Course Descriptions

MACP Programme

• Basic Skills in Counselling

This course seeks to provide an introduction to the understanding, acquisition and use of basic counselling skills. Class time will consist primarily of experiential work in groups. Students will be introduced to a variety of techniques through the observation and critiques, in-class role plays, taping and transcription of interviews, and in-class demonstrations. The student’s own personal growth, self-insight, and self-awareness will be an integral component to this course. Discussions of psychotherapeutic transformation and its integration with theological and biblical concepts will be also included.

• Group Techniques and Dynamics

This course will introduce students to the techniques and processes of group psychotherapy and counseling. The course will also examine the clinical guidelines of group psychotherapy and the major theories and applications of the field.

•  Professional Conduct and Ethical Issues in Counselling

This course provides students with an understanding of the profession, professional roles and functions, ethical and legal considerations and professional organizations. Emphasis will be placed on multicultural and self-care issues as related to ethical decision making. Students will learn and apply code of ethics, laws and regulations applicable to counselling and professional standards of performance, client welfare, professional competence, personal development, personal wellness and relationship between personal and professional life.

•  Advanced Educational and Psychological Testing

This course provides an overview of measurement principles and major approaches to appraisal of individuals, couples, and families. Comprehensive appraisal methods, specific techniques for selected problem areas, and standardized vocational and personality tests will be examined relative to the appraisal process in counseling.

• Child and Adolescent Therapy

The objective of this course is to familiarize the graduate student and prospective clinician with the psychological disorders of infancy, childhood, and adolescents found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-Treatment 5th Edition (DSM-5). This course is designed to provide students with a theoretical foundation and working knowledge of contemporary interventions for children and youth. Specific childhood issues and treatment strategies will be explored. Materials in the course are aimed at helping students develop basic skills necessary for effectively counselling and communicating with children and youth. Students are expected to be actively involved in their learning and are invited to share their knowledge and personal experiences with the class.

• Marriage and Family Therapy

The course is designed to give students an understanding of approaches to marriage/ family counselling, ethics, and intervention techniques pertinent counselling couples and families. It entails a critical examination of current theories, practices, and considerations of the dynamics of marriage and family relationships. Special attention is given to the counsellor’s role in premarital, marital, and family counselling within the Caribbean context. This course facilitates the students’ ability to analyze and apply various family therapeutic models to the counselling practice. These theories are evaluated from a Christian worldview to establish a framework, educationally and professionally, to impact the students’ effectiveness as clinicians.

• Theological and Biblical Themes in Counselling

This course will equip students to integrate biblical themes in the practice of counselling as a viable tool to effect healing. It will challenge students to evaluate psychological theories and techniques from a biblical and theological perspective and become aware of their own world views that inform their individual therapeutic approach.

• Pre-Practicum Seminar

The purpose of the pre-practicum course is to familiarize students with the counselling experience, and provide the foundation for the practicum experience. Students will begin to develop a professional counselling identity through the course's focus on the personal qualities needed to develop an authentic and effective counseling relationship.

Students will practice and learn basic counseling communication and interpersonal skills and behaviors through practice counselling sessions in and outside class under the supervision of the lecturer. Through practice and supervision, students will develop the skills necessary to influence the counselling process. Pre-Practicum in Counselling also focuses on the professional behaviors expected of graduate students in a master’s level program, and the characteristics needed to be successful in the field of counseling. These include: punctuality, maturity, and receptivity to feedback. A demonstration of these skills, attitudes and behaviours is a prerequisite for enrollment in practicum.

Students will also examine their personality issues and interpersonal styles and will follow ACA and APA Ethical Standards. The lecturer will evaluate students throughout the module in the three areas of skill development, professional development, and personal development. The course also integrates the mechanics of case conceptualization, conducting mental status examination, providing diagnostic assessment, the formulation of a treatment plan and acquiring the skills to effectively conduct clinical interviews.

The course provides exposure to the operations of mental health clinical settings with special focus on the operations at The counselling centre  located at the Caribbean Graduate School of Theology, known as the CGST Counselling Centre.

• Personality Theories and Dynamics

The course provides an overview of personality theories,  theoretical  concepts,  personality  types  and  personality  organization.  The module will also seek to examine a number of personality disorders that are noted.

In the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM 5).  Each  disorder  will  be  examined  in  terms  of  the  etiology,  course,  diagnostic criteria,  differential diagnoses,and  psychological  treatment.  Special  emphasis  will also be  placed  on  strengthening  the  student’s  knowledge  base  to  acquire  skills  in diagnostic  interpretation  of  psychological  phenomena.  The  use  of  the  DSM 5 classification codes and  descriptions in assessing personality disorders in adults will be stressed.

Students will also need to have a basic knowledge of the characteristics and  types  of  neurological  and  neuropsychological  disorders  and  the  interaction  with psychiatric sequelae.

• Substance Misuse & Therapeutic Process

This course provides a comprehensive study of the concept of substance addiction as a behavior and as it relates to the chemical properties of substances of misuse, with emphasis on the psychosocial impact of addiction on the client, family, and community.  Treatment modalities for use with clients will also be explored.

