Adams State University Department of Counselor Education Clinical Manual Pre-Practicum Practicum Group Internship I Internship II Make Time for Change 1
Table of Contents Introduction and Mission Statement Page 3 Role of Clinical Coordinator Page 4 Introduction to Pre-Practicum Page 4 Introduction to Practicum Page 5 Practicum Required Documentation Page 6 Confidentiality & Technology for Practicum Page 8 Practicum Checklist Page 9 Introduction to Group Counseling Page 10 Introduction to Internship Page 10 Internship Required Documentation Page 11 School Counseling Internship Requirements Page 13 Internship I and II Checklist Page 14 Direct/Indirect Experiences Page 16 On-Site Supervisor Qualifications Page 17 Practicum & Internship FAQ s Page 18 CACREP Professional Practice Standards Page 27 2
INTRODUCTION Welcome to the beginning of your clinical experiences! The Department of Counselor Education is committed to the development of counselors-in-training who provide ethical and effective counseling services. Supervised activities are vital to this development. Through completing clinical coursework, students benefit by receiving supervised practice from both counselor education faculty and practicing counselors in the field. The Clinical Manual provides an overview of the clinical experiences in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling specialty areas, which occurs over five sequential courses: (a) Pre-Practicum, (b) Practicum, (c) Group, (d) Internship I, and (e) Internship II. The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) describes professional practice as the application of theory and the development of counseling skills under supervision. Furthermore, CACREP states that these experiences will provide opportunities for students to counsel clients who represent ethnic and demographic diversity of their community. Students need to carefully read the Clinical Manual after acceptance into the program. Once students have become familiar with the material, they should contact the Clinical Coordinator to discuss any questions. Students should continually refer to the Clinical Manual as they move through the program and watch for updates in future revisions of this manual and related documents. All clinical documentation can be found on the Department of Counselor Education website. MISSION STATEMENT OF COUNSELOR EDUCATION MASTER OF ARTS PROGRAM The Department of Counselor Education prepares counselors with sound practical and relational skills, a comprehensive theoretical knowledge base, a strong counselor identity, and the personal & professional dispositions necessary to work in various professional settings with diverse clientele. 3
ROLE OF THE CLINICAL COORDINATOR Coordinate clinical activities overseeing the management of student clinical files. Develop and maintain effective working relationships with sites and supervisors. Assist students in clinical placement. Approve students clinical sites and supervisors. Create and manage site affiliation agreements. Assist program faculty with regularly scheduled on-site supervisor consultations and contact in order to evaluate student performance and ensure completion of program objectives. Coordinate and review counseling supervision training for on-site supervisors. Support, educate, and inform students of practicum and internship requirements, upcoming deadlines, placement procedures and paperwork completion. Ensure compliance with University, State, and CACREP standards regarding supervision and documentation of clinical hours. INTRODUCTION TO PRE-PRACTICUM Pre-Practicum is the first of five experientially based courses that focus on skill, professional, and personal development. This course provides students an introduction to the counseling profession and helping relationships. The course emphasizes personal growth, self-awareness, and professional behavior. Students will experience the helping relationship as both client and counselor. The purpose of the pre-practicum course is to acquaint students with the counseling experience. Students will also begin the journey of developing a professional counselor identity. Pre-practicum focuses on the personal qualities needed to develop an authentic and effective counseling relationship. This relationship requires that counselors be in touch with their experience of self as well as their experience of the client. It demands that counselors be able to move outside of their own frame of reference into the client s frame of reference, in an attempt to see the world as the client sees it. Students will practice and learn basic counseling skills and behaviors through practice in class and/or through recording classmate-client counseling sessions outside of class (on-campus program). Students are required to obtain liability insurance beginning in pre-practicum. Through practice and supervision, students will develop the skills necessary to influence the helping process. Additionally, pre-practicum focuses on the professional behaviors expected of graduate students in a master s level program and the characteristics needed to be successful in the field of counseling. These include such things as punctuality, maturity, and receptivity to feedback. Instructors and/or supervisors will evaluate students throughout the semester in three areas of skill development, professional development, and personal development. Note: For Pre-Practicum, only an A or B is considered a passing grade. More details about evaluations are included in the course syllabus. 4
