Beginning Therapy 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
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 a counseling skills course
- Successful completion of a 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:
- 4-6 direct service hours of individual therapy each week for the fall semester; all client sessions will be audio taped or videotaped
- 5-7 direct service hours of individual therapy each week for the spring semester
- 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)
- Observation of 5 Initial Appointments over the course of the academic year
- Discretionary time used to listen to tapes, write notes, prepare for individual and group supervision, and read assigned articles/books