Clinical Assessment in Counselling

Singapore University of Social Sciences

Clinical Assessment in Counselling (COU501)

Synopsis

This course is designed to provide a theoretical and practical introduction on the following topics: • Purposes, principles and processes of clinical assessment • Professional issues of assessment • Clinical assessment and initial intake • Mental status examination • Working with client resistance • Role of diagnosis in assessment • DSM-5 diagnostic criteria relating to anxiety, depression and other commonly encountered disorders • Role of case conceptualization in assessment • Case conceptualization: Biopsychosocial approach • Case conceptualization: Cognitive-behavioural approach • Case conceptualization: Solution-focused approach

Level: 5
Credit Units: 5
Presentation Pattern: EVERY JULY

Topics

Assessment in psychotherapy & counselling
Basic assessment principles in counselling
Clinical assessment and diagnosis
Initial interview communication principles
Using appropriate assessment tools and measures in counselling
Ethical and legal issues in clinical assessment
Issues related to counselling assessment with diverse populations
Case conceptualizations in counselling: An overview
Counselling assessment and diagnostic formulations
Explanations and cultural formulations in clinical assessment
Treatment planning and treatment formulations in counselling
Different theoretical case conceptualisations in psychotherapy

Learning Outcome

Examine the purpose, nature, process and basic principles of assessment in counselling.
Appraise different theoretical orientations of assessments in counselling.
Critique the importance of culture and contexts in assessment and formulation in a local context.
Discuss meaningful selection, administration, scoring and interpretation of assessment results.
Formulate case conceptualisations through interpretation of assessment results.
Evaluate the implications of ethical and legal issues in assessment.