INTRODUCTION TO PRACTICUM Practicum is the second of the five experientially based courses that focus on skill, professional, and personal development. Practicum is a clinical, experiential course that requires students to complete hours in a professional setting. The student will apply counseling techniques and skills in a supervised setting. The student will participate in the counseling process, refine techniques, and further enhance his/her therapeutic development. The purpose of the Practicum course is for students to continue their skills and knowledge of the counseling experience. Students continue to practice foundational counseling skills learned in Pre-Practicum and have the opportunity to integrate more advanced skills through practice in class, supervised counseling sessions, and direct service at a pre-approved Practicum site. As in Pre-practicum, Practicum focuses on the personal qualities needed to develop an authentic and effective counseling relationship. Additionally, students will demonstrate intentionally applied advanced skills, advanced reflecting skills, personal attributes of a professional counselor and the ability to receive, integrate, and show feedback while providing constructive feedback to peers. Students can only accrue hours during the semester in which they are enrolled. The following are minimum requirements of Practicum (Practicum instructors may have additional requirements, please consult course syllabus for more details). 1. Submit Practicum Supervision Agreement Form by January 5 th and receive approval by the Clinical Coordinator. 2. Renew Liability Insurance 3. Students complete supervised counseling practicum experiences that total a minimum of 100 clock hours over a semester. 4. Practicum students complete at least 40 of the 100 clock hours in direct service with actual clients/students that contributes to the development of counseling skills. 5. Practicum students complete weekly site supervision that averages one hour a week from approved Practicum on-site supervisor. Site supervision is documented on weekly logs. 6. Practicum students participate in an average of 1½ hours per week of group supervision on a regular schedule throughout the practicum. Group supervision must be provided by an ASU counselor education program faculty member or a student supervisor (PhD student) who is under the supervision of a counselor education program faculty member. 7. Practicum students are required to video-record a minimum of four individual counseling sessions with clients. All sessions must be reviewed by an on-site supervisor AND an ASU Supervisor before recording subsequent sessions. 8. Practicum students are required to complete all required paperwork for course (e.g., weekly logs, midterm evaluation, final evaluation, on-site supervisor evaluation, etc.) Note: For Practicum, only an A or B is considered a passing grade. More details about evaluations are included in the course syllabus. 5
PRACTICUM REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION All documentation can be located on the Department of Counselor Education website: https://www.adams.edu/gradschool/counselored/masters/ma-student-forms.php In addition to in-class and academic requirements as directed by your instructor, Practicum students must meet the following minimum requirements. 1. Practicum Supervisor Agreement Form Students complete the Practicum Supervisor Agreement form with the on-site supervisor and submit to the Clinical Coordinator through the online Blackboard page under Clinical Coordinator tab by the submission deadline. 2. Provide & Maintain Student Liability Insurance coverage Students in the Department of Counselor Education are required to carry student liability ( malpractice ) insurance throughout the entire program. National professional counseling organizations, such as: ACA, ASCA, and AMHCA provide FREE student liability insurance as part of low-cost, student membership in those organizations. Failure to maintain and provide evidence of coverage may result in the student failing the Practicum course and not being able to collect hours. Students provide evidence of coverage in their Practicum course during the spring term. 3. Complete a minimum of four recorded counseling sessions Students are required to video-record a minimum of four individual counseling sessions with real clients. For the Practicum course, sessions must be fifty minutes in length regardless of school or clinical mental health setting. In regards to client selection please consult on-site supervisor and ASU supervisor. Students will review these recordings with their approved on-site supervisor. Supervisors will evaluate these sessions using designated forms available on the department s website. Additionally students must have these reviewed by an ASU Supervisor before subsequent recordings. 4. Complete supervision requirements On-Site Supervision On-site supervision is a form of instruction in which a supervisor monitors the student s activities in Practicum, facilitates the associated learning and skill development experiences, and monitors and evaluates the work of the student while monitoring the quality of services offered to clients/ students. All students must have an agreement with an approved on-site supervisor to oversee the 100 clock hours of service. Students will meet with the on-site supervisor for an average of 1 clock hour per week to discuss direct service and other professional activities. On-site supervisors are expected to provide formative feedback on the student s counseling skills in addition to personal and professional dispositions. It is the student s responsibility to ensure that he/she meets for supervision throughout the full academic semester. Note: This supervision can be either individual supervision or triadic supervision. 6
