Master of Counselling Psychology: Art Therapy

This professional seminar will provide students with an opportunity to meet in a small group with peers and faculty. The professional orientation covers advisement and mentoring around Adler University degree requirements and mission, and an orientation to the fields of counselling and art therapy informed by Adlerian values and concepts as they relate to the students’ personal and professional growth. Students will be introduced to ethics of practice and to supervisory requirements within the context of social responsibility. The seminar will assist students in orienting and preparing for the Social Justice Practicum (SJP) and provide a format for integrating students’ experiences at their SJP site.

This course is designed to provide students with a solid foundation for the ethical practice of clinical counselling and art therapy. Emphasis will be placed on critical thinking, clinical integrity, and on sensitizing advanced practitioners to the complexity of professional identities in the context of community relationships. Students will study codes of ethics from a variety of professional bodies governing the practice of clinical counselling and art therapy specifically with respect to learning best practices as a clinician, researcher, supervisor, leader and educator. These include Canadian Psychological Association, the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association, the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors, the BC Art Therapy Association, the Canadian Art Therapy Association and the American Art Therapy Association. Students will learn to apply ethical decision-making models to current issues in the fields of counselling and art therapy. This course will also overview relevant legal issues that affect the day-to-day work of counsellors and art therapists with diverse populations. *Students are responsible for researching the registration requirements of professional associations in the location they wish to practice upon graduation.

This course is designed to help students critically examine issues of diversity and dimensions of culture as they pertain to the self as clinical counsellors, art therapists, and citizens of the world. This course will explore intersecting social identities and systems of exclusion related to race, ethnicity, socioeconomics, gender, sexual orientation, geographical variables, migration, and spirituality. This course also examines the impact of diversity, power, and privilege and the related impact on community engagement. Students will be encouraged to think of themselves as complex cultural beings in relation to others and their place in the world. Through art-based applications, students will explore societal issues in relation to the course topics, as well as develop professional skills for research, writing, and presentations.

This course covers the theoretical principles of Individual Psychology/Adlerian Theory as a basis for understanding each individual’s creation of a unique “style of life” or personality. Principles introduced include: the social nature of people, individual creativity, holism, purposive behaviour, the family constellation, life task, early recollections, dreams, memory, private logic, and phenomenology. Addressed will be the cognitive, affective, social, cultural, historical, environmental, and diversity dimensions of the individual’s development and the selectivity of perception in the formation of their view of self, others, and the world.

Students will be introduced to Gemeinschaftsgefühl (social interest/social feeling) and its potential impact on individuals and humankind emphasizing values such as the importance of belonging, cooperating, contributing to others and society and affording mutual respect and equality of worth to all. The values of caring, compassion and commitment to the betterment of society are emphasized by encouraging both confidence in human ability and a commitment to creative and constructive problem solving throughout the life span. Students will also learn about the postmodern relational constructivist vision of Adlerian Theory and how it fits within current approaches in counselling psychology.

This course provides an introduction to alcoholism, substance abuse, and other addictive disorders. It includes an overview of assessment methodologies; the treatment models of addictive disorders; and the tools for recognizing the signs and symptoms of substance use, misuse, abuse, dependence, dual disorders; and mentally ill substance abusers. The basic pharmacological, physiological, and medical aspects of chemical dependence are explained along with the historic development of alcohol (and other drug usage) self-help groups and treatment delivery systems. Interventions will be considered within an inclusive and culturally sensitive practice perspective informed by ethical and legal implications.

Upholding the complementary relationship between assessment and intervention, this course is designed to provide students with the foundational knowledge and skills necessary for entry-level clinical practice. In the area of intervention, the course familiarizes students with the essential elements of the psychotherapeutic relationship, common factors in counselling and psychotherapy, meta-theoretical views on human change processes, and basic diversity competency in helping relationships. In the area of assessment, the course covers intake interviewing, the mental status exam, and the DSM-5 approach to clinical diagnosis.

This course teaches basic relationship, intervention, diagnostic, and interviewing skills working with role-plays and other experiential activities to prepare students for clinical work in practicum. The course covers clinical interviewing, mental status exams, treatment planning, and providing client feedback. Students are introduced to case conceptualization, the therapeutic relationship, stages of treatment, common factors in the change process, and diversity issues. Students will be exposed to the elements of theoretical models to show the relationship between theory, data gathering, hypothesizing, treatment planning, and note-taking. Microskills will be taught and practiced including: active listening; question asking; paraphrasing; summarizing; etc. A brief introduction to self-care will be provided including practices to assist students to access clinical supervision at the most beneficial level possible.

This course surveys the major methodologies in the field of social science research within a context of philosophical debate about ethical and culturally relevant strategies for studying human beings, art and the creative process. Current research will be explored in order to identify the research method and design, explain design limitations, and make recommendations for improvement. Students will learn how to critique current research, conduct literature reviews, generate research designs, and select variables and participants for study. Students are expected to demonstrate appropriate ethical and cultural awareness in research design considerations throughout the course. Emphasis will be on the ability of research to inform decisions in the field.

This course introduces the history, philosophy, theory, and practice of art therapy and addresses the various ways the field can be integrated with counselling psychology. The course also provides an overview of the significant contributors to art therapy within Canada and internationally. Students will be introduced to knowledge of print and digital resources regarding related art therapy practices. Further, students will identify a beginning personal framework for practice in the field. The fundamental elements of art therapy are addressed with attention to the influences of diverse cultural values, beliefs, and practices. Learning in this course will be attained through lectures, oral and written assignments, and experiential exercises.

