CLINICAL EXPERIENCE HANDBOOK. COUNSELOR EDUCATION PROGRAM Department of Child, Family & Community Sciences College of Education

Transcription

1 CLINICAL EXPERIENCE HANDBOOK COUNSELOR EDUCATION PROGRAM Department of Child, Family & Community Sciences College of Education UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA Orlando, Florida (407) Revised August 3, 2006 Dr. Andrew P. Daire, Clinical Director

2 Table of Contents (The headings and page numbers below are hyperlinks) CLINICAL EXPERIENCE... 1 HANDBOOK... 1 INTRODUCTION... 3 PRACTICUM I & II Syllabi... 4 MHS 6830: COUNSELING INTERNSHIP I & II Syllabi... 7 INTERNSHIP CONTRACT APPLICATION FOR ENROLLMENT IN PRACTICUM/INTERNSHIP COURSES INTERNSHIP SITE APPROVAL PACKET Internship Site Description Form Internship Site Approval Form Information for Internship Sites & Supervisors EVALUATION OF INTERNSHIP SITE INTERN MID-SEMESTER EVALUATION INTERN FINAL EVALUATION SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM INTERNSHIP EVALUATION FORM CONTINUOUS EVALUATION FORM REFERENCE LIST STUDENT SIGN-OFF SHEET CERTIFICATE OF PARTICIPATION

3 INTRODUCTION This handbook has been prepared to help students make a successful transition from the more cognitively oriented classroom learning experiences to the experiential-oriented phase of their graduate program: the clinical phase. The clinical phase is comprised of two sections, Practicum and Internship. Both are experiential in nature, but they differ in that the practicum is conducted on campus in the College of Education Community Counseling Clinic and the Internship is conducted at various clinical sites around Central Florida. The section on Practicum will introduce the reader to the philosophy underlying the Practicum experience, expectations of the student, and forms used for record-keeping and evaluation. The Internship section will help facilitate placement, contractual agreements between the University, internship site and student, and forms for supervision and evaluation. 3

4 MHS 6803: PRACTICUM I & II Syllabi Purpose: Practicum means an opportunity to practice what you have learned or are learning. The course activities are designed to enable learners to perform at their own individual level of competence, grow through helpful suggestions from more advanced learners and peers and be critiqued by supervisors and professors. Prerequisites: You must have completed all core courses before being eligible for Practicum, e.g. MHS 5005, MHS 6400, MHS 6401, MHS 6500, MHS Mental health counseling students also have to take MHS Registration Procedure: To register for practicum I or II, students must complete the Application for Enrollment in Practicum/Internship Courses ( by the due date indicated on the form. Turn in the completed form to Mrs. Erica Mendoza in Suite 322. All students will be batch registered into clinical courses. Objectives: 1. Communications Skills: Students will practice and build upon a repertoire of skills such as attending and active listening, reflecting, responding facilitatively, differentiating and balancing between affect and cognitive messages, appropriate self disclosing, confrontation, as appropriate for counseling and/or consultation strategies. These communication skills will be adapted to the cultural expectations, age level, and special needs of each client. 2. Relationship Building Skills: Students will demonstrate the ability to establish a trusting, open, therapeutic relationship through the establishment and maintenance of the core conditions such as immediacy, congruence, unconditional positive regard and respect, effective levels of empathy, and maintaining focus on the client. Appropriate skills will be chosen to respect the cultural expectations, age level, and special needs of each client. 3. Problem Solving Skills: Students will develop and practice effective critical thinking, problem solving and conflict resolution skills in individual and family therapy sessions. The client's autonomy will be respected in the decision making process. 4. Professional Development: Students will demonstrate "professionalism" through proper dress, adherence to ACA's Ethical Codes, and respect for the clients values system, a willingness to work with clients of different races, creeds, color, sex, sexual preference and an absence of prejudicial beliefs and stereotypes. 5. Personal Growth and Development: Students will gain insight on personal issues and behaviors relevant to individual and family therapy sessions through self-disclosure, acceptance and reaction to supervision, and calm and persistent courage in facing difficult or crisis situations, and awareness of expectations of self and others. 4