Group Supervision ASU group supervision is a relationship between a counselor education program faculty member and more than two counseling students. CACREP standards require that group supervision does not exceed a 12:1 ratio. Group Supervision is provided weekly. Online students receive ASU group supervision via an online synchronous platform that requires students to have a video camera that captures them while in class. 5. Required Evaluation Forms Weekly Logs Students are required to submit a weekly counseling log. Students will not be permitted to count any hours for weeks that do not have a supervisor's signature on their counseling log. Practicum Recording Supervision Evaluation On-site supervisors complete the Recording Supervisor Evaluation between each of the recorded video session. A student cannot complete the subsequent counseling session without having viewed and discussed the first session in supervision (this applies to all sessions). This document provides formative feedback to the student on the expectations required of Practicum students (e.g. skill, professional, and personal development). Students submit these documents into the Blackboard course; refer to syllabus for specific dates and requirements. Practicum Midterm Evaluation Students complete this document with the on-site supervisor near the middle of the academic semester. This document provides formative feedback to the student on the activities completed, along with the expectations required of Practicum students (e.g. skill, professional, and personal development). Students submit this document into their Practicum Blackboard course; refer to syllabus for specific date and requirements. Practicum Final Evaluation Students complete this document with the on-site supervisor at the end of the academic semester. This document provides summative feedback to the student on the activities completed, along with the expectations required of Practicum students (e.g. skill, professional, and personal development). Students also provide information on hours accrued, including time spent in supervision. This document allows students to tally their final hours. Students submit this document into their Practicum Blackboard course; refer to syllabus for specific date and requirement. On-Site Supervisor Evaluation Students are required to evaluate their on-site supervisor. Students submit this document into their Practicum Blackboard course; refer to syllabus for specific date and requirement. 7
6. Required Recorded Session Consent Form Consent Form(s) Clients who enter into the counseling process have the right to certain information and must consent to counseling. Clients who participate in the recorded counseling sessions, must complete the ASU Consent Form in addition to forms used on-site (e.g. agency consent form). In addition to consenting to counseling, the ASU Consent Form document includes a consent to record section as clients must be made aware of the recording, how it will be used, who will see it, and what will happen to it. Students will review this form with the client at the beginning of the first recorded session. Before the session, students must fill in the blanks on the Consent Form and print two copies. The student maintains one copy and the second copy should be given to the client. Note: The consent form is available at counselored.adams.edu. Spanish versions of these forms are also available, contact the Clinical Coordinator for this document. All recorded sessions must be conducted in English. CONFIDENTIALITY & TECHNOLOGY FOR PRACTICUM Please review the Consent Form for information on confidentiality as related to counseling sessions. In regards to documentation, all client paperwork must be kept secure. The Consent Form should be kept on site (e.g. placed in client s clinical record) or shredded, in addition to being submitted into Blackboard. In regards to recorded sessions (all students), the Department of Counselor Education uses a secure, password protected server to store all student recordings for later viewing by on-site supervisors and designated faculty members. This server is called MediaSpace. Students will receive their user ID and password after the semester begins. This is the only accepted format for recorded sessions. This system uses HTTP/SSL (hypertext transfer protocol secure/ secure sockets layer) to protect all traffic in transport. MediaSpace also uses DRM (Digital Rights Management) which provides on-disk encryption of media assets, policies and access rules, and