Ph.D. PRACTICUM AND INTERNSHIP HANDBOOK DOCTORAL PROGRAM IN COUNSELING OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY Effective January 2014
TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Doctoral Practicum Goals, Objectives, and Requirements II. Practicum Sites III. Doctoral Internship Goal, Objectives, Requirements, and Evaluation IV. Supervision of Ph.D. Students V. Liability Coverage VI. Appendices The following forms are referenced in this handbook and are available on the program website: Application for Master s Mental Health or College Counseling Internship Site Supervision Agreement for Clinical Practicum or Internship Individual University Supervisor Agreement Consent for Recorded Supervised Counseling Consent for Recorded Supervision Skills and Techniques Competency Scale Verbatim Transcription Form Evaluation of Master s Student by Group Supervisor Evaluation of Master s Student by Individual Supervisor Evaluation of Master s Student by Site Supervisor Evaluation of Site and Site Supervisor by Counseling Student Evaluation of University Supervisor by Master s Student Hours Log for Practicum and Internship Supervisor Evaluation of Transcript & Case Presentation Form Deadlines for applications are: January 15 for Fall Semester July 15 for Spring Semester November 15 for Summer Semester I.DOCTORAL PRACTICUM GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND REQUIREMENTS Goals According to CACREP standards, the purpose of this practicum is to develop and/or refine advanced counseling skills, which should conceptually link counselor practice to teaching and supervision. Objectives Doctoral students will gain additional supervised clinical experience beyond their supervised experience in a master s level degree program. Doctoral students will engage in direct and indirect counseling services in an organized, professional environment. Doctoral students will receive on-site supervision from a qualified professional (someone who is licensed as an LPC, LCSW, etc., or who holds a doctorate in a mental health related field) as well as university supervision from faculty in the ODU Counseling Department.
Doctoral students will gain clinical experience in an environment the same as or similar to that in which their future master s level supervisees will complete practicum and/or internship. Requirements Students are required to complete and submit the written application for Practicum to the Clinical Coordinator by these dates: For Fall Practicum, apply by January 15. For Spring Practicum, apply by July 15. For Summer Practicum, apply by November 15. All Ph.D. students are required to register for COUN 869, Advanced Supervised Practicum in Counseling (3 credit hours), to participate in group supervision through the course day and time listed in LEO, and to fulfill all the requirements as listed on the COUN 869 Syllabus. (See syllabus) Students are required to keep a log in which they record the number of hours spent at the site. A minimum of 200 hours must be logged during the semester, and a minimum of 80 of the 200 hours must be direct services, with the remaining hours to be logged as indirect services. Forms and processes similar to the master s practicum should be followed. *Note: If working towards licensure, direct hours must be face-to-face counseling services. Therefore, online or phone conversations cannot be counted as direct. II. PRACTICUM SITES Doctoral students are required to complete the Advanced Practicum (COUN 869). Students should apply to the Clinical Coordinator to complete the Advanced Practicum. In order to be acceptable, proposed sites must offer: Adequate opportunities to engage in direct and indirect counseling services An organized, professional environment A qualified professional (holds a doctoral degree and license in a counseling or mental health- related field) to serve as the on-site supervisor In addition, if the practicum is to be completed at the student s current work site, CACREP requires that the practicum experience include new learning that is qualitatively different from the student s occupational responsibilities. An emphasis area 200 hour practicum must also be completed by doctoral students (COUN 864, 865, 866, or 867). The practicum should be completed at a site similar to where the student wishes to find employment upon completion of the Ph.D. degree and must have an on-site supervisor who is an experience clinician, preferably who holds a doctorate in counseling. The emphasis areas include counselor education, clinical mental health counseling leadership, college counseling leadership, and school counseling leadership.