This survey course presents an introduction to, and examination of, the treatment theories, principles, and techniques associated with major schools of thought in psychology. Theories to be examined may include many of the foundational theoretical approaches to treatment such as psychoanalytic, person-centred, existential, Gestalt, rational emotive, behavioural, cognitive, family systems, feminist, solution-focused, and narrative therapies. The course will examine the relevant application of theory in conceptualizing one’s ongoing work with a client. The difference between working with a theory and implementing an intervention will be reviewed. The course will also examine the evidence base for each school of thought.

This course explores the roots of the profession of art therapy in the studio environment. Students experience personal art making as central to the field and are encouraged to develop a perspective of practice from an arts-based model which relies on products and processes of art as core. The development of an artistic identity as an art therapist will be cultivated and the distinguishing characteristics that art brings to the therapeutic process will be explored. Dimensions of possibilities regarding art and social action will be deepened through the creation of a community art show and fundraiser featuring student work.

The clinical practicum seminar is taken in conjunction with the clinical practicum and offers small group opportunities to engage in regular supervision. Students participate in supervision through case presentations, discussion, art-based experiential activities, and reflecting upon and evaluating their field experiences. A credentialed clinical counsellor and registered art therapist guides interactive dialogue and experiential exercises. Students are expected to connect emerging theoretical foundations in clinical counselling and art therapy with their practicum experiences through case conceptualizations. The focus is on the development of knowledge, skills and values essential to providing competent and ethical practice of art therapy and clinical counselling within an inclusive and culturally sensitive practice.

This clinical practicum seminar is taken in conjunction with the clinical practicum II and offers small group opportunities to engage in regular supervision. Students participate in supervision through case presentations, discussion, art-based experiential activities, and reflecting upon and evaluating their field experiences. A credentialed clinical counsellor and registered art therapist guides interactive dialogue and experiential exercises. Students are expected to connect emerging theoretical foundations in clinical counselling and art therapy with their practicum experiences in case conceptualizations. The focus is on the development of knowledge, skills and values essential to providing competent and ethical practice of art therapy and clinical counselling within an inclusive and culturally sensitive practice perspective.

This clinical practicum seminar is provided for students who require more time to complete their clinical practicum hours. It is to be taken in conjunction with MART 482 Clinical Practicum Cont. The course offers small group opportunities to engage in regular supervision. Students participate in supervision through case presentations, discussion, art-based experiential activities, and reflecting upon and evaluating their field experiences. A credentialed clinical counsellor and registered art therapist guides interactive dialogue and experiential exercises. Students are expected to connect emerging theoretical foundations in clinical counselling and art therapy with their practicum experiences through case conceptualizations. The focus is on the development of knowledge, skills and values essential to providing competent and ethical practice of art therapy and clinical counselling within an inclusive and culturally sensitive practice perspective. 

This supervised clinical training will provide students with a field experience designed to apply socially responsible counselling and art therapy practice under the direction of competent clinicians. Students will acquire the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values needed to become competent practitioners. The clinical practicum complements classroom education, provides the opportunity to work with experienced clinicians and helps students acquire a professional identity. The clinical practicum also offers opportunities to reach out to professional colleagues, develop effective working relationships and build awareness of clinical counselling and art therapy. Students are responsible for developing a 700-hour clinical practicum, in consultation with core faculty advisors and Training. The 700 total hours will span Clinical Practicum I and II. Within that 700-hour total, a minimum number of hours will be required in each of the following core areas: Direct Client Hrs (350 hours); Indirect Hrs (350).. 

This supervised clinical training will provide students with a field experience designed to apply socially responsible counselling and art therapy practice under the direction of competent clinicians. Students will acquire the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values needed to become competent practitioners. The clinical practicum complements classroom education, provides the opportunity to work with experienced clinicians and helps students acquire a professional identity. The clinical practicum also offers opportunities to reach out to professional colleagues, develop effective working relationships and build awareness of clinical counselling and art therapy. Students are responsible for developing a 700-hour clinical practicum, in consultation with core faculty advisors and Training. The 700 total hours will span Clinical Practicum I and II. Within that 700-hour total, a minimum number of hours will be required in each of the following core areas: Direct Client Hrs (350 hours); Indirect Hrs (350).

As supervised clinical training, a clinical practicum involves students providing psychological services to clients under the direction of competent clinicians. The goal of this training or apprenticeship is for students to acquire the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values needed to become competent practitioners. The clinical practicum complements classroom education, provides the opportunity to work with experienced clinicians, and helps students acquire a professional identity. This course is provided for students who require more than the usual 2 semesters to complete all their practicum hours and thus require ongoing insurance to cover their practice.

This lab is designed to provide additional practice of basic counselling and intervention skills before the students start their clinical practicum experience. Students will have the opportunity to record clinical relationships and receive support/supervision and feedback on the recordings in class. Students will integrate verbal counseling and art therapy skills as required on a case-by-case basis. Professional ethics will be reviewed in relationship to informed consent, management of case notes, storage of case files, and the legalities of incorporating art into case files. The importance of maintaining a diversity perspective and self-care routines will be the foundation of this class. Skills building includes establishing rapport, demonstrating accurate and consistent empathy, showing genuineness, accurate listening and focused reflection.