Practicum – COUC 998

Course Description

Supervised practice of counseling. Focus is on the skills and development of the counselor under the supervision and guidance of staff in that setting. Students will actively participate in counseling situations with individuals and groups.

Rationale

In the Practicum course, doctoral students participate in a planned 100-hour advanced clinical experience at an approved agency or other setting under an approved supervisor. During the fieldwork experience, students continue the process of developing from a post-graduate clinician to that of a counselor educator. Since students have completed their entry-level coursework, this fieldwork experience provides provide a supervised, field-based, work experience that allows students to integrate and synthesize theories and techniques learned in the classroom in a real work setting as well as develop more fully the personal qualities, characteristics, and behavior of a professional counselor and counselor educator. Consistent with CACREP standards (2016 Section 6.C), the doctoral practicum is a minimum of 100 hours, of which 40 hours must be providing direct counseling services. The nature of the doctoral-level practicum experience is to be determined in consultation with the clinical director, the counselor education program faculty. and/or a doctoral committee.

Method of Instruction: This semester-long course is delivered using a digital synchronous learning format. Students attend 1.5 hours of video-based group supervision each week. In addition to the weekly digital synchronous class time, students are expected to complete additional work over the duration of the semester.

Course Assignment

Course Readings and Presentations

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Student Self-Evaluation of Counseling Assignment

The student must complete a self-evaluation at the end of his/her internship. The purpose of this paper is to help engage the student in the process of reflective learning as he/she nears the end of the semester, thus affording the student an opportunity to demonstrate self-awareness, self-evaluation, and the ability to develop a specific action plan that will aid in professional development. Along with the evaluations filled out by faculty and site-supervisors, this self-evaluation of the student's experiences as a counselor during this semester provides him/her with a comprehensive assessment of his/her overall professional growth. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I)

Video and Verbatim Assignment

For the purposes of faculty supervision and site supervision, the student must record two counseling sessions to submit to site supervisors and three counseling sessions to be presented during Faculty Group Supervision. The session due dates correspond with the student's presentation date. The student will submit a verbatim form with a five to eight-minute segment of the recorded session. Faculty will provide feedback on this portion of the session. (CLO: D, E, F, G, H, I)

Presentation and Case Conceptualization Assignment

The case presentation is an opportunity to integrate all learning from the counseling curriculum and will include sections/sub-headings that address important areas for treatment. The student will identify a problem, make a diagnosis, and come up with goals/objectives for the client. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I)

The Benchmark case presentation is an opportunity to integrate all learning from the counseling curriculum and will include sections/sub-headings that address important areas for treatment. The student will identify a problem, make a diagnosis, and come up with goals/objectives for the client. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I)

Quiz: Liability Insurance Verification

The student must submit a copy of liability insurance in order to prove that he/she has maintained liability insurance throughout the Practicum and the three Internship courses. The student may not begin or continue to remain in practicum or an internship without appropriate liability insurance.

Quiz: Presentation Development Progress (8)

The purpose of these quizzes is to ensure the student reports acknowledgement of weekly progress on the Video and Verbatim Assignments and Presentation Case Conceptualization Assignments through 1 true/false question on the quiz. There are 8 quizzes throughout the course. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I)

Quiz: Log Verification (4)

The student will submit in CORE (ELMS) the hours he/she has completed thus far in their internship. The student will then submit a copy of his/her Log through 1 true/false question on the quiz. There are 4 Log quizzes throughout the course. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I)

Quiz: Site Supervisor Evaluations (2)

Each semester, the site supervisor will submit two evaluations of the student's competencies using the CCS-R, one at midterm and one at the end of the semester. Because these evaluations are submitted through CORE (ELMS), it is important that the student download a copy of the evaluation for the Candidacy Exam as well as for his/her personal records. In addition, the completion of this assignment will ensure that all students have taken the opportunity to carefully review the results. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I)

Quiz: Faculty Supervisor Final Evaluation

The faculty supervisor will submit a final evaluation using the CCS-R at the end of the semester. Because these evaluations are submitted through CORE (ELMS), it is important that the student downloads a copy of the evaluation for the Candidacy Exam as well as for his/her personal records. In addition, the completion of this assignment will ensure that all students have taken the opportunity to carefully review the results.

Quiz: Client Evaluation of Counseling (2)

The purpose of this assignment is to obtain feedback from the client regarding their satisfaction with the treatment provided by the counselor. This allows the counselor to assess the client’s perception the effectiveness of an individual session and/or over the course of treatment (post treatment). The evaluations associated with this assignment are designed to gather data to help the counselor and supervisor identify and address areas of strength and growth for the counselor in training. Additionally, this provides the client a safe and anonymous way to give constructive feedback on their experience while working with the counselor in training. For this assignment, the counselor will provide clients with the Client Satisfaction Survey (Post-Treatment) during the termination session (or as determined by the counselor's supervisor). It is strongly suggested that he/she provide the client with the Client Satisfaction Survey (End of Session) following each session.

Quiz: Student Evaluation of Site and Supervisor

As a stakeholder, the student has an important role in evaluating the effectiveness of his/her internship experience. Specifically, the student can provide valuable feedback on the quality and effectiveness of his/her site and supervisor. This allows the program to assess and improve these internship opportunities for the future. Therefore, the student is asked to fill out an evaluation of his/her faculty supervisor and his/her teaching or supervision site at the end of their internship. (CLO: B, C, G, H)