218 Foundations of Psychotherapy and Personality 

Larry Wolfe Ph.D. 

Elwolfe44@mac.com 

lwolfe@scu.edu 

 

 

Santa Clara University Winter: 2013 

Emergency cell: 408 348-5941 

Phone message # 408 559-6603 

Office hours: Thursday: 3 to 5 

 

Objectives: 

Foundations of Psychotherapy and Personality is a core course in the 
Counseling Psychology program. Its intent is to provide the student a 
broad sweep of major concepts and theories in the field as well as to 
provide depth of coverage of most major orientations in psychotherapy. 
Counseling approaches will be examined from historical and theoretical 
perspectives, with a strong emphasis on therapeutic process and 
practical applications. The course will examine the major orientations of 
counseling (Psychodynamic, Experiential-Humanistic, Cognitive-
Behavioral, Integrative, Multicultural, and Systems approaches). The 
goal is for students to understand the basics of each major approach and 
for them to begin to formulate their own approach to the counseling 
process. 

Upon completion of this course, the student will: 

. be familiar with the major theoretical approaches to counseling and 
their practical applications 
. be able to evaluate contemporary counseling theories and applications 
from a clinical perspective 
. begin to formulate your own theoretical perspective and set of clinical 
skills 


Course Requirements:* 

. Attendance, students are expected to attend every class in a 
punctual and consistent manner. By department policy you are 



allowed one miss. Any more than that will result in a deduction in 
your grade. You can email to let me know you will not be 
attending class. 


 

. Participation involves being an active contributing member of class. 
You will be expected to participate in class activities, discussions, 
and small group, with the exception that you have the right to not 
participate in any “clinical” exercise that calls for personal 
information. However you will still be expected to observe the 
exercise and participate in the discussion about it. 


 

. Reflection, Two page paper explaining three concepts that you 
want to bring with you in your counseling career for each theory 
you read. Explain the ideas and why you think it is important and 
what insights you might have had as you read about it. This may 
include personal insights into your own behavior and emotions. 
The assignments will be graded DO for do over, GJ for good job 
and II for I’m impressed. 


 

 

. Mid term and final will be short exams testing you on basic 
knowledge of the reading and class lectures. 


 

Grading Criteria: 

10% Class participation. 

 

30% Reflection papers. 

 

35% Mid-term exam. 

 

35% Final exam. 

 

Confidentiality: 

Being actively involved in class sessions and small group discussions may 
entail some type of self-disclosure. In order to promote an atmosphere of 
trust and safety, it is important to maintain confidentiality. Please do not 


share any personal information that has been revealed by students in such 
discussion or clinical demonstrations outside of class. 

 

Required text: Current Psychotherapies by Raymond J. Corsini 
& Danny Wedding, ninth edition. 

 

Class Schedule: 

Week one (January 10). Introduction and overview of class. 

 

Week two (January 17) Readings: Current Psychotherapies Ch: 1& 2 

 

Week three (January 24) Readings: Current Psychotherapies Ch: 3 & 5 

 

Week four (January 31) Readings: Current Psychotherapies Ch: 6 

 

Week five (February 7) Readings: Current Psychotherapies Ch: 7 & 8 

 

Week six (February 14) Mid-term exam. Current Psychotherapies Ch: 9 

 

Week seven (February 21) Current Psychotherapies Ch: 15 

 

Week eight (February 28) Current Psychotherapies Ch: 12 

 

Week nine (March 7) Current Psychotherapies Ch: 14 

 

Week ten (March 14) Final exam. Reading to be assigned Last day of 
class. 

 

* Requirements subject to change with notice.