# Counseling Courses (COU) courses Lake Tahoe Community College · 2026-2027 Catalog · 27 courses Source: https://ltcc.elumenapp.com/catalog/2026-2027/department/counseling-courses "Offered" lists sections in this catalog year's class schedules: Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027. ### COU 100 — College Success - **Units:** 4 - **Hours:** 4 hours lecture weekly, 48 contact hours total - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027 schedules - LTCC- Local General Education Curriculum: Area 6: Lifelong Understanding and Self-Development - CSU General Education Curriculum: Area E: Lifelong Understanding and Self-Development (Denied) - 25/26 - Local General Education Curriculum: Area 7: Lifelong Understanding and Self-Development This course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills for academic success in college. The course will include topics such as basic study skills, time management and stress management, learning styles, study techniques, and effective interpersonal communication skills. Emphasis is on life-long success in academic, professional, and personal development. Critical thinking exercises will be emphasized through written and verbal communication. *UC unit/course limit ### COU 104 — Understanding Transfer - **Units:** 2 - **Hours:** 2 hours lecture weekly, 24 contact hours total - **Transfers to:** CSU - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section listed as COU-104 (/c/lake-tahoe-community-college/schedule/fall-2026/cou.md); Winter 2027, 2 sections listed as COU-104 (/c/lake-tahoe-community-college/schedule/winter-2027/cou.md); Spring 2027, 2 sections listed as COU-104 (/c/lake-tahoe-community-college/schedule/spring-2027/cou.md) This course provides a comprehensive study of the transfer process from a California Community College to a four-year college or university. The course is designed for students interested in learning about higher education options, transfer admission requirements, general education patterns, major preparation, articulation agreements, application process and procedures, support services, and strategies for a successful transition to a university. ### COU 108 — Career/Life Planning - **Units:** 4 - **Hours:** 4 hours lecture weekly, 48 contact hours total - **Advisory:** Eligibility for ENG 152 - **Transfers to:** CSU - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section listed as COU-108 (/c/lake-tahoe-community-college/schedule/fall-2026/cou.md); Winter 2027, 2 sections listed as COU-108 (/c/lake-tahoe-community-college/schedule/winter-2027/cou.md); Spring 2027, 2 sections listed as COU-108 (/c/lake-tahoe-community-college/schedule/spring-2027/cou.md) - LTCC- Local General Education Curriculum: Area 6: Lifelong Understanding and Self-Development - CSU General Education Curriculum: Area E: Lifelong Understanding and Self-Development - 25/26 - Local General Education Curriculum: Area 7: Lifelong Understanding and Self-Development This course provides comprehensive career/life planning for students unclear about their academic/career goals. Through an in-depth process of self-assessment, students align their interests, personality, transferable skills, and work values to academic majors and careers. Topics include researching careers and majors both through internet resources and informational interviews, decision-making and goal setting, developing a career action plan, and preparing effectively for employment and lifelong learning in a global economy. The course emphasizes the importance of taking personal responsibility for one's educational, career, and personal decisions to achieve satisfaction through work/life balance. ### COU 109 — Introduction to Counseling - **Units:** 4 - **Hours:** 4 hours lecture weekly, 48 contact hours total - **Transfers to:** CSU - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section listed as COU-109 (/c/lake-tahoe-community-college/schedule/fall-2026/cou.md) This course covers an introduction to major theoretical approaches to counseling and counseling techniques. Students will become familiar with the foundational theories behind counseling approaches. They will develop a working knowledge of the critical components of the counseling relationship, basic listening, interviewing and counseling skills, and ethical issues in counseling. Role-playing exercises will be utilized in class to demonstrate and practice counseling skills. Students will learn the importance of developing a counseling approach that matches their personal style. This may also be taken for non-credit (see COU551). ### COU 120 — Introduction to Substance Use Disorders - **Units:** 4 - **Hours:** 4 hours lecture weekly, 48 contact hours total - **Transfers to:** CSU - **Offered:** Spring 2027, 1 section listed as COU-120 (/c/lake-tahoe-community-college/schedule/spring-2027/cou.md) This is an introductory course for persons interested in any area of human services who wish to increase their knowledge of substance