PSYC 321: Clinical Psychology

Spring 2022, Section DL1 and  DL2 (online)  

Professor: Jerome Short, Ph.D.        Office: David King Hall 2019
Phone: 703-993-1368                        Office Hours: 1:00 - 3:00 Tuesdays in Spring semester
E-Mail: jshort@gmu.edu                   Webpage: https://psychology.gmu.edu/people/jshort

Textbook: Pomerantz, Andrew M. (2020). Clinical psychology (5th edition). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Welcome! This course introduces the theories and practices of clinical psychology. You will have quizzes, discussion boards, and role-plays to practice psychotherapy techniques with classmates. I expect you to attend class regularly and complete reading assignments before each class. I will provide lectures, discussions, videos, and demonstrations of psychotherapy techniques.

Last day to add course: Jan. 31
Last days to drop course: Feb. 7 (no penalty); Self-withdrawal Feb. 14 (no refund)

Course Learning Outcomes

You will develop the following skills.

  1. Conceptualize Skills of Clinical Psychologists - Describe roles and skills of psychological assessment, psychotherapy, consultation, research, and prevention.
  2. Apply Ethical Principles - Learn and apply ethical principles to case dilemmas.
  3. Apply Cultural Competence - Learn to interact sensitively with people from diverse cultures.
  4. Demonstrate Clinical Interviewing Techniques - Ability to ask open-ended questions, empathize accurately, elicit examples of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and summarize accurately.
  5. Demonstrate Behavioral Assessment Techniques - Ability to do a functional analysis of behavior, understand the causes, maintaining factors, and intervention targets to improve someone's behavioral functioning.
  6. Demonstrate Psychotherapy Skills - Ability to evaluate other's previous efforts to improve their functioning and negotiate the use of effective coping strategies in their lives.
  7. Use Technology Effectively - Ability to use Blackboard to complete quizzes, post assignments and comment on Discussion Boards, and video-record role-plays with classmates.

Requirements.

1. 16 Quizzes. There are 16 online quizzes and are each worth 10 points (160 points total). The quizzes are 10 multiple choice items based on content from the textbook and lecture. A LockDown browser is needed for the quizzes and you must complete each quiz in 15 minutes once they are opened. The quizzes are with no notes, no book, and no help. Your webcam will record you during the quizzes.

Missed Quizzes. You can make-up a missed quiz if you have a note from a physician that you could not take the quiz.  The professor will consider other reasons for missing a quiz and will decide whether or not to allow the student to make-up the quiz.  Make-up quizzes may have a different format from the original quiz.

2. 4 Discussion Board Posts and Comments. Your 5 discussion board posts and comments are worth from 6 to 12 points each (30 points total). These posts will focus on assessment, consultation, treatment, and career goals. The descriptions and directions are in Blackboard.

3. 1 Individual video recorded Psychotherapy Role-Play with summary note.  You will practice assessment and psychotherapy techniques in one videorecorded role-play with a classmate for approximately 5 to 10 minutes. You need to do the role-plays twice, once as a client and once as a psychologist with your partner. You need to also write a half-page summary note of the session when you are in the role of the therapist, not the client. The role-play and summary note isworth 26 points.    

Video technology: You should record and submit videos to your course instructor. Options to record include: Zoom, Blackboard Kaltura, Skype, Facetime, or your mobile device (smartphones or tablets). You will give video link at the bottom of your summary note.You can upload internet video to YouTube as unlisted option to share. You should record both people, but the instructor needs to see the psychologist role more closely (facial expressions, body movements, etc.)

Extra Credit. You can earn up to 6 points of extra credit that is added onto your point total for the course. You can write a summary and critique (half summary and half critique) about a human service experience you have engaged in (job or volunteer experience) that is up to three typed pages (2 points per page). 

Grading. I will base your final grade on your percentage of 220 points (16 quizzes worth 160 points, 4 Discussion Boards worth 34 points, and 1 video role-play and note worth 26 points) as defined below.

