Available Courses
All courses are 3 credits. If no upcoming offerings are listed, the course is not being offered during the next available term.
Registration takes place 2 weeks before the start of term.
GSPP Alumni will receive a 15% tuition discount on courses.
Prerequisite: N/A
Course Description: This course provides an overview of the historical foundations and emerging theories of substance use and addictive disorders. An emphasis will be placed on the biopsychosocial model of addiction, the principles of motivation and change within the therapeutic relationship, evidence-based treatment approaches, and the continuum of care for substance use disorders. This course will also explore how systemic and multicultural factors, and other contextual variables influence individual and cultural relationships to alcohol and drugs, through foundational readings on diversity within the addiction field.
Upcoming Offerings: Spring 2026 (February 2 - May 22, 2026)
Thursdays 4:30-7 p.m.
Prerequisite: CPSY 632 Psychopathology (or equivalent)
Course Description: This course prepares students to provide comprehensive, evidence based screening and assessment of substance (ab)use and co-occurring disorders. An exploration of the complex and dynamic interaction between substance abuse, mental health symptoms, and cultural and environmental factors is a particular focus of the course. The role of the therapeutic relationship and motivational principles in enhancing the assessment process is also explored. An approach to assessment that takes into account a biopsychosocial model with an emphasis on the unique context of the individual client will be performed.
Upcoming Offerings: J-Term 2026 (January 5- January 31, 2026)
Fridays, Jan. 9, Jan. 16, Jan. 23, Jan. 30, 4:30-10 p.m.
Saturdays, Jan. 10, Jan. 17, Jan. 24, Jan. 31, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Prerequisite: CPSY 632 Psychopathology (or equivalent)
Recommended Prerequisite: CPSY 620
Course Description: This course provides students with foundational knowledge of and practice in effective treatment planning for clients who present with mental health and substance use disorders. Students will learn how to synthesize and communicate knowledge about substance use and co-occurring disorders to diverse audiences. This course will allow students to prepare for a rapidly evolving healthcare system, so that they may positively affect the care of each client. Students will be exposed to a broad range of clinical examples representing both dominant culture and underserved groups, requiring students to understand how various dimensions of diversity must be considered in planning treatment, managing cases, making recommendations and referrals.
Upcoming Offerings: Spring 2026 (February 2 - May 22, 2026)
Fridays, Feb. 20, Mar. 13, Apr. 17, May 1, 4:30-10 p.m.
Saturdays, Feb. 21, Mar. 14, Apr. 18, May 2, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Prerequisite: CPSY 632 Psychopathology (or equivalent) & CPSY 611 Theories of Counseling (or equivalent)
Recommended Prerequisite: CPSY 620
Course Description: This course offers an integrated treatment model of addiction and co-occurring disorders to prepare students to provide therapeutic services to affected individuals and families, within the emerging recovery-oriented system of care. An emphasis is placed on evidence-based treatment approaches and principles. Experiential exercises are utilized to help students learn to provide effective treatment interventions for co-occurring disorders. The limits of treatment approaches devised primarily for members of the dominant culture will be explored, and both adaptations of treatment models ("top-down approaches") for particular underserved groups will be covered as well as examples of approaches that have been developed from within cultural context ("bottom-up approaches") will be addressed.
Prerequisite: N/A
Course Description: Examines seminal and current literature on trauma prevalence, outcomes, and recovery. Covers best methods in clinical assessment of trauma-related sequelae, primarily posttraumatic stress disorder. Evidence-based treatments from a cognitive-behavioral perspective will be reviewed with the intention of building skills in practice.
Prerequisite: CPSY 650 Intro to Marriage and Family Counseling (or equivalent)
Course Description: An introductory-level course in marriage and family living. The course covers, but is not limited to, the following areas: family social trends, demographic data, stages of family development, characteristics of health families, sibling-position models of family development and of marital patterns, and varying conceptual models of family counseling. In most settings, the instructor utilizes a combination of lecture, videotape presentations and small-group discussions.
Prerequisite: N/A
Course Description: This is an elective, introductory, and graduate level course that is meant to broaden your understanding of issues regarding sexual health and gender that you may encounter in the therapy session. A large part of this course is focused on increasing your comfort and competence in having conversations about sexual health and gender with your clients, as well as knowing when to intervene and when to refer. Additional attention will be given to developing and keeping appropriate boundaries with clients when addressing issues of sexual health and gender. Theoretical frameworks regarding human sexuality, sexual disorders, normative vs. non-normative sexual behavior, issues of gender identity and expression, and applicable therapeutic interventions will be discussed. Specific focus will also be given to the co-occurrence of sexual and gender concerns with mental health and substance use disorders, including discussions regarding prevalence and potential presentations.
Prerequisite: CPSY 650 Intro to Marriage and Family Counseling (or equivalent)
Course Description: Theory and research relating to marriage and family development, including family history, transgenerational family models, and developmental patterns involved with marriage and family growth.
Prerequisite: CPSY 650 Intro to Marriage and Family Counseling (or equivalent)
Course Description: Theory and techniques of marital therapy, including dysfunctional communication patterns, pathological marriage patterns, factors in marital selection, marital stress, behavioral approaches to marital therapy, family systems approaches to marital therapy, and psychoanalytical approaches to marital therapy.
Upcoming Offerings: J-Term 2026 (January 5- January 31, 2026)
Fridays, Jan. 9, Jan. 16, Jan. 23, Jan. 30, 4:30-10 p.m.
Saturdays, Jan. 10, Jan. 17, Jan. 24, Jan. 31, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Prerequisite: CPSY 650 Introduction to Marriage and Family Psychology(or equivalent)
Course Description: Advanced family assessment, communications and systems approaches to family problem identification. Compare and contrast various family theories in terms of problem identification. Understanding of philosophical orientation and research underlying family psychology.
Upcoming Offerings: Spring 2026 (February 2 - May 22, 2026)
Fridays, Feb. 13, Mar. 13, Apr. 17, May 8, 4:30-10 p.m.
Saturdays, Feb. 14, Mar. 14, Apr. 18, May 9, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Prerequisite: CPSY 650 Intro to Marriage and Family Therapy & CPSY 653 Family Counseling I
Course Description: Understanding theory and research in current family systems models of intervention. Family systems approaches to problem solution utilizing these theories.