5 6. Conceptualization Skills: Students will be able to demonstrate conceptualization skills through case analysis (identifying major issues and concerns, recognizing consistent patterns of behavior, providing diagnosis using DSM-IV-TR, recognizing dominant themes in sessions, defining objectives for the client's therapeutic change process, and developing treatment plans). 7. Students will develop technological competence and computer literacy through the use of video recording, computer scoring of assessment instruments, maintain HIPAA compliance electronic case files, and searching for client resources on the Internet. Course Requirements: 1. Attendance: You are expected to attend all class sessions. You must notify the professor and your clients if you have an emergency or illness in your immediate family and are unable to attend class ( or ). No classmate will sit in as a substitute for you. Since this class is highly experiential in nature, you will be expected to be present whenever your clients are available. Additionally, you will be required to attend all individual supervision meetings, group supervision meetings, and the process sessions at the end of each evening. This could make the practicum experience run from 4:00 to 9:30 PM on the day scheduled, so make your plans accordingly. 2. Keep all information confidential. This includes the discussion of clients in non-restricted areas such as the hallways, rest rooms, snack areas, etc. Any discussion about clients with fellow practicum members and/or faculty must be conducted in such a fashion as to protect the limits of confidentiality. 3. Join the appropriate professional organizations. 4. Acquire professional liability insurance (i.e., ACA, AMHCA, AAMFT). 5. Dress appropriately. Since this is a professional endeavor, you will be expected to present yourself in a professional manner. 6. Familiarize yourself with all procedures regarding practicum including the Practicum CD-ROM. This includes knowing what is on the forms prior to your meeting the client. 7. Purchase four (4) videotapes (VHS 120). You will use these tapes to record your counseling sessions. These tapes are your personal property and responsibility during the term. However, since they do contain client information, every effort must be made to protect the confidential and private nature of the contents. 8. Purchase one (1) ear plug for your own use during the semester. The ear plug can be purchased most anywhere, i.e., K-Mart, Radio Shack, etc., but must have at least a foot cord. It will be your responsibility to keep track of your own ear plug, so please do not leave it in the monitoring or counseling rooms. 5

6 9. The Practicum Clinic will assign clients to the student counselor. The client assignments will be at the discretion of the professor. Please voice your ideas, needs, and concerns. 10. You must not "baby sit" children for your classmate's clients. Clients must take responsibility for outside arrangements. Children can only be in the play therapy room during a play therapy session. 11. Complete all case management activities and/or assignments as required by your instructor. This may include treatment planning, research, reviewing basic counseling skills, and etc. 12. Complete all necessary information and maintain a file on each client you are assigned. These records must be maintained on a regular basis and granted all of the rights and protections of confidential client materials. All client files will remain secured in ED 192. The files will include the following: OQ 45.2 Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) Psychosocial Progress Notes Treatment Plan HIPAA compliance forms Consent for Treatment Client Satisfaction forms Discharge Summary All other forms or documents 13. You will accumulate approximately 150 hours in Practicum. School counseling students must accumulate 40 client contact hours, and mental health counseling students must accumulate 60 client contact hours. Meet the following minimum criteria on a weekly basis: a) Client Contact Hours: Individual Counseling: Conduct 3 hours of individual counseling each week. Group Counseling: Design and lead or co-lead a small group for a total of 6 to 10 hours. Have the site supervisor sign off on the group counseling form. b) Case Management: Complete 3 to 4 hours updating and monitoring your client files and planning for future therapy sessions. c) Individual Supervision: Obtain one (1) hour of supervision from a program faculty member or Ph.D. student. d) Group Supervision: Attend 1 1/2 hours of group supervision. EACH PRACTICUM PROFESSOR WILL FOLLOW HIS OR HER OWN POLICY FOR GRADING. 6