licensed protected playback. Students have two options for recording with MediaSpace. Students can record directly into the MediaSpace system or they can record their counseling sessions with their recording device (e.g. computer or video camera) and then upload the recordings to the MediaSpace server. On-site supervisor can view the counseling sessions with the students by accessing the recorded session through the secure, password protected server after the student logs into their account. Your Practicum instructor can also access the recordings by logging into MediaSpace, using their own account login and password. Students must maintain the security of these recorded sessions. For example, recorded sessions should not be viewed in settings where others can see or hear the session. Students may not send the recordings electronically to supervisors and/ or instructors. Finally, once the recording is successfully uploaded into MediaSpace, students must delete the original file from their recording device. It is a violation if a student does not delete this recording off of 8
their personal recording device (e.g. computer, video camera, etc.) within 24 hours of a successful upload into MediaSpace. It is also a violation to share a copy of this recording with the client. Upon successful completion of the course requirements for Practicum, all recordings will be deleted from MediaSpace. The administrator for the Department of Counselor Education s MediaSpace site is a full-time faculty member in the department. Only the Department of Counselor Education MediaSpace administrator, the student, and the Practicum instructor have access to the recordings. The Practicum instructor will have detailed information pertaining to recorded sessions. Additionally, the Department of Counselor Education MediaSpace administrator will provide instructions for use on the Counselor Education Blackboard will have how to instructions for using the MediaSpace system. PRACTICUM CHECKLIST Locate site and supervisor to complete Practicum requirements Complete and upload the Practicum Supervisor Agreement Form into Counselor Education Students Blackboard to the Clinical Coordinator by January 5 th. Enroll in Practicum class when registration opens Maintain current student liability insurance coverage, provide proof of coverage in Practicum course Accrue a minimum of 100 clock hours at site (40 clock hours must be direct service with actual clients/students) Obtain an average of 1 clock hour of supervision every week at site with approved on-site supervisor Complete Practicum Midterm Evaluation with on-site supervisor and submit via Practicum Blackboard as directed by instructor Upload and publish recorded counseling sessions into MediaSpace by the deadlines in the course syllabus Conduct recorded counseling sessions, meet with on-site supervisor between each session, and complete the Recording Supervision Evaluation with on-site supervisor before the next session Receive ASU supervision between each recorded session Delete recorded counseling sessions from recording device, if applicable. DO NOT DELETE session from MediaSpace!!! Complete and submit Practicum Final Evaluation with on-site supervisor into Blackboard as directed by instructor Complete the on-site supervisor evaluation Ensure all client paperwork is kept securely on site or shredded as appropriate to site 9
INTRODUCTION TO GROUP COUNSELING Group is the third of five experientially based courses that focuses on skill, professional, and personal development. The group counseling course is designed to give students the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully lead a variety of group across diverse settings. Students are expected to participate in 10 hours of growth group as a requirement for this course. Professional counselors are hired to lead these growth groups, which is arranged by the instructor of the course. In these growth groups, students will learn more about themselves, and have the opportunity to observe group dynamics and how the group process can influence clients/students. Participation in the groups is required. On-Campus students complete the growth group experience during the Group Counseling course. Online Plus students complete the growth group during the first summer intensive, concurrent with Pre-Practicum. More information regarding these courses will be provided via the course syllabus. No additional documentation or approvals are needed for this course, please register for the course according to your plan of study. In order to know how groups function and how to manage them; students must be involved in the experience, both as a group member and as a group leader. To this end, each student will be expected to lead or co-lead one group session in class and participate in class discussion of the group process after the group session. For online students this experience is completed during the Summer Intensive subsequently following the online portion of the course. On-campus students complete this during the same semester in which they take Group Counseling. Additionally, students are expected to participate in a 10-hour growth group. A professional counselor will lead this group who will keep att. The objective of this Growth Group is for students to learn