A+ = 97% or more   A  = 93 – 96%   A-  = 90 - 92% B+ = 87 - 89%   B  = 83 - 86%    B-  = 80 - 82% C+ = 77 - 79%  C  = 73 - 76%    C-  = 70 - 72% D   = 60 - 69%   F  = below 60%

Spring Course Schedule

Class dates

Readings

Assignments Due

Module 1

Ch. 1: Clinical Psychology: Definition; pp. 2-23.

Ch. 1 Quiz and Discussion Board 1 due Monday, 1.31

 

Ch. 3: Current Controversies in Clinical Psychology; pp. 44-68.

Ch. 3 Quiz due Monday, 2.7

 

Ch. 4: Cultural Issues; pp. 69-94.  
Ch. 5: Ethical Issues; pp. 95-119.  

Ch. 4 Quiz due Monday, 2.14
Ch. 5 Quiz due Monday, 2.14

Module 2

Ch. 8: The Clinical Interview: pp. 171-195.

Ch. 8 Quiz due Monday, 2.21

 

Ch. 9: Intellectual Assessment; pp. 196-215.

Ch. 9 Quiz due Monday, 2.28

 

Ch. 10: Personality and Behavioral Assessment; pp. 216-242.

Ch. 10 Quiz due Monday, 3.7
Discussion Board 2 due 3.7

Module 3

Ch. 11: General Issues in Psychotherapy; pp. 244-270.

Ch. 11 Quiz due Monday, 3.14

 

Ch. 12: Psychodyamic Psychotherapy; pp. 271-297.

Ch. 12 Quiz due Monday, 3.28

 

Ch. 13: Humanistic Psychotherapy; pp. 298-319.

Ch. 13 Quiz due Monday, 4.4

Module 4

Ch. 14: Behavior Therapy; pp. 320-346. 

Ch. 14 Quiz due Monday, 4.11

 

Ch. 15: Cognitive Psychotherapy; pp. 347-374. 

Ch. 15 Quiz due Monday, 4.18
Role Play due Monday 4.18

 

Ch. 16: Group and Family Therapy; pp. 375-402.

Ch. 16 Quiz due Monday, 4.25
Discussion Board 3 due 4.25

Module 5

Ch. 17: Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology; pp. 404-431.

Ch. 17 Quiz due Monday, 5.2

 

 

 Discussion Board 4 due 5.2

 

Ch. 18: Health Psychology; pp. 432-454.
Ch. 19: Forensic Psychology; pp. 455-478.

Ch. 18 Quiz due Monday, 5.9
Ch. 19 Quiz due Monday, 5.9
Extra Credit due Tuesday, 5.10

University Policies and Resources

  1. Student Responsibilities About Communication: Mason uses electronic mail to provide official information to students. Examples include communication from course instructors, notices from the library, notices about academic standing, financial aid information, class materials, assignments, questions, and instructor feedback. Students are responsible for the content of university communication sent to their Mason e-mail account and are required to activate that account and check it regularly. All communication from the university, college, school, and program will be sent to students solely through their Mason email account.
  2. Honor Code and Academic Honesty: You need to know and abide by George Mason University’s Honor Code. The Code requires all members of this community to maintain the highest standards of academic honesty and integrity. Cheating, plagiarism, lying, and stealing are all prohibited. You should contact me if you have questions about these policies. All violations of the Honor Code will be reported to the Honor Committee.
  3. Students must follow the university policy for Responsible Use of Computing and registration in Registrar's website.
  4. Student services: The University provides range of services to help you succeed academically and you should make use of these if you think they could benefit you. I also invite you to speak to me (the earlier the better).
  5. The George Mason University Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) staff consists of professional counseling and clinical psychologists, social workers, and counselors who offer a wide range of services (e.g., individual and group counseling, workshops and outreach programs) to enhance students’ personal experience and academic performance. Counseling Center: Student Union I, Room 364, 703-993-2380.
  6. Accommodations: Students with disabilities who seek accommodations in a course must be registered with the George Mason University Office of Disability Services (ODS) and inform their instructor, in writing, at the beginning of the semester. 
  7. The George Mason University Writing Center staff provides a variety of resources and services (e.g., tutoring, workshops, writing guides, handbooks) intended to support students as they work to construct and share knowledge through writing. University Writing Center:  Robinson Hall Room A114, 703-993-1200.  The writing center includes assistance for students for whom English is a second language.
  8. Library: Most University Libraries resources are available to you from home. They have a variety of online services.
  9. Students must follow the university policy stating that all sound emitting devices shall be turned off during class unless otherwise authorized by the instructor.
  10. Diversity: George Mason University promotes a living and learning environment for outstanding growth and productivity among its students, faculty and staff. Through its curriculum, programs, policies, procedures, services and resources, Mason strives to maintain a quality environment for work, study and personal growth.
  11. Religious Holidays: It is the obligation of students, within the first two weeks of the semester, to provide professors with the dates of major religious holidays on which they will be absent or unable to turn in work due to religious observances.
  12. Student Privacy: All students at Mason control access to their educational records and must give consent before that information is disclosed to any third party, including parents.
  13. Class Cancellation Policy: If class is cancelled, I will notify you by email/blackboard and describe how we will make up the time.

