acquire knowledge about various types of career development resources and gain critical skills for selecting and using resources to facilitate career-life transitions. GCAP 646 syllabus
GCAP 647: Career Development in Organizational Settings
Career Development in Organizational Settings is offered in an online format and is designed to provide an interactive learning experience that combines theoretical and practical concerns. Resources include current texts, a list of readings, and links to supplementary resources. Assignments are varied and include contributing your opinions online, offering your own critique of a theory, researching applications of career development, and interviewing career development/human resources practitioners. GCAP 647 syllabus
GCAP 651: Art Therapy History and Theory
Throughout this course, students will acquire understanding of how art therapy developed into a distinct profession in both North America and Europe by initially looking at the works of key figures, theoretical approaches, and current trends in the field. They will have the opportunity to see how art therapy has proliferated and expanded beyond its early psychoanalytic roots, as art therapists increase the number of theoretical lenses through which they perceive the practice of art therapy. New challenges will be addressed by looking at art therapy from a broader perspective, from its beginnings as a treatment modality for the mentally or emotionally disturbed, to its gradual transformation into a more diverse profession. Students will also learn how art therapy’s foundations are buttressed by many disciplines whose applications extend into many settings. Selected course readings and assignments will allow students to develop their own looking and listening perspectives as well as to consider the role of creativity in art therapy. GCAP 651 syllabus
GCAP 671: Developing a Working Alliance
The working alliance course focuses on the understanding and acquisition of skills for use in interpersonal and counselling contexts. Emphasis will be placed on the identification and development of specific skills that are essential for the development of working alliances. The course will introduce a theoretical framework for the application of counselling skills in addition to providing the opportunity for skill practice. GCAP 671 syllabus
GCAP 672: Group Counselling and Process Skills
This course is designed to help students understand five key areas of group work: planning, dynamics and process, strategies and techniques, member needs and roles, and leadership. Participants will examine the characteristics of the initial, transition, working, and ending stages of groups, and will integrate appropriate leadership styles and interventions for each stage. After students have explored the five areas of group work and understand the major characteristics of group stages, they will pratice leadership styles and skills in face-to-face, role play and actual group situations, with a focus on working with diverse populations populations. GCAP 672 syllabus
GCAP 681: Counselling Practicum I
The first practicum provides an opportunity for professional development and supervised practice in a general counselling context. Students will be involved in direct client work under the supervision of a qualified professional and will engage in one-on-one and group supervision processes. The practicum allows students to actively explore issues encountered in working with diverse client populations. GCAP 681 syllabus
GCAP 682: Counselling Practicum II
The second practicum provides an opportunity for professional development and supervised practice in a specialized counselling context. Students will be involved in direct client work under the supervision of a qualified professional and will engage in one-on-one and group supervision processes. The practicum allows students to actively explore issues encountered in working with a specialized client population or area of practice. GCAP 682 syllabus
GCAP 691: Methods of Inquiry
This course focuses on the application of research in applied psychology. Students explore methods and processes for designing and conducting research in their practice settings. Students will investigate values that motivate different research questions and identify appropriate methods for facilitating inquiry in their particular fields of practice. GCAP 691 syllabus
GCAP 695: Specialization Seminar - Knowledge Transfer
Students in the course-based exit route complete GCAP 695 as their capping course in the Master of Counselling program. This seminar allows students to demonstrate core competencies developed throughout the program by focusing on communication and transference of knowledge through writing for a larger and more public audience. GCAP 695 syllabus
Page last updated: May 25, 2009 @ 10:16:14 AM