Application process 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Task Study the requirements for doctoral practicum sites in this handbook and initiate contact with potential internship sites. Communicate with the Clinical Coordinator for approval of the site you select. Ensure you will have completed all of the prerequisite courses before the start of your i doctoral practicum semester. Complete the Application for doctoral practicum and email to clinicalcoord@odu.edu. Due date As soon as possible. November 15 for summer January 15 for fall July 15 for spring Receive confirmation of your application s approval. Usually 3 weeks after the application due date, by email Sign a site supervision agreement with your site supervisor(s) and submit to clinicalcoord@odu.edu. April 1 for summer August 1 for fall December 1 for spring Register for internship course in LeoOnline After registration opens, usually 4 weeks before semester start date. Confirm start date, weekly supervision meeting times, and other details with site supervisor. 8 Note group supervision day and time on LEO 9 About two weeks before semester start. Attend Internship orientation BEFORE semester start. Usually on the Thursday before the semester start. Students may direct questions about the doctoral practicum process to the Clinical Coordinator. III. DOCTORAL INTERNSHIP GOALS, OBJECTIVES, REQUIREMENTS, AND EVALUATION Goals The purpose of the doctoral internship is to give Ph.D. students ample opportunities to experience firsthand the variety of counseling related responsibilities they will encounter as counselor educators, master clinicians, and administrators. Objectives Doctoral students will provide individual supervision to master s level students. Doctoral students may teach undergraduate human services courses or master s level counseling courses. Doctoral students will participate in professional activities related to counselor education, including but not limited to: Conducting research projects with faculty members Presenting or co-presenting at conferences Providing leadership in professional counseling associations
Doctoral students with limited clinical experience will have the opportunity to complete hours in a counseling setting (in addition to the Advanced Practicum). Requirements Ph.D. students will register for and complete 6 credit hours of COUN 868, Doctoral Internship in Counseling (600 hours). Evaluation Upon completion of the required hours for the semester, please submit appropriate paperwork with clear documentation of the services rendered to the Clinical Coordinator. IV. SUPERVISION OF PH.D. STUDENTS Doctoral students receive supervision-of-supervision from faculty members while they are supervising master s students. Supervision-of-supervision is included in the internship course. Doctoral students enrolled in the doctoral-level internship will provide supervision to master s students and participate in counseling-related and counselor educator activities. The faculty instructor of record for practicum and internship will be the supervisor for doctoral students. This faculty member will collect forms to be turned into the Clinical Coordinator at the end of the semester. Old Dominion University s registered and enrolled students who are required by their curriculum to participate in supervised and graded practica or periods of service outside the University at various internship sites are covered by liability insurance provided through the Commonwealth of Virginia. A copy of this certificate can be found at the Commonwealth of Virginia web site. V. LIABILITY COVERAGE Old Dominion University covers all registered and enrolled students with liability insurance provided through the Commonwealth of Virginia. This policy applies to any students who are required by their curriculum to participate in supervised and graded service outside the University at various internship sites (CACREP, 2009, I.S).
APPENDICES Practicum & Internship Forms: Please see program website for current forms
SYLLABUS COUN 869: Advanced Practicum in Counseling ODU Counseling Graduate Program Course Description Designed to provide students with a planned program of advanced on-the-job professional clinical counseling experience in a school or community agency setting. The purpose of this practicum is to develop and/or refine advanced counseling skills, which should conceptually link counselor practice to teaching and supervision. Internship assignments will be controlled and coordinated by a university supervisor. Direct supervision is given by an experienced professional in the setting as well as faculty individual and group supervisors. Purpose An internship, as distinct from a job, consists of intensively supervised practice, with reflection on that practice. You will continue your education by (a) trying out and observing practices and then (b) examining them in an intentional fashion, both in individual and group supervision sessions. You will seek to become more "intentional" about your work, including becoming more aware of social and cultural dimensions of the work. You will also reflect upon how the clinical counseling experiences you are receiving will enhance your professional activities as a counseling teacher and supervisor. Three dimensions for learning are highlighted: (1) understanding of clients themselves and types of client difficulties, (2) facility with using helping skills, and (3) personal attitudes that help or hinder professional performance. Course Objectives/Competencies 1. Apply advanced counseling skills, including empathic listening, in an intentional manner as outlined on the Counseling Skills and Techniques Competency Scale. 2. Assess individual differences among clients, including cultural dimensions, in order to develop individualized plans to meet those needs. 3. Increase awareness of one s own needs and attitudes that affect counseling and use one s own reactions in the counseling process. 4. Enhance understanding of ethical and legal issues in counseling work. 5. Practice effective workplace behavior and learn the special skills and norms appropriate to their field setting. Course Requirements 1. Attendance. Students are expected to attend hours at the setting and attend all scheduled supervision sessions. 2. Practicum Related Activities. Students will successfully complete at least 200 clock hours of practicum related activities with no less than 120 hours being direct service work with clients. 3. Supervision. A minimum of either one hour individual or two hours per week of group supervision with other doctoral students by a university professor. 4. Practicum Log. Completion of a practicum log every two weeks which includes a report of the hours spent in counseling (individual and group), observation, and other counseling
related activities over that two week period. Include a summary at the bottom of each page of the number of hours spent in each of these activities. Accommodating Students with Special Learning Needs In accordance with University policy, students with documented sensory and/or learning disabilities should inform the instructor so that their special needs may be accommodated. Attendance Weekly group supervision is a requirement of the course and thus attendance at all sessions is expected. If an emergency arises, please notify me prior to the class. Evaluation/Grading The course is graded on a pass/fail basis. In order to pass, a student must meet all requirements and demonstrate advanced competency as a counselor. Honor Pledge Each student is expected to abide by the honor system of Old Dominion University.