more about themselves, group dynamics, how they perceive others and how the group process can improve productivity in a variety of group settings. For online Growth Group is completed during their first ASU Summer Intensive in conjunction with Pre- Practicum. On-campus students complete the Growth Group during the same semester in which they take Group Counseling. INTRODUCTION TO INTERNSHIP Internship I and II are the fourth and fifth experientially based courses that focus on skill, professional, and personal development. Students will utilize knowledge and skills gained in coursework and the practicum experience in a supervised counseling setting. Students will receive supervision, increase knowledge of the profession, increase skill base, and continue the process of self-exploration and self-awareness. The purpose of the internship course is for students to integrate the skills and knowledge of the counseling experience through placement at a program-appropriate internship site. Students will integrate all skills learned in the pre-practicum and practicum courses while collecting internship hours at an approved site. Under the direction of a qualified on-site supervisor, each student will carry out the counseling and professional duties appropriate to the site. The student will meet face-to-face with the on-site supervisor on a weekly basis to review skill, professional, and 10
personal growth. Students are required to complete a minimum of 600 hours at an internship site, of which a minimum of 240 hours must be in direct service, over the course of Internship I and Internship II. At least 10 of these 240 direct hours must be spent leading or co-leading groups. Moreover, at least 40 of the 240 direct hours must be acquired by providing individual counseling. Students will be evaluated throughout each semester by their on-site supervisor(s) and instructor. Students can only accrue hours during the semester in which they are enrolled. Instructors and/or on-site supervisors will evaluate students throughout the semester in the three areas of skill development, professional development, and personal development. Note: For Internship I and II, only an A or B is considered a passing grade. More details about evaluations are included in the course syllabus. INTERNSHIP I/II REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION All documentation can be located on the Department of Counselor Education website: https://www.adams.edu/gradschool/counselored/masters/ma-student-forms.php In addition to in-class and academic requirements as directed by your instructor, Internship students must meet the following requirements: 1. Internship Supervisor Agreement Form Students complete this document with the on-site supervisor and submit to the Clinical Coordinator through their Blackboard under Clinical Coordinator tab by the submission deadline. Internship I August 1 st Internship II January 5 th 2. Maintain Student Liability Insurance coverage Students in the Department of Counselor Education are required to carry student liability ( malpractice ) insurance throughout the entire program. National professional counseling organizations, such as: ACA, ASCA, and AMHCA provide FREE student liability insurance as part of low-cost, student membership in those organizations. Failure to maintain and provide evidence of coverage may result in the student failing the Internship course and not being able to collect hours. Students provide evidence of coverage in their Internship course during the fall term. 3. Accumulate required hours at an approved Internship site For Internship I and II, students are required to spend a minimum of 600 clock hours of supervised experience at an approved site over two consecutive academic semesters. This site must meet the learning needs for the student s designated specialty area (e.g. clinical mental health or school counseling). At least 240 of the 600 clock hours must be in direct service with actual clients/students; 40 of the 240 direct service hours have to be providing individual counseling. In addition, a 11
minimum of 10 hours must be spent leading/co-leading group work. Students should aim to complete 300 hours each semester, including direct service hours; however, this is not required. 4. Complete supervision requirements On-Site Supervision On-site supervision is a form of instruction in which a supervisor monitors the student s activities in Internship, facilitates the associated learning and skill development experiences, and monitors and evaluates the work of the student while monitoring the quality of services offered to clients/ students. All students must have an agreement with an approved on-site supervisor to oversee the 600 clock hours of service. Students will meet with the on-site supervisor for an average of 1 clock hour per week to discuss direct service and other professional activities. Onsite supervisors are expected to provide formative feedback on the student s counseling skills in addition to personal and professional dispositions. It is the student s responsibility to ensure that he/she meets for supervision throughout the full academic semester. Note: This supervision can be either individual supervision or triadic supervision. Group Supervision ASU group supervision is a relationship between a counselor education program faculty member and more than two counseling students. CACREP standards require that group supervision does not exceed a 12:1 ratio. Group Supervision is provided weekly. Online students receive ASU group supervision via an online synchronous platform that requires students to have a video camera that captures them while in class. 