Technology Requirements

Blackboard Login Instructions
Access to MyMason and GMU email are required to participate successfully in this course. Please make sure to update your computer and prepare yourself to begin using the online format BEFORE the first day of class.  Check the IT Support Center website. Navigate to the Student Support page for help and information about Blackboard. In the menu bar to the left you will find all the tools you need to become familiar with for this course. Make sure you run a system check a few days before class. Become familiar with the attributes of Blackboard and online learning. 
Hardware: You will need access to a Windows or Macintosh computer with at least 2 GB of RAM and access to a fast and reliable broadband internet connection (e.g., cable, DSL). A larger screen is recommended for better visibility of course material. You will need speakers or headphones to hear recorded content and a headset with a microphone is recommended for the best experience. For the amount of Hard Disk Space required taking a distance education course, consider and allow for the storage amount needed to install any additional software and space to store work that you will do for the course.
Software: Many courses use Blackboard as the learning management system. You will need a browser and operating system that are listed compatible or certified with the Blackboard version available on the myMason Portal. See supported browsers and operating systems. Log in to myMason to access your registered courses. Some courses may use other learning management systems. Check the syllabus or contact the instructor for details. Online courses typically use Acrobat Reader, Flash, Java, and Windows Media Player, QuickTime and/or Real Media Player. Your computer should be capable of running current versions of those applications. Also, make sure your computer is protected from viruses by downloading the latest version of Symantec Endpoint Protection/Anti-Virus software for free here.
Students owning Macs or Linux should be aware that some courses may use software that only runs on Windows. You can set up a Mac computer with Boot Camp or virtualization software so Windows will also run on it. Computers running Linux can also be configured with virtualization software or configured to dual boot with Windows.

Note: If you are using an employer-provided computer or corporate office for class attendance, please verify with your systems administrators that you will be able to install the necessary applications and that system or corporate firewalls do not block access to any sites or media types.

Respondus LockDown Browser: Use of the Respondus LockDown Browser and a functional webcam are required for quizzes in this course. Please follow these instructions to download and install the Respondus LockDown Browser. Once you have completed these steps, find the Respondus LockDown Browser application on your computer and open it.

  1. Visit this URL to access the Respondus LockDown Browser download.
  2. Setup is easy and only requires you to:
    1. Select your operating system.
    2. Choose "Your Own Computer" from the list of provided options.
    3. Click a download link and follow the installation directions as provided.

When you have completed these steps, launch the Respondus LockDown Browser by double-clicking its shortcut icon (pictured below). By default, this icon will be created on your desktop.

Windows         Macintosh
 Windows iconMac icon
Kaltura CaptureSpace: Use this video management tool to create and share video for Individual Counselling Video Recorded Role Plays assignment in this course. Follow these step by step procedures to download the Kaltura CaptureSpace Desktop Recorder application at https://goo.gl/ikq57d. Once you downloaded the application, you can launch CaptureSpace Desktop Recorder from the Web:

You can launch CaptureSpace from your Application folder (Mac) or Start Menu (Windows), click on the Kaltura CaptureSpace Desktop Recorder icon.
Kaltura icon