Graduate Counseling Practicum


Graduate Counseling Practicum Program Goals

As a therapist-in-training, to develop and refine skills in:

  • Establishing strong relationships with clients
  • Conceptualizing clients and their concerns
  • Developing and applying a theoretically based plan for treatment with each client
  • Using your awareness of yourself as a therapeutic tool
  • Group therapy (optional observation depending on availability)

As a colleague-in-training, to:

  • Learn how to use supervision effectively
  • Give and receive professional, timely, and appropriate feedback to your peers
  • Actively participate in developing and maintaining an atmosphere of trust and support during your practicum experience here
  • Participate as a professional in a University Counseling Center agency and to learn the workings of such agencies

Requirements

  • Status as a current graduate student in a counseling or clinical psychology program
  • Successful completion of counseling skills course
  • Successful completion of counseling theories overview course

Expectations

16-20 hour time commitment each week, for the academic year (mid-August to mid-May). These hours will consist of:

  • 5-10 direct service hours of individual therapy each week; all client sessions will be audio taped or videotaped
  • 1.5 hours of individual clinical supervision each week (provided by the Center)
  • 2 hours of group supervision each week (provided by the Center)
  • 1 hour of practicum seminar each week (provided by the Center)
  • 0.5 hours of supervision each week with group therapy facilitator (if participate in optional group process observation)
  • Participation in Initial Appointment observation
  • Discretionary time used to listen to tapes, write notes, prepare for individual and group supervision, and read assigned articles/books