5. Required Evaluation Forms Recording/Live Supervision Evaluation (Internship I only) In addition to the weekly site supervision, students will need to be directly observed and evaluated by the on-site supervisor at least two times during the academic semester during Internship I. To meet this requirement, on-site supervisors will observe students in action (either via audio/video recording and/ or via live supervision, e.g. watching live) a minimum of two times over the academic semester. On-site supervisors provide the following information and feedback on the Recording/Live Supervision Evaluation: date of observation, type of session, observed strengths, areas for growth, and openness to the feedback provided. Sessions (recorded or live) should run at a length appropriate for the site/school setting. Students provide their on-site supervisors with this document and when completed, submit this document into their Internship I Blackboard course; refer to syllabus for specific date and requirements. Internship I/ II Midterm Evaluation Students complete this document with the on-site supervisor near the middle of the academic semester. This document provides formative feedback to the student on the activities completed by the Internship student, along with the expectations required of 12
Internship students (e.g. skill, professional, and personal development). Students also provide information on hours accrued, including time spent in supervision. Students submit this document into their Internship Blackboard course; refer to syllabus for specific date and requirements. Internship I/ II Final Evaluation Students complete this document with the on-site supervisor at the end of the academic semester. This document provides summative feedback to the student on the activities completed by the Internship student, along with the expectations required of Internship students (e.g. skill, professional, and personal development). Students also provide information on hours accrued, including time spent in supervision. Students submit this document into their Internship Blackboard course; refer to syllabus for specific date. On-Site Supervisor Evaluation Students are required to evaluate their on-site supervisor. Students submit this document into their Internship Blackboard course; refer to syllabus for specific date and requirement. SCHOOL COUNSELING INTERNSHIP REQUIREMENTS This section applies only to students in the school counseling specialty program. The Colorado Department of Education licenses school counselors as K-12 school counselors; students must complete a 600-clock hour Internship, supervised by a licensed school counselor, in a school setting, and at the appropriate grade level(s) for the endorsement being sought. Thus, school counseling students need to complete Internship hours at multiple grade levels. Beginning Fall 2018, the Department of Counselor Education will require that students select one level as their major level and two minor levels. Students will complete 400 clock hours at the major level (e.g. high school, middle school, elementary). The remaining 200 clock hours will be completed at two minor levels (e.g. high school, middle school, elementary). For example, a student completing 400 clock hours at a middle school grade level, 100 clock hours at high school grade level and 100 clock hours at elementary school grade level would fulfill this requirement. Students can divide up the direct hours/ other professional activities any way across these levels but should strive to have a variety of direct and other related duties at each level. Additionally, high school is defined as grades 9-12, middle school as grades 6-8, and elementary school as grades K-5. Students who intern at a K-12 school or a K-8 school automatically meet this requirement if they provide services to all grade levels. Supervision for school counselors is a bit complicated as students have multiple sites. Students have options in how to set up their supervision experience. Option A. Students have one person be the on-site supervisor for the entire school counseling Internship experience. Additionally, students must have at least one contact person (e.g. school counselor, principal, school social 13
