SWK 5005 Counseling Individuals and Families Facing Aging and Serious Illness

The course provides introductory knowledge of social work methodology within the context of agency-based practice with individuals, families, and groups. Students will apply their pastoral/congregant experiences to readings and classroom discussions in order to forge meaningful interactions with congregants and counseling clients. The course considers the core principles and concepts that underpin effective communication, including active listening, empathy, and the conscious use of self. Core principles and concepts such as starting where the client is, social work counseling as a planned change process in which knowledge, value, skill, and purpose determine professional action, are studied in depth to provide the foundation for the development of specific practice skills. A foundation approach to the helping process is stressed, utilizing micro, mezzo and macro content. Restriction(s): This course is open only to students in the Interprofessional Aging and Palliative Care Certificate.

Credits

3