7 MHS 6830: COUNSELING INTERNSHIP I & II Syllabi Purpose: The internship in Counselor Education is intended to provide the counseling student practical "hands-on" experiences in settings where counseling services are offered. It allows the student an opportunity to relate academic and theoretical learning to settings outside of the university classroom. The experience also allows the student to receive evaluative feedback on his/her knowledge, attitudes and skills with specific client populations in specific settings. Since the student has already had some advanced training in counseling, the staff and the clientele at the placement site should benefit from the services that are provided by the student during the placement. Prerequisites: You must have completed all core courses before being eligible for Internship, e. g., MHS 5005, MHS 6400, MHS 6401, MHS 6500, MHS 6702, MHS Mental health counseling students also have to take MHS School counseling students also have to SDS Registration Procedure: To register for internship I or II, students must complete the Application for Enrollment in Practicum/Internship Courses ( by the due date indicated on the form. Objectives: 1. To provide an opportunity for each student to demonstrate counseling skills and competencies with clients individually and/or in groups, and/or families in an agency, school or institutional setting. 2. To provide vehicles for feedback regarding the demonstration and improvement of skills and competencies through on-site supervision, campus supervision, analysis of practice seminar/supervision. 3. To provide a forum for interaction with other internship students regarding alternatives, techniques, strategies, etc., various cases, and counseling concerns. 4. To stimulate continued professional growth through the identification of student's strengths and limitations; additional skill development through supervisory assistance will be provided to increase strengths and reduce limitations. 5. To familiarize internship students with the organizational and counseling operations of a variety of field sites. 6. To promote professional growth through the interaction of learning outcomes from professional literature into counseling practice. 7

8 7. To stimulate critical thinking and self-assessment of learning outcomes and competency development. Course Requirements: 1. Prior to registering for internship (at least one semester prior), meet with your advisor who will assign you to an approved internship site. The Community Counseling Clinic has a list of approved Internship Sites for mental health counseling. This can also be found online at the UCF Counselor Education website ( If you are choosing a mental health counseling site that is not on the approved internship site list, you must complete the Internship Site Approval Form ( for faculty to approve the site. School interns must contact the Office of Clinical Experience and complete the application before the deadline (March 15 for Fall placement and September 15 for Spring placement). Application information is available through their website ( 2. Once your site and supervisor has been approved, students must have the Intern Contract ( signed by the on-site supervisor. 3. Each student will attend a 1 1/2 hour weekly class to receive group supervision. Anonymous cases are to be brought in for discussion and analysis of the student's practice. 4. Weekly supervision is to be scheduled with your On-Site Supervisor. On-Site Supervisors must provide one (1) hour of supervision for each 10 hours of direct client contact completed by the intern. On-Site Supervisors may choose to meet with the intern more often. 5. Students in the school counseling internship must complete 600 clock hours (minimum of 240 direct client contact). 6. Students admitted to the mental health track must complete 900 hours (minimum of 360 direct client contact) of internship. 7. Client contact hours include assessments, individual counseling (including career planning or academic advising), couples counseling, family counseling and group counseling. 8. Non-client contact hours include class time, on-site staff meetings, individual supervision, paperwork (treatment planning, progress notes, etc.), research, in-service trainings, and etc. 9. Other activities as assigned by your internship professor. 8

9 10. The student will adhere to the Code of Ethics of the American Counseling Association (ACA). 11. Students will maintain current liability insurance throughout the clinical experience. 12. Holidays and vacation dates are to be determined by the internship site, not the academic calendar. 13. Students are required to log their internship hours. On-site supervisor and internship instructors will sign off on the log at the end of each semester. All logs need to be turned in to the Clinic Coordinator at the end of internship prior to graduation. Responsibility of the On-Site Supervisor 1. Regular individual supervision is essential to the success of the internship. Interns must receive one hour of supervision for each fifteen hours of direct client contact. Supervision of such activities as utilizing taped interactions, written case reports, direct observations, and verbal consultations will be determined by the on-site supervisor in accordance with site policy. 2. On-site supervisors for mental health counseling interns must be (1) a Florida licensed mental health counselor, (2) licensed clinical social worker, (3) licensed marriage and family therapist, or (4) licensed psychologist for a minimum of two years. On-site supervisors for school counseling interns must be certified in the state of Florida as a school counselor for a minimum of two years. 3. On-site supervisors need to participate in the Site Supervisor Orientation held the third week of the semester during the internship class at UCF. Students will provide supervisors with information on date, time and directions. 4. On-site Supervisors are to arrange for interns to take part in staff meetings, staffings and in-service training. 5. On-site Supervisors are requested to complete a midterm and a final evaluation of the intern's performance ( 6. Students in the school counseling internship must complete 600 clock hours (240 direct client contact). Students admitted to the mental health track must complete 900 hours (360 direct client contact) of internship. 7. Interns are to be provided the opportunity for assessments, individual counseling, group counseling, classroom guidance, and/or family counseling in order to demonstrate counseling skills and receive feedback regarding their performances. 8. On-site supervisors may suggest appropriate reading(s) relative to that particular site for the intern. The readings may be a book, articles, manuals or related readings that the On- 9

