CEFS 500 is Liberty's orientation to counselors' professional identity and function, the first course in the MA counseling programs. Its written work is three short papers (a 3-page counselor identity paper, a 3 to 4-page counselor impairment paper and a 4 to 8-page wellness assessment and plan), three video blogs, a counselor credential worksheet, and two forums.
Liberty's catalog lists the course as CEFS 500 Orientation to Counselors Professional Identity and Function, 3 credit hours; Canvas and the course guide file print it as CEFS500.
What CEFS 500 covers
The catalog description: This course introduces students to concepts regarding the professional functioning of licensed professional counselors and marriage and family therapists, including history, roles, professional organizations, standards, and credentialing. Current issues in the practice of counseling and marriage and family therapy in a variety of professional settings are explored. Students are also introduced to program policies, graduate level writing and APA style.
The course introduces the professional functioning of licensed professional counselors and marriage and family therapists: history, roles, professional organizations, standards and credentialing, and current issues in counseling and marriage and family therapy across settings. It also introduces program policies, graduate-level writing and APA style. The texts are Granello and Young, Counseling Today, and Clinton and Ohlschlager, Competent Christian Counseling, Volume One.
Fourteen quizzes (140 points), the criminal background check (25), the MA counseling manual scavenger hunt (100) and verification of the COUN 050 orientation (25) have no guide here. Each week runs Monday to Sunday, and the final week ends Friday.
Textbook named in the published guide: Clinton & Ohlschlager, Competent Christian Counseling, Volume One (2002). LUC - Granello & Young, Counseling Today (2019). Check the current edition in your Canvas section.
CEFS 500 assignments, week by week
Every graded written assignment in the published guide has its own how-to guide below. Quizzes, exams, checklists and class introductions are left out because there is nothing to write.
| Week | Assignment | Points | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Discussion Board Forum 1 | 75 | Thread 350 to 400 words; reply 150 to 200 words |
| 2 | Counselor Identity Paper | 100 | 3 pages |
| 3 | Counselor Credential Video Blog | 80 | Not set in the guide; follow the blog instructions |
| 3 | Counselor Credential Worksheet | 20 | Not set in the guide; complete the worksheet |
| 4 | Professional Counseling Skills Video Blog | 80 | Not set in the guide; follow the blog instructions |
| 5 | Social Justice Video Blog | 80 | Not set in the guide; follow the blog instructions |
| 6 | Counselor Impairment Paper | 100 | 3 to 4 pages |
| 7 | Wellness Assessment and Plan Paper | 100 | 4 to 8 pages |
| 8 | Discussion Board Forum 2 | 75 | Thread 350 to 400 words; reply 150 to 200 words |
Week 1: Discussion Board Forum 1
A 350 to 400-word thread with a scholarly source, then a 150 to 200-word reply with a scholarly source. How to write CEFS 500 Week 1 Discussion Board Forum 1.
Week 2: Counselor Identity Paper
A 3-page APA paper on counselor professional identity. How to write CEFS 500 Week 2 Counselor Identity Paper.
Week 3: Counselor Credential Video Blog
A video blog reporting on your state's counselor licensure requirements and your plans to meet them. How to write CEFS 500 Week 3 Counselor Credential Video Blog.
Week 3: Counselor Credential Worksheet
A worksheet recording your state's counselor licensure requirements. How to write CEFS 500 Week 3 Counselor Credential Worksheet.
Week 4: Professional Counseling Skills Video Blog
A video blog on professional counseling skills. How to write CEFS 500 Week 4 Professional Counseling Skills Video Blog.
Week 5: Social Justice Video Blog
A video blog on social justice and advocacy in counseling. How to write CEFS 500 Week 5 Social Justice Video Blog.
Week 6: Counselor Impairment Paper
A 3 to 4-page APA paper on the definition, incidence and signs of counselor impairment, with a personal assessment and wellness plan. How to write CEFS 500 Week 6 Counselor Impairment Paper.
Week 7: Wellness Assessment and Plan Paper
A 4 to 8-page APA paper discussing your results on several personal wellness assessments and how you will implement wellness strategies. How to write CEFS 500 Week 7 Wellness Assessment and Plan Paper.
Week 8: Discussion Board Forum 2
A 350 to 400-word thread with a scholarly source, then a 150 to 200-word reply with a scholarly source. How to write CEFS 500 Week 8 Discussion Board Forum 2.
How CEFS 500 is graded
The published guide totals 1,010 points. The two forums are 75 each (150), the three video blogs 80 each (240), the credential worksheet 20, the identity, impairment and wellness papers 100 each (300), the scavenger hunt 100, the background check 25, the COUN 050 verification 25, quizzes 140 and the checklist 10.
| Graded item | Points |
|---|---|
| Discussion Board Forums (2) | 150 |
| Video Blogs (3) | 240 |
| Counselor Credential Worksheet | 20 |
| Counselor Identity Paper | 100 |
| Counselor Impairment Paper | 100 |
| Wellness Assessment and Plan Paper | 100 |
| MA Counseling Manual Scavenger Hunt | 100 |
| Criminal Background Check | 25 |
| Verification of Orientation Completion | 25 |
| Quizzes (14) | 140 |
| Course Requirements Checklist | 10 |
The published scale puts an A at 940 to 1010 points.
Week timing in the published guide: Each course module/week begins on Monday morning at 12:00 a.m. (ET) and ends on Sunday night at 11:59 p.m. (ET). The final module/week ends at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday.
How to approach CEFS 500
This course sets the APA habits for the whole program, so learn current APA formatting for student papers in Week 1.
Look up your state's licensure board early; the credential blog and worksheet in Week 3 report on its requirements.
Questions students ask
What papers are in CEFS 500?
A 3-page counselor identity paper (Week 2), a 3 to 4-page counselor impairment paper on its definition, incidence and signs with a personal assessment and wellness plan (Week 6), and a 4 to 8-page wellness assessment and plan paper (Week 7), all in current APA.
How long are CEFS 500 forum posts?
Threads are 350 to 400 words with at least 1 scholarly source; one reply of 150 to 200 words with at least 1 scholarly source.
Working through CEFS 500 now?
Tell us the week and the assignment. A tutor who knows the course replies with a plan for the draft.