use disorders (including alcohol) in our society. This course will cover various theories of substance use disorders, identification signs, and symptomology. Treatment resources will be examined and myths of use will be dispelled. Students will learn a pragmatic approach to working with the using population. ### COU 121 — The Physical, Chemical, and Behavioral Effects of Substance Use Disorders - **Units:** 4 - **Hours:** 4 hours lecture weekly, 48 contact hours total - **Transfers to:** CSU - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027 schedules This course provides a comprehensive examination of how drugs are metabolized, as well as their effects on the central nervous system and on behavior. Additional topics include the substance use disorders process, the dynamics of tolerance and withdrawal, the medical consequences of substance use disorders, fetal alcohol syndrome, effects on human sexuality, and the nutritional aspects in both the active phases of chemical dependence and in recovery. Ethics and scope of practice for substance use disorders counselors are addressed in this course. ### COU 122 — Rehabilitation and Recovery from Substance Use Disorders - **Units:** 4 - **Hours:** 4 hours lecture weekly, 48 contact hours total - **Transfers to:** CSU - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027 schedules This course provides the knowledge and skills required to help chemically dependent clients in their treatment and recovery from substance use disorders. Topics covered include techniques for client assessment and evaluation, treatment planning, case management, aftercare and relapse prevention, detoxification, 12-step support groups, and therapeutic communities. Group, individual, and family therapy models of counseling are introduced, and diversity issues in chemically dependent clients and legal and ethical issues are included. Students will be challenged to examine their existing ideas about dependency disorders and will conduct mock interviews with recovering people. Ethics and scope of practice for substance use disorders counselors are addressed in this course. This course may also be taken for non-credit (see COU 554). ### COU 123 — Substance Use Prevention - **Units:** 4 - **Hours:** 4 hours lecture weekly, 48 contact hours total - **Transfers to:** CSU - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section listed as COU-123 (/c/lake-tahoe-community-college/schedule/fall-2026/cou.md) - LTCC- Local General Education Curriculum: Area 6: Lifelong Understanding and Self-Development - 25/26 - Local General Education Curriculum: Area 7: Lifelong Understanding and Self-Development This course reviews the history, theories, models, and state-of-the-art approaches to the substance use prevention field. Additional topics include prevention programs; activities appropriate for the individual, community, campus, parent/family and work site; public policies and media/information-dissemination; ethnic and cultural specific approaches; and environmental risk reduction. Ethics and scope of practice for substance use counselors are addressed in this course. This course may also be taken for non-credit (see COU555). ### COU 124 — Group Leadership and Process - **Units:** 4 - **Hours:** 4 hours lecture weekly, 48 contact hours total - **Transfers to:** CSU - **Offered:** Winter 2027, 1 section listed as COU-124 (/c/lake-tahoe-community-college/schedule/winter-2027/cou.md) This course provides an intensive introduction to the experience of group therapy with emphasis on leader facilitation skills and analysis of group dynamics. Students will learn the fundamentals of group leadership by examining problems of communication, trust building, effective emotional responses, professional boundaries, and personal growth. The emphasis will be on the group process as a means of changing behavior and attitude. Ethics and scope of practice for alcohol and drug counselors are addressed in this course. ### COU 125 — Impact of Substance Use on Families - **Units:** 4 - **Hours:** 4 hours lecture weekly, 48 contact hours total - **Transfers to:** CSU - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027 schedules This course examines methods of assisting significant others whose lives are affected by substance use. The profile of addicted persons and dynamics such as denial, codependency, and enabling on the part of family, employer, and friends will be covered. Ethics and scope of practice for alcohol and drug counselors are addressed in this course. Intervention and treatment skills in counseling families are learned and practiced through class exercises. This course may also be taken for non-credit (see COU557). ### COU 126 — Intervention and Referral Techniques - **Units:** 4 - **Hours:** 4 hours lecture weekly, 48 contact hours total - **Transfers to:** CSU - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027 schedules This course is designed to introduce the Addiction Studies student to the