10 site Supervisor believes to be most beneficial to aid the intern in better understanding the site and/or clients served. 9. The intern is expected to consistently follow the policies, professional activities, procedures and legal responsibilities of the agency, school or institution. 10. On-Site supervisors are requested to provide input into the Counselor Education training program at UCF. Input may include: feedback regarding curriculum, competence as seen demonstrated by intern, skills or issues to be added to the program, etc. It is hoped that a collaborative training effort between the mental health, school or institution and UCF will be evident through the internship, supervision and feedback meetings. 11. The internship professor will meet with the site supervisor at least one time during the semester to discuss the student s progress at the internship site. 12. The on-site supervisor agrees to consult with the UCF instructor concerning the student counselor's performance. 13. The on-site supervisor agrees to contact the UCF instructor at any time during the field placement when the student's knowledge, attitudes or skills are not acceptable for the missions of the placement site. 14. Internship instructors will provide information regarding professional development opportunities. 10

11 INTERNSHIP CONTRACT agrees to (Site Name) accept the following UCF Counselor Education graduate student as an intern: (Graduate Student Name) All parties have read and accept the responsibilities of the internship site as described in the Clinical Experience handbook. _ On-Site Supervisor Signature _ Date _ Student Signature _ Date _ UCF Professor/Instructor Signature Date _ Distribution: On-Site Supervisor UCF Professor Student Intern 11

12 APPLICATION FOR ENROLLMENT IN PRACTICUM/INTERNSHIP COURSES University of Central Florida Counselor Education Program (An electronic version of this application is available at Name: Address: Home Phone: Work Phone: _ PID #: _ Degree/Certificate Programs (check all that apply): _Mental Health _School _Career _Marriage & Family _Play Therapy Check the appropriate semester and year for which you are applying (use only 1 form for each semester): _Spring _Fall _Summer Year: Check the appropriate clinical experience (use only one form for each class): _Practicum I _Practicum II _Internship I* _Internship II* *Number of internship hours you are registering for (1, 2, 3, 6. Most students register for 3 hours) _ Check two days that you are requesting to take practicum (internship is held on Tuesdays at 4:00 p.m.) : _Monday _Tuesday _Wednesday _Thursday Have you been fully admitted into the Counselor Education program? _Yes _No Have you completed the following prerequisites for the clinical experience courses? Yes No (Prerequisites for practicum: MHS 5005, 6400, 6401, 6500, 6702; and MHS 6070 for Mental Health Counseling Students) (Prerequisites for internship: MHS 6803; and SDS 6620 for School Counseling) Your advisor has reviewed your portfolio. Advisor Signature: Signature of Clinical Director or designee verifying attendance to Practicum & Internship Orientation Session: Application Due Dates: For admission into summer and fall practicum/internship courses: April 7 For admission into spring practicum/internship courses: November 7 Please note that the Office of Clinical Experiences has an earlier deadline for internships in the schools. PROCESS FOR REGISTRATION Return completed application form to Mrs. Mari Pina in COE Suite 322 no later than the above application due date. Spaces in clinical courses are limited. Preferences will be given to students who have completed the most coursework prior to applying for practicum/internship. 12

