Module 1: Introduction to the Person and Profession

Module Introduction

This module starts with a warm welcome from the instructor, and then moves on to introduce you to the course and the main objectives. After reviewing the tips and suggestions for being a successful online student, the module continues to provide an overview of the areas that will be covered in the course, including: what is counseling, what is a helping professional, overview of counseling microskills, a summary of major counseling theories, and the brief introduction of possible settings and people that will be encountered by helping professionals.

Students will also learn about pertinent issues faced by novice counselors and ways to approach these issues.

Module Objectives

By the end of this module, you should be able to

• list the necessary skills to be a good helper and maintain a healthy therapeutic alliance<
• list skills and theories to be learned
• recall settings where helping professionals may work and use counseling skills and theories
• discuss issues new professionals face and ways to work through these issues

Reading/Planning

Complete the assigned readings listed in the Course Schedule before going through the rest of the module.