theory, purpose, and application of the formal intervention process. Topics covered include crisis intervention, treatment planning, securing resources for clients, record documentation, screening, data collection, implementation of treatment plans, and aftercare. Ethics and scope of practice for alcohol and drug counselors are addressed in this course, as well as personal and professional growth for counselors. This course may also be taken for non-credit (COU558). ### COU 127 — Co-occurring Disorders - **Units:** 4 - **Hours:** 4 hours lecture weekly, 48 contact hours total - **Transfers to:** CSU - **Offered:** Winter 2027, 1 section listed as COU-127 (/c/lake-tahoe-community-college/schedule/winter-2027/cou.md) This course provides counseling techniques appropriate for paraprofessionals in mental health, corrections, and substance use disorders counseling. Students integrate the often divergent philosophies of mental health and substance use disorders treatment towards the development of an integrated treatment approach. Students will be presented with mental health approaches that are effective with clients with substance use disorders and substance use disorders approaches that are effective with mentally ill clients. Ethics and scope of practice for alcohol and drug counselors are addressed in this course. This course may also be taken for non-credit (see COU559). ### COU 128 — Legal and Ethical Issues in Human Services for Counselors - **Units:** 4 - **Hours:** 4 hours lecture weekly, 48 contact hours total - **Transfers to:** CSU - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027 schedules This course is the study, interpretation, and practice of legal and ethical issues, and responsibilities and liabilities encountered when providing and utilizing human services. Special focus is placed on patient rights, privileged relationships, counseling skills, and confidentiality. This course may also be taken for non-credit (see COU560). ### COU 132 — Occupational Work Experience - **Units:** 1-6 - **Corequisite:** Students must be available to work 4 to 40 hours per week for an approved business and must have an application on file each quarter enrolled. - **Transfers to:** CSU - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027 schedules - Enrollment Limitation: Repeatable Occupational Work Experience is for students who are employed in jobs related to their educational or occupational goals. This program extends knowledge gained in the classroom to the workplace, helps students identify new and challenging objectives at work, and encourages professional growth and advancement. Each 50 hours of paid work equals one quarter unit. Each 40 hours of non-paid work equals one quarter unit. ### COU 133 — Internship - Occupational Work Experience - **Units:** 1-6 - **Corequisite:** Students must be available to volunteer 4 to 24 hours per week (if paid, hours per week increase as outlined in the work experience program) for an approved business and must have an application on file each quarter enrolled. - **Transfers to:** CSU - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027 schedules - Enrollment Limitation: Repeatable Internship - Occupational Work Experience is a supervised worksite placement the student earns which is related to the student's educational and occupational goals. The program will assist students in acquiring relevant work experience and awareness of career opportunities in their chosen field of study. This course may be repeated for a maximum of 24 units. Each 50 hours of paid work equals one quarter unit. Each 40 hours of non-paid work equals one quarter unit. ### COU 134 — Addiction Studies Field Work - Internship - **Units:** 1-6 - **Prerequisite:** COU 109, COU 120, COU 121, COU 122, COU 123, COU 124, COU 125, COU 126, COU 127, and COU 128 with a grade of "C" or better or equivalent. - **Transfers to:** CSU - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027 schedules - Enrollment Limitation: Repeatable This course is a supervised placement in an agency providing services to chemically dependent clients. Students apply and integrate the values, knowledge, and skills learned in the classroom through direct experience in the area of counseling and chemical dependency. Special attention to the California Consortium for Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP) will be addressed. This course may include classroom instruction as well as direct supervision by a qualified instructor. Students will attend workshops and other educational opportunities as directed. Fieldwork experience is the foundation of this course and students will learn to apply the acquired knowledge and values as specified in the "12 Core Competencies" (TAP 21) at an agency approved by the instructor. Ethics and scope of practice for alcohol and drug counselors are addressed in this course, as well as personal and professional growth for counselors. NOTE: In addition to other course requirements, students