• Integration of Theology and Psychology

This course is designed to prepare students to identify the approaches, issues and challenges in the relationship between Theology and Psychology. The course integrates Christian theological and secular psychological assumptions which serves as a worldview guide for prospective Christian psychology and counseling practitioners. Students will gain insight into the relationship between their belief system and the underlying presuppositions of the contemporary psychology movement.

• Multicultural Counselling

The course provides an understanding of the cultural context of relationships, issues and trends in a multicultural and diverse society related to such factors as culture, ethnicity, nationality, age, gender, sexual orientation, mental and physical characteristics, education, family values, religious and spiritual values, socioeconomic status and unique characteristics of individuals, couples, families, ethnic groups, and communities.

The course focuses on helping students understand and gain awareness of issues and topics related to cultural and social diversity. Readings from texts, professional journal articles, reflections, discussion, and an experiential project will be utilized to meet course objectives.

• Educational and Psychological Testing

This course is designed to introduce post-graduate students to the basic educational and psychological principles used to assess the quality of a test in the areas of Education and Psychology. Students will develop the necessary skills to select test instruments that can reliably and validly be used in their respective professional Practice. 

The wide section of tests reviewed in the course is intended to introduce students to the most well-developed instruments available for their immediate use. In addition, students will be introduced to some of the critical issues involved in psychological and educational testing and assessment.

This course is a practical oriented study of psychometric and educational instruments, with attention being paid to the ethics and standards for use of tests and the relevant test interpretation. The course will further develop the competencies of students and develop professional educators and psychologists who are liberally educated and willing to assume a professional role within their organizational system. The course will build on attitudes, teaching students that care must also be exercised in respecting the values of all persons   and   providing   a   supportive   environment   for   diverse   learners and clients while integrating appropriate technology into the educational and counselling process. Students will utilize reflection as a tool for self-growth, program assessment, and instructional effectiveness and be challenged to become more skilled at critically evaluating some of the important issues facing educators and counselling professionals in practice today.

• Fundamentals of Grief and Trauma Psychology

This course provides the student with a comprehensive exploration of the psychological trauma field, including the history and current theories in the field, the nature of trauma (sexual abuse, combat, and natural disasters), how trauma affects individuals and systems, grief reactions, and traumatic stress. This course will explore the intersection between trauma, grief, loss, and disasters in a variety of contexts. Basic theories of grief and trauma intervention will be discussed. Also included in this class, is the exploration of the professional’s response to trauma, vicarious   traumatization,   disenfranchised   grief,   crisis   intervention.   A   variety   of   theoretical frameworks   will   be   presented,   including   cognitive,   and   socio-cultural   (including   main controversies surrounding the field of trauma).

• Career Theories Counselling and Assessment

The course seeks to provide participants with a holistic understanding of the role of work and career development in the lives of human beings. It will integrate biblical and psychological concepts to provide counsellors with a proper understanding of this invasive area of counselling which is often overlooked but has such a profound impact on all other areas of one’s life roles. Students will spend time understanding and applying biblical and psychological concepts related to work. This will include studying career development theories and models, using career development assessments, and applying career interventions to enhance career development of self and clients. These applications will be underpinned with the correct scriptural interpretation of the value and importance of work to the holistic person.

• Child and Adult Psychopathology

The course provides an overview of the causes, manifestations, and classifications of psychopathological behaviours in children, adolescents adults, with a view to gaining an understanding of Child and Adult abnormal behaviors that are noted in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual-V-Treatment Revision (DSM-V-5h Edition). The module will also seek to examine a number of psychiatric disturbances as in the etiology (causes/origins), course, diagnosis, criteria, differential diagnosis and psychological treatment of DSM-V’s personality and psychiatric disorders in adults, adolescents and children. The faculty will focus on primarily child, adolescent and adult psychiatric disorders. Special emphasis will be also placed in strengthening the student’s knowledge base to acquire skills in diagnostic interpretation of psychological phenomena. The use of the DSM-V classification codes and descriptions in assessing psychiatric disturbances and personality disorders in children and adults will be stressed. Students will also need to have rudimentary knowledge of the characteristics and types of neurological and neuropsychological disorders and the interaction with psychiatric sequelae.

• Empirical Research and Statistical Reasoning

Empirical Research and Statistical Reasoning provides learners with an opportunity to apply the principles of quantitative research to the understanding of behaviour, the recognition of scientifically researchable questions, and the examination of different research designs. Learners gain an understanding of quantitative methods in social research and are introduced to relevant research questions, issues of interest, and how to communicate statistical knowledge and information about their social world.

This course will provide an opportunity for participants to establish or advance their understanding of research through critical exploration of research statistics. The course introduces the language of research, the elements of the research process within quantitative approaches. Participants will use these theoretical underpinnings to begin to critically review literature relevant to their field or interests and determine how research findings are useful in forming their understanding of their work, social, local and global environment. Additionally, the course is designed to develop an awareness of the process and purpose of research. In general, research provides learners with the opportunity to gain new knowledge.