SAMPLE CASE PRESENTATION OUTLINE Counselor Name: to Date: Date of Presentation: # of Sessions Presenting Concerns & Specific Problems Concurrent Problems (Treatments & Services Received) Background History & Stressors (Current, Developmental, & Ecological) Strengths (Protective Factors & Signs of Resilience) Interfering Factors or Barriers (individual, familial, ecological, administrative) Ways to Address Barriers Recommendations (treatment & plans for follow-up evaluation)
FRAMEWORK FOR CASE CONCEPTUALIZATION: For MH/College Counselors Counselor: S. Thompson Date of Presentation: May 9, 2014 # of Sessions to Date: 2 Presenting Concerns & Specific Problems Mimi : 38 year-old Caucasian female. Married, no children. Extended family lives in another state. Reports desire to change careers, feeling numb while she s at work. Has been in this career field (medical related) for 17 years; at this job for 3. States that her supervisor believes she is competent, leaving her in charge when away. Patients, though, notice her inability to connect or empathize with their situation. Recognizes that she daily because of her job, hurts patients. Concurrent Problems (Treatments & Services Received) Previous history of depression with limited effectiveness of medication (Paxil). Feels similarly to previous depressive episode. Few/no friends because she has been unable to socialize when not at work. Background History & Stressors (Current, Developmental, & Ecological) Husband is pilot who is away regularly. He is underemployed; they rely on her salary to make ends meet. This is her second marriage. First marriage ended after 7 years; she felt similarly at the 4 year mark. This is year 4 of the current relationship. Strengths (Protective Factors & Signs of Resilience) Willingness to seek assistance. Has previously been able to bring herself out of the depression. Able to change motivation level when husband is home. Summary of Risk Factors (Implications & Goals: Assessment, disposition, intervention) Both parents have hx of depression. Mother has hx of anxiety; client also reports moderate anxiety. Mother as model for non-activity. Interfering Factors or Barriers (individual, familial, ecological, administrative) Relatively new to area, few/no friends locally. Income is due to her employment. Above-Moderate anxiety & depressive symptoms. Ways to Address Barriers/ Recommendations Discuss how she is able to change her activity level when her husband is around + when she was single previously. Take small steps toward making changes. With each possible change, analyze anxiety and advantages/ disadvantages related to staying same or changing. Enlist husband in the process of changing her activity level. Refer for medication evaluation & discuss alternate ways of managing depressive symptoms. Explore anxiety. Explore depressive symptoms related to relationships in particular. What are her fears?
Purpose and Use of Recordings OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE IN RECORDED SUPERVISED COUNSELING As part of their professional training, graduate students perform counseling under the supervision of University/faculty members and/or field-placement supervisors. To facilitate this training, counseling sessions are sometimes recorded on in video or audio format. Students use such recordings to review their own performance as counselors-in-training. Student counseling performance may also be reviewed by their university or site supervisor(s) and other internship trainees in a small group setting. All recordings are erased after they are reviewed. Confidentiality Trainees and University/faculty supervisors are professionally and ethically bound to preserve the confidentiality of all personal information that is revealed by the client in a counseling relationship. The only exception to this is if a client proves to be at clear and imminent danger of harming himself/herself or others. We would appreciate your permission to record the session(s) with the understanding that confidentiality will be maintained. Thank you for your cooperation. Supervisor s Signature and Title Date Counselor Trainee s Signature Date Consent I have read and understand the above statements regarding confidentiality, recording, and supervision of my sessions (or the sessions of my child). I give my permission for these sessions to be recorded for training purposes as described above. I further understand that I can withdraw this permission at any time. Client s or Parent s Signature Date