will be expected to complete at least 40 hours of volunteer work per unit or 50 hours of paid employment per unit. ### COU 146 — College Success and the Student-Athlete I - **Units:** 1 - **Hours:** 1 hours lecture weekly, 12 contact hours total - **Transfers to:** CSU - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027 schedules This course prepares the first year student-athlete for intercollegiate competition and academic achievement. Topics for this course will include mental and physical health issues as they relate to academic and physical performance, college resource information and utilization, teamwork and leadership, time management, and athletic eligibility rules and regulations. ### COU 551 — Introduction to Counseling - NC - **Units:** 0 - **Hours:** 4 hours lecture weekly, 48 contact hours total - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section listed as COU-551 (/c/lake-tahoe-community-college/schedule/fall-2026/cou.md) - Repeatability: This is a non-credit course designed to provide unlimited opportunities to improve or updated skills This course covers an introduction to major theoretical approaches to counseling and counseling techniques. Students will become familiar with the foundational theories behind counseling approaches. They will develop a working knowledge of the critical components of the counseling relationship, basic listening, interviewing and counseling skills, and ethical issues in counseling. Role-playing exercises will be utilized in class to demonstrate and practice counseling skills. Students will learn the importance of developing a counseling approach that matches their personal style. This may also be taken for credit (see COU109). ### COU 552 — Introduction to Substance Use Disorders - NC - **Units:** 0 - **Hours:** 4 hours lecture weekly, 48 contact hours total - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027 schedules - Repeatability: This is a non-credit course designed to provide unlimited opportunities to improve or update job skills. This non-credit course is an introductory course for persons interested in any area of human services who wish to increase their knowledge of substance use disorders (including alcohol) in our society. This course will cover various theories of substance use disorders, identification signs, and symptomology. Treatment resources will be examined and myths of use will be dispelled. Students will learn a pragmatic approach to working with the using population. This course may also be taken for credit (see COU 120). ### COU 553 — The Physical, Chemical, and Behavioral Effects of Substance Use Disorders - NC - **Units:** 0 - **Hours:** 4 hours lecture weekly, 48 contact hours total - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027 schedules - Repeatability: This is a non-credit course designed to provide unlimited opportunities to improve or update job skills. This course provides a comprehensive examination of how drugs are metabolized, as well as their effects on the central nervous system and on behavior. Additional topics include the substance use disorders process, the dynamics of tolerance and withdrawal, the medical consequences of substance use disorders, fetal alcohol syndrome, effects on human sexuality, and the nutritional aspects in both the active phases of chemical dependence and in recovery. Ethics and scope of practice for substance use disorders counselors are addressed in this course. This course may also be taken for credit (see COU121). ### COU 554 — Rehabilitation and Recovery from Substance Use Disorders - NC - **Units:** 0 - **Hours:** 4 hours lecture weekly, 48 contact hours total - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027 schedules - Repeatability: This is a non-credit course designed to provide unlimited opportunities to improve or update job skills. This course provides the knowledge and skills required to help chemically dependent clients in their treatment and recovery from substance use disorders. Topics covered include techniques for client assessment and evaluation, treatment planning, case management, aftercare and relapse prevention, detoxification, 12-step support groups, and therapeutic communities. Group, individual, and family therapy models of counseling are introduced, and diversity issues in chemically dependent clients and legal and ethical issues are included. Students will be challenged to examine their existing ideas about dependency disorders and will conduct mock interviews with recovering people. Ethics and scope of practice for substance use disorders counselors are addressed in this course. This course may also be taken for credit (see COU 122). ### COU 555 — Substance Use Prevention - NC - **Units:** 0 - **Hours:** 4 hours lecture weekly, 48 contact hours total - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section listed as COU-555 (/c/lake-tahoe-community-college/schedule/fall-2026/cou.md) - Repeatability: This is a non-credit course designed to