UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND

Graduate Programs - Europe

Counseling and Personnel Services (CAPS)

COURSE: EDCP789 Psychopharmacology for Counselors

INSTRUCTOR: Scott E. Borrelli, EdD, ABPP, FICPP

E-mail Address: sborrell@faculty.ed.umuc.edu

Post: PSC 41, Box 2128 APO AE 09464

Tel: [44] (0) 20 8696 7661 (London)

Course Delivery Method: One weekend class, 9:00 am – 5:30 pm, Saturday and Sunday, plus readings and assignments due before the class meeting, and online activity.

Credit: 1 semester hour, graduate credit

Venue: RAF Lakenheath, UK

Dates/Times: 29 – 30 June 2002; 0900 - 1800

This course will address the growing trend in mental health to prescribe psychotropic medications in conjunction with counseling and psychotherapy. Consequently, the role and responsibilities of the professional counselor have expanded, requiring familiarity with psychopharmacology and effective multi-disciplinary consultation skills. The focus of this presentation will be on providing basic knowledge of the primary psychotropic medication groups, methods of action, and their impact on individual behavior and on the counseling process. Practical suggestions will be made for integrating the concept and use of "mind-altering" prescription medications into counseling practice, emphasizing the further coming together of the mind-body principle. Client attitudes towards medication and contextual/cultural issues will be explored. Prescription and non-prescription (i.e., alternative/complementary) anti-anxiety, anti-depressant, and ADHD medications will be discussed, and a "Quick Reference to Psychotropic Medication" guide developed by John Preston, Psy.D., will be available to students.

COURSE DELIVERY SYSTEM

The course will be offered at RAF Lakenheath, UK, and will include readings, discussion, and assignments. Case examples (from students and the professor) will be discussed to highlight and clarify relevant issues. The course will be supported by E-mail interaction following the weekend class.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

By the end of the course, students will:

1. Understand some of the important basic principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.
2. Apply basic knowledge of psychopharmacology to their assessment strategies to improve overall treatment planning.
3. Apply an increasingly multi-dimensional and multi-cultural approach to the practice of professional counseling.
4. Have an enhanced professional awareness of and appreciation for the major psychotropic medications counselors are likely to encounter with their clients, and apply this knowledge in their consultation skills with clients and other professionals.

COURSE TEXT AND READINGS

 

Main text:

Preston, J., Talaga, M., O'Neal, J. (2002). Handbook of Clinical Psychopharmacology for Therapists (3rd ed.). CA: New Harbinger Publications.

 

Additional Readings and Resources:

 

Ayd, Frank J. Jr. Evaluating interactions between herbal and psychoactive medications. Psychiatric Times, December 2000, Vol. XVII, Issue 12.

Thompson, Diane S. and Pollock, Bruce G. Psychotropic metabolism: gender-related issues. Psychiatric Times, January 2001, Vol. XIV, Issue 1.

 

Preston, John. Quick reference to psychotropic medication (http://www.psyd-fx.com/).

 

Biological Psychology Tutorials (Tutorial #13), Centre for Psychology at Athabasca University, http://psych.athabascau.ca/html/Psych402/Biotutorials/

 

COURSE TOPICS

 

I. The Expanding Role of the Counselor and Mental Health Professional.

1. Counselor as generalist, specialist, and multi-disciplinary consultant.
2. Basic knowledge of psychotropic medication.
3. Aspects of consultation with the medical community - ethical and professional challenges.

II. Classes of Psychotropic Medications.

1. Prescription vs. non-prescription.
2. Anti-depressant medications.
3. Anti-anxiety medications.
4. Medications for cognitive pathology.
5. Medications for AD/HD.
6. Alternative & complimentary choices: nutritional Supplements and herbal Remedies.

III. Methods of Action of Classes of Psychotropics.

1. The big three neurotransmitters.
2. Serotonin and mood.
3. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

IV. Impact of Medication

1. On client functioning.
2. On the counseling process.
3. Utilizing the placebo effect & facilitating client self-reliance: hope, positive expectation, & therapeutic support.

V. Integrating Psychotropic Medication into the Counseling Practice.

1. Making confident and competent referrals for medication evaluation.
2. Guidelines for discussing medication issues with clients and other professionals.
3. Cross-cultural and gender issues.
4. Increasing the counselor's acceptance of medication as part of the overall intervention plan.

6. Special Topics

1. Gerontological pharmacotherapy.
2. Child pharmacotherapy.
3. Drug interactions: herbal and psychoactive.
4. Multicultural & gender issues: metabolism differences

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Students will be expected to complete the following requirements BEFORE the weekend session:

 

1.       Read text, and the additional readings listed on this syllabus.

2.       Brief exam, in –class.

3.       Brief paper due at end of term (summary/review of two articles).

 

COURSE GRADING

 

Participation during the course weekend:25%.

Quiz: 25%.

Paper: 50%.

 

INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHY

 

Dr. Scott Borrelli is collegiate professor of education with the University of Maryland’s program in Counseling and Personnel Services and undergraduate psychology programs. He is licensed and board certified in counseling and clinical psychology, a National Certified Counselor/School Counselor, and a chartered psychologist in the UK. He is also board certified in clinical hypnotherapy, and in psychopharmacology by the International College of Prescribing Psychologists. Dr. Borrelli’s orientation as counselor educator and practitioner is integrative-humanistic, and he is eager to facilitate client mental health through a variety of individually tailored and broad-spectrum interventions. Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, he now lives in London, UK.