CAPT – Prerequisite Course: General Principles of Psychotherapy

Description

Course Description

This 84 hour (14 week ) graduate-level course provides students with a comprehensive introduction to the foundational concepts, theories, principles, and practices of psychotherapy across individual, family, and group modalities. Drawing from major psychotherapy traditions and integrative approaches, students will critically examine the therapeutic relationship, processes of change, case conceptualization, multicultural considerations, and evidence-informed psychotherapy practices.

The course introduces students to core psychotherapy theories including psychodynamic, Adlerian, existential, person-centered, Gestalt, cognitive-behavioral, feminist, postmodern, and family systems approaches while exploring the movement toward integrative psychotherapy practice. Emphasis is placed on understanding the therapeutic alliance, therapist self-awareness, ethical practice, multicultural responsiveness, and the mechanisms of therapeutic change across modalities.

Students will also examine foundational principles of group psychotherapy, including therapeutic factors, group cohesion, interpersonal learning, leadership, group development, and the role of the group as a therapeutic microcosm. Through experiential activities, case analysis, reflective practice, and applied clinical discussion, students will develop foundational competencies necessary for ethically and culturally responsive psychotherapy practice across diverse clinical contexts.

Course Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

1. Analyze major theories and principles of psychotherapy utilized in individual, family, and group practice.

2. Differentiate foundational assumptions, goals, therapeutic processes, and interventions associated with major psychotherapy models.

3. Examine the role of the therapeutic relationship, therapist factors, and client variables in psychotherapy outcomes.

4. Apply core psychotherapy concepts to case conceptualization and treatment planning across diverse clinical presentations.

5. Evaluate the therapeutic factors and interpersonal processes involved in effective group psychotherapy.

6. Demonstrate understanding of family systems principles and relational dynamics within psychotherapy practice.

7. Assess ethical, multicultural, and socially responsive considerations relevant to psychotherapy practice.

8. Critically reflect on therapist self-awareness, use of self, values, and professional identity development.

9. Examine integrative and evidence-informed approaches to psychotherapy across modalities.

10. Apply psychotherapy principles to case-based scenarios involving individual, family, and group clinical contexts.