COUNSELING CHILDREN & YOUTH

COURSE SYLLABUS
Zion Bible College
CE3273-01, 2 Credits
Spring 2010
Mondays, 1:45-2:35 p.m. & 2:45-3:35 p.m.—Classroom Building 108

Rev. Paul Conway, M.Div. DMin. Candidate, 2013, Associate Professor

Office: Classroom Building 110
Office phone: (978) 478-3457
E-mail: Pconway@zbc.edu
Office Hours
Tuesdays, 9:00 AM – 9:50 AM
Thursdays 9:00 AM – 10:50 AM

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Designed as a practical approach, this course offers the essential dynamics of counseling children
and youth within the family structure. It will cover techniques of counseling as well as
psychological perspectives within the framework of biblical foundations. Attention will be given
to the power of professional referrals.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:
1. The student will be able to observe and verbally evaluate the needs of children.
2. The student will demonstrate a working knowledge of the principles of counseling children.
3. The student will be able to understand and articulate the various techniques of counseling
children.
4. The student will understand and describe the significance of counseling children within the
family structure.
5. The student will be able to counsel a child in a preliminary setting or know when to refer a
child in order to bring about emotional and spiritual well being.
6. The student will be able to observe and verbally evaluate the needs of today’s adolescents.
7. The student will be able to demonstrate a working knowledge of the principles of counseling
youth.
8. The student will be able to understand and articulate the various techniques of counseling
youth determining the best method for the particular circumstance.
9. The student will understand and describe the significance of counseling youth within and out
of the family structure.
10. The student will be able to counsel a teen in a preliminary setting or know when to refer
him/her in order to bring about emotional and spiritual well being.
TEXTBOOKS:

Fall 2010
CE3273-01 2 P. Conway

Pelt, Rich Van, and Hancock, Jim The Youth Worker’s Guide to Helping Teenagers in Crisis
Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing Co., 2007.

Sweeney, Daniel S., Counseling Children Through the World of Play, Wheaton, Il: Tyndale
Publishing House, 1997.

REQUIREMENTS:
1. Tests: There will be two tests throughout the spring program. One being a mid-term,
focusing on children and the other, a final examination focusing on adolescents. Each test is
worth 15% of the final grade.

2. Quizzes: There will be four quizzes throughout the semester. Each quiz will be worth 5% of
the final course grade.

3. Research Presentation: Students present one oral and written presentation in class on a
counseling subject related to their emphasis on children or youth. Paper work will be handed
to the professor in turabian format with proper citation before the oral delivery. A visual
aspect to the presentation is desireable but the student cannot rely on technology or written
work alone to do all the talking. The following steps are recommended.
1. Identify the issue clinically.
2. Present statistics
3. Present a case study to the class.
4. Discuss its symptoms and challenges clinically.
5. Present suggested methods and techniques for counseling the challenge.
6. Discuss the referral process and additional steps a professional counselor could take to
help that you could not.

4. Blog Response and Class Discussion: Students are required to read and posts on the class
blogs at www.ccandyclass.blogspot.com. Note that you can set up this with a mobile phone
as well. All students must join the group the first week of class and post no less than 250 but
no more than 500 words per entry. Quality of posting will be judged by interacting with the
discussion question as well as the peer dialog. If great questions or debates are raised prior to
your post, be sure to weigh in on them. Brief quantity with high quality are what matter here.

5. Class Discussion, Reading and DVD Journals: Students shall purchase a journaling
notebook that is required to be present during each class. Students will summarize the
content in their reflective notebook journal at the end of our class sessions, videos and text
book chapters. Legible hand writing is adequate but typed entries required if hand writing is
sloppy. The teacher will collect them Three times throughout the semester and grade based
on the number of entries and the quality of reflection. Each entry should cover the
following information:

a. The date (The honest date not the virtual or hypothetical one).
Fall 2010
CE3273-01 3 P. Conway

b. The topic discussed, video viewed or chapter read.

c. A summary of the issues.
d. Personal thoughts and interaction with the material.

GRADING
Mid Term and Final Exam………………………...………...30% (15% each)
Quizzes……………………………………………………….20% ( 5% each)
Class Discussion, Reading and Video Journals……..……....25%
Presentation…………………………………….………….....25%

REQUIREMENT SCHEDULE

Date Topic Due

Sept. 13 Counseling Children
Sept. 20 Counseling Children Quiz
Sept. 27 Counseling Children
Oct. 4 Counseling Children Quiz & Journals Collected
Oct. 11 Fall Break
Oct. 18 Counseling Children Mid-Term
Oct. 25 Counseling Children
Nov. 1 Counseling Youth
Nov. 8 Counseling Youth Quiz
Nov. 15 Counseling Youth Journal Collected
Nov. 22 Thanksgiving Break
Nov. 29 Counseling Youth
Dec. 6 Counseling Youth Quiz
Dec. 13 Counseling Youth Journals Collected
Dec. 15-21 Final Exam Week

DISCLAIMER:

Any aspect of this syllabus is subject to change at the professor’s discretion. However, this
syllabus offers an aim and desired goal but is by no means meant to lock the subjects or format.