provide unlimited opportunities to improve or update job skills. This course reviews the history, theories, models, and state-of-the-art approaches to the substance use prevention field. Additional topics include prevention programs; activities appropriate for the individual, community, campus, parent/family and work site; public policies and media/information-dissemination; ethnic and cultural specific approaches; and environmental risk reduction. Ethics and scope of practice for substance use counselors are addressed in this course. This course may also be taken for credit (see COU123). ### COU 556 — Group Leadership and Process - NC - **Units:** 0 - **Hours:** 4 hours lecture weekly, 48 contact hours total - **Offered:** Winter 2027, 1 section listed as COU-556 (/c/lake-tahoe-community-college/schedule/winter-2027/cou.md) - Repeatability: This is a non-credit course designed to provide unlimited opportunities to improve or update job skills. This non-credit course provides an intensive introduction to the experience of group therapy with emphasis on leader facilitation skills and analysis of group dynamics. Students will learn the fundamentals of group leadership by examining problems of communication, trust building, effective emotional responses, professional boundaries, and personal growth. The emphasis will be on the group process as a means of changing behavior and attitude. Ethics and scope of practice for alcohol and drug counselors are addressed in this course. This course may also be taken for credit (see COU 124). ### COU 557 — Impact of Substance Use on Families - NC - **Units:** 0 - **Hours:** 4 hours lecture weekly, 48 contact hours total - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027 schedules - Repeatability: This is a non-credit course designed to provide unlimited opportunities to improve or update job skills. This course examines methods of assisting significant others whose lives are affected by substance use. The profile of addicted persons and dynamics such as denial, codependency, and enabling on the part of family, employer, and friends will be covered. Ethics and scope of practice for alcohol and drug counselors are addressed in this course. Intervention and treatment skills in counseling families are learned and practiced through class exercises.This course may also be taken for credit (see COU125). ### COU 558 — Intervention and Referral Techniques - NC - **Units:** 0 - **Hours:** 4 hours lecture weekly, 48 contact hours total - **Offered:** Spring 2027, 1 section listed as COU-558 (/c/lake-tahoe-community-college/schedule/spring-2027/cou.md) - Repeatability: This is a non-credit course designed to provide unlimited opportunities to improve or update job skills This course is designed to introduce the Addiction Studies student to the theory, purpose, and application of the formal intervention process. Topics covered include crisis intervention, treatment planning, securing resources for clients, record documentation, screening, data collection, implementation of treatment plans, and aftercare. Ethics and scope of practice for alcohol and drug counselors are addressed in this course, as well as personal and professional growth for counselors. This course may also be taken for credit (see COU126). ### COU 559 — Co-Occurring Disorders - NC - **Units:** 0 - **Hours:** 4 hours lecture weekly, 48 contact hours total - **Offered:** Winter 2027, 1 section listed as COU-559 (/c/lake-tahoe-community-college/schedule/winter-2027/cou.md) - Repeatability: This is a non-credit course designed to provide unlimited opportunities to improve or update job skils. This course provides counseling techniques appropriate for paraprofessionals in mental health, corrections, and substance use disorders counseling. Students integrate the often divergent philosophies of mental health and substance use disorders treatment towards the development of an integrated treatment approach. Students will be presented with mental health approaches that are effective with clients with substance use disorders and substance use disorders approaches that are effective with mentally health conditions for clients. Ethics and scope of practice for alcohol and drug counselors are addressed in this course. This course may also be taken for credit (see COU127). ### COU 560 — Legal and Ethical Issues in Human Services for Counselors - NC - **Units:** 0 - **Hours:** 4 hours lecture weekly, 48 contact hours total - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027 schedules - Repeatability: This is a non-credit course designed to provide unlimited opportunities to improve or update job skills. This course is the study, interpretation, and practice of legal and ethical issues, and responsibilities and liabilities encountered when providing and utilizing human services. Special focus is placed on patient rights, privileged relationships, counseling skills, and confidentiality. This course may also be taken for credit (see COU 128).