Psychology Program at Bard | Clinical & Counseling Psychology

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Courses

Students taking courses in clinical psychology may have quite varied intellectual interests and goals. Some may be preparing to enter one of the helping professions: clinical psychology, psychiatry, social work, school counseling and guidance, or related fields. Others may be pursuing an interest in the intersection of psychology and literature, philosophy, cultural studies, or other fields. Graduate programs differ in their requirements, but students who wish to prepare for graduate school should take at minimum Psychology 213, Theories of Personality, and Psychology 241, Abnormal Psychology.

· Introduction to Clinical Perspectives Psychology 141
· Theories of Personality Psychology 213
· Abnormal Psychology Psychology 241
· Introduction to Counseling Theories and Social Work Psychology 261, MES
· Perspectives on Racial Identity Development: Counseling Considerations Psychology 292, MES
· Approaches to Psychotherapy Psychology 315
· A Developing Theory of Multicultural Counseling Psychology 335, MES
· Eating Disorders: Clinical and Cultural Considerations Psychology 354, Gender Studies

Introduction to Clinical Perspectives
Psychology 141
An introduction to clinical psychology, a branch of the discipline that involves the analysis of human psychological problems and efforts to remedy them. Selected readings reveal how clinical theory has evolved from the unique intersection of personal experience, clinical observation, and research. Writers whose works are studied include Carl Rogers, Oliver Sacks, Hilde Bruch, Irving Yalom, Kay Jamison, and Martin Seligman.

Theories of Personality
Psychology 213
Although building grand theories of personality has gone out of fashion in contemporary psychology, these systems play an important role in understanding the history of psychology and continue to provide central, although often implicit, frameworks for clinical thinking. Moreover, personality theories have influenced knowledge in many other disciplines, including literary studies, anthropology, politics, history, and art criticism. This course reviews the major theories of personality, including but not limited to those of Freud, Jung, Sullivan, Rogers, and Kelly. A central perspective is how the biography of the theorist and various historical and intellectual influences came to shape the theory.

Abnormal Psychology
Psychology 241
A review of the principal forms of psychopathology, with an emphasis on clinical definition, formal diagnosis, etiology, and treatment. The system of psychiatric diagnosis offered by the DSM-IV is utilized in defining clinical syndromes including anxiety disorders, conversion disorders, psychophysiological disorders, antisocial and impulse disorders, schizophrenia, affective disorders, alcoholism, and eating disorders. Case descriptions are also included in the reading. Theoretical perspectives include psychodynamic, social-learning, biological, and contemporary research on the etiology of syndromes.

Introduction to Counseling Theories and Social Work
Psychology 261 MES
An overview of selected counseling models. The attraction of these models is their potential for wide application to normal developmental issues by counselors and social workers and for teaching self-counseling skills. Students examine these models in the context of their historical or intellectual origins. The approaches explored include psychoanalytic (Sigmund Freud), person-centered (Carl Rogers), Adlerian therapy (Alfred Adler), reality therapy (William Glasser), behavior therapy (Lazarus), cognitive behavior therapy (Albert Ellis), and family systems (Minuchin).

Approaches to Psychotherapy
Psychology 315
A critical review of some of the important systems of psychotherapy. Throughout the inquiry students focus on how therapeutic approaches reflect underlying concepts of personality change and systems of value. Particular therapies explored include psychoanalysis (orthodox and modern), client-centered therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, gestalt, and family therapy. Readings include original writings of therapeutic masters, selected empirical studies, and works that give a more direct idea of how therapy is conducted.

Eating Disorders: Clinical and Cultural Considerations
Psychology 354 Gender Studies
Clinical and cultural issues relevant to anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are articulated, beginning with a discussion of the individual and family dynamics of eating disorders. Issues such as body image, female identity, weight control, obesity, and the impact of the media are explored. Prerequisite: Psychology 241, Psychology 250, or the equivalent.

Perspectives on Racial Identity Development: Counseling Considerations
Psychology 292 MES
This course begins by examining the foundations and recent configurations of racial identity development models, along with associated conceptual problems, terminological shifts, and semantic confusions. Students next discuss the social and psychological processes that cut across the various identity group profiles and consider whether these models can be extended and applied to other social categories such as gender and sexual orientation. Throughout the discussion the class focuses on the interplay among the dimensions of social identity, generic ego identity, and unique individual factors. These and related issues are addressed with particular attention to African American, Latino/a, Asian American, multiracial, and white identity development profiles. Prerequisite: One previous course in a related social studies field.

A Developing Theory of Multicultural Counseling
Psychology 335 MES
Each theory of counseling and psychotherapy derives from a unique worldview. Current theories tend to arise from and cater to clients with a predominantly individualistic and Euro-American perspective, not taking into account the increased ethnocultural diversification in American society. Sue, Ivey, and Pedersen have proposed a theory of multicultural counseling that would introduce a major paradigm shift in psychology and the helping professions by addressing the complexity of worldviews inherent in society (gender, class, ethnicity) and by redefining conventional categories. This theory is explored in depth–how it differs from contemporary theories; what it means for counseling practice, research, and training; and how adequately it applies to both minority and mainstream groups in society.