POLICIES

Attendance: Students are expected to attend all class periods. Please be aware that absences are
granted for illness, personal matters, or for emergencies. It is important for students to keep
track of their own absences and late arrivals carefully. Please see the Student Handbook for the
Fall 2010
CE3273-01 4 P. Conway

Absence Policy. There will be a very short break mid-class, students are expected to remain in
class at other times except for medical reasons.

If a student arrives late to class it is their responsibility to inform the teacher after class that they
are present. Otherwise they may be marked absent for the class. It is a good idea to date your
notes each class in case attendance discrepancies should arise.

In order to be considered present in class, students must present themselves in an appropriate

manner, following the guidelines of the Student Handbook.

Assignments: All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due date. All others will
be considered late. Assignments should be written in Turabian format.

All late assignments are to be turned into the instructor’s office, not placed in campus mail.
There are no exceptions to this policy unless mandated by the office of the Academic Dean.

Examinations: Any missed exam may be made up if the exam was missed due to illness or other
excused absence (see Student Handbook). A make-up exam will also be allowed if the
circumstances are urgent and approved by the instructor prior to the exam.

Extensions and Late Papers: Extensions will only be granted for the following four reasons: 1)
hospitalization for illness. A doctor’s note confirming such is required; 2) extended serious
illness that prevents a student from attending class. This requires a doctor’s note and signature
of verification from the student’s Resident Director; 3) funerals or family emergencies granted
as an approved absence by the Academic Dean and Dean of Students; 4) school-approved
activities. If the student meets one of these exceptions, a ―Request for Extension Form‖ must be
filled out. The form can be obtained from the Office of Admissions or the Office of the
Academic Dean. If your paper is turned in after attendance is taken on the due date, you will
receive an automatic point deduction of five (5) points. For each twenty-four hour period (this
includes Saturday’s, Sunday’s and school breaks) the paper is not turned in, there will be a
forfeiture of five (5) points from the total points. If the paper is not turned in within five twenty-
four hour periods after the due date and time, an automatic score of zero (0) will be entered for
the grade with no chance of making up the paper/grade. If a hard copy cannot be presented by
the specified time and hour, an email copy may be presented for verification of completion with
a hard copy following

Plagiarism: A student who submits written material as his/her own work which has been copied
in whole or in part from another person’s work without acknowledgement is guilty of plagiarism.
Material, whether published or unpublished, copied from another
writer, must be identified by the use of quotation marks and documentation with specific citation
of the source. Paraphrased material must likewise be attributed to the origin author.

Copying another student’s paper, with or without permission, or using his/her ideas with only
minimal reworking, is plagiarism, as is the copying from printed books and magazines without

Fall 2010
CE3273-01 5 P. Conway

giving credit to the original source. Any student who submits a plagiarized paper or who permits
another person to
copy his/her work is subject to any of the following actions: a grade of ―zero‖ or ―F‖ for the
work, failure in or expulsion from the class, being reported for further disciplinary action.

Cheating: A student who engages in dishonest behavior such as: using unauthorized notes or
material when taking an examination, copying answers to examination questions, or engaging in
securing unauthorized copies of examination questions (including aiding another person in doing
so), is subject to the action or penalty indicated above. Copying another person’s class work
and/or homework and submitting it as one’s own, or having another person perform an
assignment and submitting it as having originated from themselves personally is guilty of
plagiarism—which is cheating. Such students will therefore be subject to the above discipline.
Faculty members are to submit all such cases on the appropriate ―Plagiarism Form‖ to the Office
of the Dean of Academics.

CLASS DEPORTMENT & NECESSITIES:

The classroom is a place of spiritual formation and ministerial training. It is here that some of the
basics of proper deportment will be practiced; therefore, the following guidelines are to be
adhered to:
No gum chewing in class;
Proper posture: (no slouching!);
No usage of cell phones either before or after class or during breaks is permitted in the
classroom (this includes texting); please restrict all cell phone usage to places other than the
classroom.
If a student is late (which should be the exception), he or she should assume his or her seat
quickly and quietly for obvious reasons. Thank you!
Please do not use red pen for anything; and no pencils on a test.

BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR COUNSELING CHILDREN

Bowman, Robert, and Susan C. Bowman. Individual Counseling Activities for Children.
Minneapolis, MN: Educational Media Corporation, 1998.

Bridge to Terabithia DVD. Directed by Gabor Csupo, Los Angelos, CA: Warner Brothers
Studios, 2007.

Byrd, Walter, and Paul Warren. Counseling and Children. Dallas, TX: Word Pub, 1989.

Coles, Robert. The Moral Life of Children. Boston, MA: Atlantic Monthly Press, 1986.

___________. The Spiritual Life of Children. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin, 1990.

Hart, Archibald. Helping Children Survive Divorce. Dallas, TX: Word Pub, 1996.

Fall 2010
CE3273-01 6 P. Conway

Listening to Children DVD. Directed by Robert Coles. Boston, MA: PBS Broadcasting System,
1995.

Lowenstein, Liana. Creative Interventions for Children of Divorce. Inglewood, CA: Champion
Press, 2006.

_______________ Assessment and Treatment Activities for Children, Adolescents, and

Families. Inglewood, CA: Champion Press, 2008.

_______________. Creative Interventions for Troubled Children & Youth. City: Champion Press
Canada, 1999.

Martin, Grant Critical Problems in Children and Youth. Nashville, TN: W Publishing Group,
1993.

Mr. Magoriums Wonder Emporium DVD. Directed by Zach Helm, Los Angeles, CA: 21th
Century Fox, 2007.

Pavuluri, Mani, and Susan Resko. What Works for Bipolar Kids. New York, NY: The Guilford
Press, 2008.

Sprague, Gary Kids Hope: Help for Kids in Grades 1-5 Whose Parents are: Divorced,
Separated, Widowed or Never Married Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook
Publishing, 1997

Sweeney, Daniel S., Counseling Children Through the World of Play, Wheaton, Il: Tyndale
Publishing House, 1997.

Thompson, Charles et.al. Counseling Children. South Melbourne, CA: Thomson/Brooks/Cole,

2004.

BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR COUNSELING YOUTH

Borgman, Dean. Hear My Story. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 2003.

Bowman, Robert, and Susan C. Bowman. Individual Counseling Lessons for Adolescents.
Minneapolis, MN: Educational Media Corporation, 2000.

Brumberg, Joan. The Body Project. New York, NY: Vintage Books, 1998.

Fall 2010
CE3273-01 7 P. Conway

Clark, Jerusha, and Earl Henslin. Inside a Cutter's Mind. Colorado Springs, CO: NAV Press,
2007.

Chap, Clark. Hurt. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2004.

Dimarco, Hayley. The Technical Virgin. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 2006.
Gerali, Steve, Dr. What Do I Do When Teenagers Deal with Death? Grand Rapids, MI:
Zondervan Publishing, 2009.

_____________. What Do I Do When Teenagers Are Depressed and Contemplate Suicide?

Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing, 2009.

_____________. What Do I Do When Teenagers Struggle with Eating Disorders? Grand Rapids,
MI: Zondervan Publishing, 2009

_____________. What Do I Do When Teenagers Questing their Sexuality? Grand Rapids, MI:
Zondervan Publishing, 2009

_____________. What Do I Do When Teenagers Are Victims of Abuse? Grand Rapids, MI:
Zondervan Publishing, 2009

_____________. What Do I Do When Teenagers Encounter Bullying and Violence? Grand

Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing, 2009

Martin, Grant Critical Problems in Children and Youth. Nashville, TN: W Publishing Group,
1993.

Harris, Alex et.al. Do Hard Things. Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah Books, 2008.

Mcdowell, Josh, and Bob Hostetler. Josh McDowell's Handbook on Counseling Youth. Dallas,
TX: Word Pub, 1996.

Miklowitz, J., David, and Elizabeth George. The Bipolar Teen. New York, NY: Guilford Press,
2008.

Pelt, Rich Van, and Hancock, Jim The Youth Worker’s Guide to Helping Teenagers in Crisis
Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing Co., 2007.

___________________________, The Parents Guide to Helping Teenagers in Crisis

Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing Co., 2007

Penner, Marv. Hope and Healing for Kids Who Cut: Learning to Understand and Help Those
Who Self-Injure. Grand Rapid, MI: Zondervan/Youth Specialties, 2008.

Fall 2010
CE3273-01 8 P. Conway

Phd. Joseph. The Adolescent in Family Therapy, Second Edition: Harnessing the Power of
Relationships. New York, NY: The Guilford Press, 2009

Rabey, Steve and Clark Chap, and When Kids Hurt. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2009.

Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys DVD. Boston, MA: PBS Broadcasting,
2000.

The Merchants of Cool DVD. Directed by Barak Goodman Boston, MA: PBS Frontline
Broadcasting, 2000.

Thin DVD. Directed by Lauren Greenfield, NY, NY: HBO, 2006.

Thirteen DVD. Directed by Catherine Hardwicke,

Ungar, Michael. Strengths-Based Counseling with at-Risk Youth. Thousand Oaks: Corwin Press,
2006.

Fall 2010