worker) at the minor levels. It is the student s responsibility to work with the on-site supervisor and the contact persons to determine how evaluations, etc. will be completed. Students who have concerns about locating a contact person should address this with their on-site supervisor and faculty instructor in that order. Option B. Students have multiple on-site supervisors at each of the grade levels. This requires the student to fill out two or more Internship Supervision Agreement forms as well as ALL other required Internship paperwork (e.g. two or more final evaluations). If a student lives outside of Colorado, they are required to comply with the 400/100/100 split and to meet any other regulations required by their state. The following website provides access to state school counseling licensure/certification agencies. https://www.schoolcounselor.org/schoolcounselors-members/careers-roles/state-certification-requirements It is the student's responsibility to make sure they are meeting any additional requirements in their state and that they are aware of the current requirements their state has. INTERNSHIP I CHECKLIST Locate site(s) and on-site supervisor(s) to complete Internship requirements Meet with on-site supervisor(s) to determine duties and responsibilities at the site(s), as well as your needs as a student in the counselor education program Complete and upload the Internship Supervisor Agreement Form into Counselor Education Students Blackboard to the Clinical Coordinator by August 1 st Enroll in Internship I when registration opens (ensure you register for the correct specialty program!) Maintain current student liability insurance coverage, provide proof of coverage in Internship course. Begin to accrue 600 clock hours at site with 240 clock hours in direct service with clients/students (40 of the 240 direct service hours have to be providing individual counseling and 10 hours must be spent leading/co-leading group work). Hours are spread out over Internship I and II with 300 hours in each semester as the suggested guideline. Obtain an average of 1 clock hour of site supervision every week Complete Internship I Midterm Evaluation with on-site supervisor and submit via Internship Blackboard as directed by instructor Complete recordings and/or live supervision with on-site supervisor as outlined in the Internship I syllabus and submit Internship I Recording/Live Supervision Evaluation into Internship I Blackboard as directed by your instructor 14
Complete Internship I Final Evaluation with your on-site supervisor and submit into your Internship Blackboard course as directed by instructor Complete the on-site supervisor evaluation Ensure client paperwork is kept securely on site or shredded as appropriate to site INTERNSHIP II CHECKLIST Complete and submit a new Internship Supervisor Agreement Form to the Clinical Coordinator through Blackboard under the Clinical Coordinator tab IF you are starting at a new site or with a new supervisor Enroll in Internship II when registration opens (ensure you register for the correct specialty program!) Maintain current student liability insurance coverage, provide proof of coverage in Internship course. Finish accruing 600 clock hours at site with 240 clock hours in direct service with clients/students (40 of the 240 direct service hours have to be providing individual counseling and 10 hours must be spent leading/co-leading group work). Hours are spread out over Internship I and II with 300 hours in each semester as the suggested guideline Obtain an average of 1 clock hour of site supervision every week Complete Internship II Midterm Evaluation with on-site supervisor and submit via Internship Blackboard as directed by instructor Complete Internship II Final Evaluation with your on-site supervisor and submit into your Internship Blackboard course as directed by instructor Complete the on-site supervisor evaluation Ensure client paperwork is kept securely on site or shredded as appropriate to site 15
DIRECT/INDIRECT EXPERIENCES The following tables provide examples of direct and indirect experiences for the Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling program specialty areas. Essentially, direct hours are time spent with clients/students that contributes to the development of counseling skills. Please note that indirect hours (also known as other professional activities ) are activities that contribute to the care of the client/student, utilizing the specialized skill set as a counselor. If students have questions about specific duties or assignments at the site, ask the instructor and on-site supervisor. Clinical Mental Health Counseling direct/indirect experiences include, but are not limited to: Direct Service Conducting individual, couple, family, or group counseling sessions Conducting intake interviews and discharge planning Participating in staffing with client (or family) present Speaking on phone with client or non-professional significant others Delivering prevention services to clients, families, and/or the community Co-leading/facilitating individual, family, couple or group counseling sessions Indirect Service or other Professional Activities Completing paperwork, documentation Attending staff meetings, site trainings, etc. Data collection, analysis, etc. Preparing or planning for sessions and activities Professional development hours should be determined in consultation with on-site supervisor and ASU supervisor. Making referrals, developing resource lists for client Attending weekly supervision at Practicum/Internship site and for on-campus students (during Practicum) who receive ASU supervision for reviewing recorded sessions, including preparation School Counseling direct/indirect experiences include, but are not limited to: Direct Service Conducting individual, family, or group sessions Delivering school guidance curriculum Indirect Service or other Professional Activities Completing paperwork, documentation Attending staff meetings, trainings, workshops, etc. 16
