Medical Sciences - University of the West Indies

Course OG60B: Introduction to Group Counselling
This course begins by discussing the definitions, rationale,
goals and types of groups included in group
counselling. Group leadership characteristics, strategies,
skills, functions and styles are then explored,
together with issues of concern to group leaders.
The process and practice of group counselling and
the nature, roles and behaviour of group members
are then analyzed. The practical considerations involved
in starting a group and the kinds of communication
activities which students can use in groups
are then described. Students are taught how to
evaluate groups and the module ends by exploring
the wider applications of group counselling.
Course OG60C: Abnormal Psychology
This course begins by identifying the benefits and pitfalls
of psychiatric classifications and how they have
been used and misused by counsellors and other
health professionals. Instruments which are used in
the assessment and diagnosis of the conditions covered
in the course are discussed as each new topic
is introduced. Learning disabilities are then explored
and Block A ends with a focus on mental retardation.
Block B begins by looking at stress and coping
and the aetiology, signs, symptoms, treatment and
management of anxiety disorders, mood disorders,
schizophrenia, personality disorders and eating
disorders. In Block C the focus shifts to substance
abuse with an emphasis on a typology of abused
substances, signs and symptoms of substance
abuse, treatment, and management. The course
ends with a general discussion of the psycho-social
impact of these conditions, legal issues and the role
of the counsellor. Throughout the course the actual
experiences of people who have been challenged
by these conditions are shared in order to retain the
emphasis on people rather than on impersonal and
potentially destructive psychiatric labels.
Course OG60D: Developmental Psychology
This course offers an introduction to physical, social,
cognitive, moral and linguistic development with an
emphasis on theory and methodology. The biological
and social bases of behaviour are explored and
the pathology associated with failure to achieve psycho-social
tasks at each stage is explored.
Course OG61A: Person-Centred Counselling
The course begins with an introduction to Carl Rogers
and to Person-Centred Counselling. Rogers
original writings are used to develop a thorough understanding
of the philosophical base, the theoretical
assumptions, beliefs and values which underlie
Rogerian Counselling. Theoretical perspectives on
the acquisition and maintenance of maladaptive behaviour
and on the process of effecting therapeutic
personality change are explored. Primary emphasis
is placed on how to establish a therapeutic relationship
and on developing the counsellors ability to
demonstrate the conditions which facilitate personal
growth. The focus then shifts to Person-Centred
Counselling in action and to a detailed examination
of the counselling process and the development of
GRADUATE STUDENTS INFORMATION GUIDE 2011/2012 73
FACULTY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES