Applied Helping Skills Microcredential

Faculty Coordinator: Jenny Katz (katz@geneseo.edu)

This microcredential provides an opportunity for students interested in theory, research, and practice related to the process of helping people seeking support. In PSYC 365 - Clinical Psychology , students will explore theoretical perspectives on the process of helping, different theoretical approaches to helping, practice and the ethics of helping relationships, and research evaluating different helping practices. In preparing for PSYC 294 - Peer Advocacy , students will participate as trainees in a co-curricular ten week training program in which they learn the nuts and bolts of applied helping skills. They will meet in small practice groups to complete readings, writings, and role play activities including active listening, solution based questioning, and crisis management. Trainee performance is evaluated via oral, written, and practical exams; those who demonstrate skill mastery are eligible to enroll as peer advocates the following semester. Only students who successfully complete the entire training will be invited to enroll in PSYC 294 - Peer Advocacy  for 3 credits. Peer advocates and trainees participate in a mandatory weekly seminar to discuss ethical, organizational, and practical issues and for ongoing training and supervision. Peer advocates complete brief weekly writing assignments in which they reflect on both practice and actual helping conversations with peers; weekly assignments ask students to write about primary and secondary concerns that were described, challenges they faced in helping challenges, what they feel went well and how they might improve. At the midterm and end of the semester, peer advocates will complete writing assignments integrating theories of practice with their experiences in a helping role, e.g., Please write about what you’ve learned about the helping process this semester by serving as a peer advocate, linking this learning with theories about the helping process”