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The program is based on competencies identified as necessary for the effective practice of mental health counseling by CACREP: These competencies fall under the following categories:
- Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethical Practice
- Social and Cultural Diversity
- Human Growth and Development
- Career Development
- Counseling and Helping Relationships
- Group Counseling and Group Work
- Assessment and Testing
- Research and Program Evaluation
Additionally the Doane MAC program is designed to train students in the specialty area of Clinical Mental Health Counseling. It is expected that students will also learn competencies in this specialty area. Within each of these areas, it is anticipated that the student will develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes appropriate for counseling practice.
Practica
Practica are supervised opportunities for students to gain experience as counselors-in-training in a variety of settings with clients who exhibit a spectrum of psychopathological appraisal and treatment problems. Doane counseling students vary widely in their previous clinical experience, as well as in their professional interests and career objectives. Recognizing these differences, the program seeks to develop a practicum experience for each student that not only complements the student’s previous experience, but also addresses her or his particular clinical strengths and weaknesses.
Practicum placements are arranged through cooperative planning by the student, the agency, and the program. Students must have approval from the Clinical Placement Director prior to making any commitments to the site.
Students may, under some conditions, use their place of employment for a practicum. Students may not use a place of previous employment for a practicum, if their practicum site supervisor is an employee who had a working relationship with the student. The Clinical Placement Director makes all decisions regarding conflicts of interest.
The program requires two 100 clock hour practica. Students may begin their initial practicum upon successful completion of forty (40) credit hours and approval of the Clinical Placement Director. Transfer of credit for practica is never granted, nor are the practica requirements ever waived.
Students must obtain forty (40) hours of direct mental health service contact with clients during each practicum and must have one (1) hour per week of supervision throughout their practicum by an approved on-site supervisor. In addition, each student must meet in a supervisory group facilitated by a MAC faculty member for one and one half (1½) hours per week. A formal evaluation is made of the student’s performance by the on-site supervisor. Faculty supervisors assess students’ participation and ability to successfully conceptualize client cases using a developmental rubric. Students are expected to progress in their conceptualization skills from practicum I to practicum II. Faculty may require students to complete additional practicum I or practicum II hours due to unsuccessful progress in conceptualization from practicum I to practicum II and/or unsatisfactory site supervisor evaluations. Grades are assigned on a pass/fail basis.
Internship
The program requires that all students complete an internship consisting of eight hundred (800) clock hours following successful completion of their practicum training and attainment of Level 3 status. Students must obtain three hundred and twenty (320) hours of direct contact service with clients during their internship and must have one (1) hour per week of supervision throughout their internship by an approved on-site supervisor. In addition, students must meet in a clinical supervisory group facilitated by a MAC with a faculty member for one and one half (1½) hours per week. A formal evaluation is made of the student’s performance by the on-site supervisor. Faculty supervisors assess students’ participation and ability to successfully conceptualize client cases using a developmental rubric. Students are expected to progress in their conceptualization skills throughout the internship experience. Faculty may require students to complete extra additional internship hours due to unsuccessful progress in conceptualization throughout the internship and/or unsatisfactory site supervisor evaluations. Grades are assigned on a pass/fail basis.
*Please refer to the Clinical Training Handbook for additional specific information.
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