13 We cannot guarantee admission to any student who turns the form in late. By signing this form, I give the Dept. of Child, Family and Community Sciences permission to register me into either MHS 6803 or MHS _ Student Signature Date 13

14 INTERNSHIP SITE APPROVAL PACKET Internship Site Description Form Internship Site Approval Form Information for Internship Sites and Supervisors Instructions: 1. Please read and complete the Internship Site Description Form, the Internship Site Approval Form, and the Information for Internship Sites and Supervisors online ( and electronically submit by clicking the submit button when you have finished completing this form. 2. Please fax or mail the two signature pages, pages 3 and 7 of this packet to: Dr. Andrew P. Daire, Clinical Director Counselor Education Program Department of Child Family and Community Sciences College of Education University of Central Florida Orlando, FL Fax: adaire@mail.ucf.edu Note: Beginning Spring 2006, the Counselor Education Program will begin a biennial reapproval of approved internship sites. 14

15 Internship Site Description Form Site Name: Web Site: Address: Site Phone Number: Name of On-Site Supervisor: On-Site Supervisor s Telephone: Site Administrator in charge of internship (if different than supervisor): Site Administrator s Telephone: Description of Site and Clientele: Procedure for applying to site as an intern: Special Considerations / Needs of Site: Hours of Operations: Audio Taping Allowed: Requires one or two semester: 15

16 Internship Site Approval Form To the Student: Your internship site must meet the criteria listed below and this form must be returned to your internship instructor before you collect any hours towards your internship requirements. It must be signed by an administrator or the person in charge of internships at the site. In some cases, this may be your direct supervisor. A list of approved sites is available in the Community Counseling Clinic. This form is required even if your site is on the approved list.. Once the form is signed by all parties, attach a copy of the agency brochure and file the original with the attachment copy in the Community Counseling Clinic. To the Internship Site Administrator: Our accreditation bodies require that we approve each of our sites before students begin their work. Please review the Internship Site Requirements and the Student Responsibilities above and submit the form as indicated. Students are placed based on a good match between experience, interest, training and the opportunities available at the agency. Students may be paid or given stipends for travel. Internship Site Requirements: The internship site agrees to provide the student with face-to-face counseling experiences The internship site agrees to provide the student with one hour per week of individual supervision Supervisors may be required to attend a training session at the University, normally held during the internship class on the third week of the semester. The internship agrees to take normal precautions to guard the safety of the student The internship site agrees that the primary responsibility of the intern is service to clients, not clerical or other duties beyond what is required of other professional employees The internship site agrees to provide the student with private space to see clients and supplies. Other requirements listed in the Clinical Experience Handbook 16

17 Student Responsibilities (to be completed by the student internship prior to beginning internship at site): To complete required paperwork for the internship site/agency; To dress and behave in a professional manner; To maintain professional liability insurance; To abide by the ethical standards of the American Counseling Association and Other requirements as listed in the Clinical Experience Handbook and the UCF Golden Rule. Student s Name: Address: Home Telephone Number: Cellular Telephone Number: Signature: Date: University Supervisor s Name: Phone Number: Emergency Number: University Supervisor s Signature: Date: Copies of the Internship Site Approval Form (this page and previous page) go to: Internship Site Administrator On-Site Supervisor University Supervisor Student Attachments: Brochure of Agency 17

