Practicum
Practicum is a supervised opportunity 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 particular clinical strengths and weaknesses.
Practicum placements are arranged through cooperative planning by the student, the Clinical Placement Director, and the agency. Students desiring placement at a site that has not previously been approved by the counseling program must have approval in writing 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 request to use a place of previous employment for a practicum, if their practicum supervisor did not have a supervisory relationship with the student. The Clinical Placement Director makes all decisions regarding conflicts of interest.
The program requires the completion of an approved Practicum consisting of at least 150 hours during the course of one regularly scheduled semester. Students may enroll in their practicum upon completion of all Level 2 requirements and approval of the Clinical Placement Director. Transfer of credit for practicum is never granted, nor are the practicum requirements waived.
Students must obtain 60 hours of direct contact service with clients during practicum and must have one hour per week of supervision throughout their practicum by an approved on-site supervisor. In addition, each student must meet in a small supervision group with a faculty member for 1 1/2 hours per week. A formal evaluation is made of the student’s performance by the faculty member facilitating the supervisory group in consultation with the on-site supervisor. A letter grade will be assigned.
Internship
The program requires that all students complete six credits of an internship consisting of 650 hours following successful completion of their practicum training. Students must complete 260 hours of direct-contact service with clients during their internship and must have one hour per week of supervision throughout their internship by an approved on-site supervisor. In addition, each student must meet in a small internship group with a faculty member for 1 1/2 hours per week. A formal evaluation is made of the student’s performance by the faculty member facilitating the supervisory group in consultation with the on-site supervisor. A letter grade will be assigned.
Progress Toward the Degree
Performance as a professional counselor includes more than simply learning clinical skills. The counseling profession requires sound judgment, good interpersonal skills, and emotional well-being.
Academic excellence without personal development is not adequate preparation for the counselor. Program faculty are interested in training strong counseling practitioners and thus are involved in evaluating all aspects of students’ clinical training, academic training, and personal development.
It is important for students to conceptualize their education in the counseling program as a synthesis of 1) academic work, 2) theoretical work, 3) clinical work as evidenced in practicum, internship, and clinically based courses, and 4) personal development.
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