18 Information for Internship Sites & Supervisors Expectations and Requirements of Internship Site 1. Internship sites must have an approved On-Site Supervisor(s) that must provide one (1) hour of supervision for each 15 hours of direct client contact completed by the intern. On-Site Supervisors may choose to meet with the intern more often. 2. Internship students in the school counseling internship must complete 600 clock hours (minimum of 240 direct client contact). The internship site must be able to have a client demand or need to support the student s clock hour requirements established by CACREP. 3. Internship students admitted to the mental health track must complete 900 hours (minimum of 360 direct client contact) of internship. The internship site must be able to have a client demand or need to support the student s clock hour requirements established by CACREP. 4. Internship site must provide clinical opportunities including one or more of the following: assessments, individual counseling (including career planning or academic advising), couples counseling, family counseling and group counseling. 5. Internship site must provide non-client contact hour opportunities including one or more of the following: on-site staff meetings, individual supervision, paperwork (treatment planning, progress notes, etc.), research, in-service trainings, and etc. 6. On-site supervisor will be required to sign off on the internship student s hour log at the end of each semester. All logs will be turned in to the Clinic Coordinator at the end of internship prior to graduation. Responsibility of the On-Site Supervisor 1. Regular individual supervision is essential to the success of the internship. Interns must receive one hour of supervision for each fifteen hours of direct client contact. Supervision of such activities as utilizing taped interactions, written case reports, direct observations, and verbal consultations will be determined by the on-site supervisor in accordance with site policy. 2. On-site supervisors for mental health counseling interns must be (1) a Florida licensed mental health counselor, (2) licensed clinical social worker, (3) licensed marriage and family therapist, or (4) licensed psychologist for a minimum of two years. On-site supervisors for school counseling interns must be certified in the state of Florida as a school counselor for a minimum of two years. 3. On-site supervisors need to participate in the Site Supervisor Orientation held the third week of the semester during the internship class at UCF. Students will provide supervisors with information on date, time and directions. 4. On-site Supervisors are to arrange for interns to take part in staff meetings, case staffing, and in-service training. 18

19 5. On-site Supervisors are requested to complete a midterm and a final evaluation of the intern's performance (available at Internship link on the left navigation bar). 6. Students in the school counseling internship must complete 600 clock hours (240 direct client contact). Students admitted to the mental health track must complete 900 hours (360 direct client contact) of internship. 7. Interns are to be provided the opportunity for assessments, individual counseling, group counseling, classroom guidance, and/or family counseling in order to demonstrate counseling skills and receive feedback regarding their performances. 8. On-site supervisors may suggest appropriate reading(s) relative to that particular site for the intern. The readings may be a book, articles, manuals or related readings that the On-site Supervisor believes to be most beneficial to aid the intern in better understanding the site and/or clients served. 9. The intern is expected to consistently follow the policies, professional activities, procedures and legal responsibilities of the agency, school or institution. 10. On-Site supervisors are requested to provide input into the Counselor Education training program at UCF. Input may include: feedback regarding curriculum, competence as seen demonstrated by intern, skills or issues to be added to the program, etc. It is hoped that a collaborative training effort between the mental health, school or institution and UCF will be evident through the internship, supervision and feedback meetings. 11. The internship professor will meet with the site supervisor at least one time during the semester to discuss the student s progress at the internship site. 12. The on-site supervisor agrees to consult with the UCF instructor concerning the student counselor's performance. 13. The on-site supervisor must address any concerns regarding any aspects of an intern s work quality or productivity with the Internship Instructor and Clinical Coordinator before any decisions are made to release a student from their intern responsibilities. 14. The on-site supervisor agrees to contact the UCF instructor at any time during the field placement when the student's knowledge, attitudes or skills are not acceptable for the missions of the placement site. 15. Internship instructors will provide information regarding professional development opportunities. 16. On-site supervisors are required to attend the Site Supervisor Orientation Meeting, which occurs the third week of each semester. The internship student will notify the supervisor of the specific day, time, and location. 19

20 On-Site Supervisor Benefits 1. In addition to learning opportunities that exists in the supervision process and additional assistance an intern can provide an agency, there are a number of benefits for the onsite supervisor. 2. On-site supervisors may attend, free of charge, one UCF Counselor Education sponsored continuing education program. These include Chi Sigma Iota CEU workshops (Fall and Spring), the Institute for School and Mental Health Counseling (Summer), or other seminars that are offered. Please check our website for details. I attest that all information presented on the Internship Site Description Form is correct to the best of my knowledge. I have read and agree to the requirement presented in the Internship Site Approval Form and the Information for Sites and Supervisor Form: Agency Administrator Date Agency Administrator s Title On-Site Supervisor Date Agency Name 20