Individual student planning Speaking on phone with student or non-professional significant others; consultation with parent/guardian Co-leading/facilitating individual, family, group sessions Contributing to student meetings with student and/or parent/guardian present Consulting and collaborating on behalf of the student/parent/guardian with teachers, staff, etc. Data collection, analysis, etc. Preparing or planning for sessions and activities Professional development hours should be determined in consultation with on-site supervisor and ASU supervisor. Making referrals, developing resource lists for student/parent/guardian System support (e.g. Response to Intervention preparation, MTSS, etc) Attending weekly supervision at Practicum/Internship site and for on-campus students (during Practicum) who receive ASU supervision for reviewing recorded sessions, including preparation ON-SITE SUPERVISOR QUALIFICATIONS For Practicum and Internship, the student must secure an appropriate on-site supervisor, with the required qualifications. Ideally, the on-site supervisor should be on-site. The site and the on-site supervisor must be approved by the Clinical Coordinator. If you have any questions about the qualifications listed below, please contact the Clinical Coordinator. These minimum qualifications are determined by CACREP, our accrediting organization. Students are also responsible for ensuring their supervisors meet the licensing requirements in their state. On-Site Supervisors must meet the following requirements as stipulated by CACREP: 1. Hold a minimum of a master s degree, preferably in counseling, or a related profession (e.g. Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology, etc.; 2. Hold relevant certifications and/or licenses (All supervisors must be licensed within the discipline they are working in, e.g. Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed School Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Social Worker, Licensed Addictions Counselor, Licensed Psychologist, etc. For example, an on-site supervisor within the school setting must be a Licensed School Counselor or state equivalent); 17
3. Have a minimum of two years of pertinent professional experience in the specialty area in which the student is enrolled (e.g. on-site supervisor has worked as a school counselor for two years, post master s degree in school counseling); 4. Have knowledge of the program s expectations, requirements, and evaluation procedures for students (on-site supervisor has copy of this handbook); 5. Have relevant training in counseling supervision (Relevant training in counseling supervision can be defined as having a minimum of three clock hours (e.g. workshop, class) in counseling supervision, that includes an understanding of (a) models and theories of counseling supervision, (b) ethical issues relevant to counseling supervision, and (c) multicultural issues relevant to counseling supervision). Note: On-site supervisors will describe their training and experience with counseling supervision on the Practicum/ Internship Supervisor Agreement Form. Supervisors without prior training in counseling supervision are not excluded from participating as an on-site supervisor. However, these supervisors are required to participate in a website-based training on counseling supervision, provided free of charge by the Department of Counselor Education. The Clinical Coordinator will contact the on-site supervisor directly to set up the training after reviewing the Practicum/Internship On-Site Supervisor Agreement Form. PRACTICUM & INTERNSHIP FAQ S PRACTICUM FAQ s - Students should consult with their advisor and/or Clinical Coordinator before completing the Practicum Registration document. - Students should ensure they have met the Practicum course prerequisites. - Students must submit the Practicum Registration document by the deadline: January 5 th. - Students should retain copies of all paperwork to keep in their records with the exception of documentation with identifying client information. 1. When will I need to start looking for a Practicum site? It is never too early to begin looking for a Practicum site! Students who procrastinate doing so run the risk of not securing a site by the deadline. Therefore, please do not delay in getting started. Your advisor and the Clinical Coordinator can help you with this process. 2. What if I fail to meet the application deadline for turning in the Practicum Registration document? The registration deadline for Practicum is of great importance. As explained in question #1, students who are not actively searching for a site well before the deadline run the risk of not securing a site. If a student is not able to secure a site by the deadline, they will not be able to take the class and will have to take the 18
class at a later semester. In most cases, this will push back the student s graduation date by one year, at minimum. 3. How will I know if my site is approved? The Clinical Coordinator will review all registration documents in the order they are received. It is imperative that all information is filled out accurately and completely on the registration document; this ensures the Clinical Coordinator has all the information necessary to approve the site/supervisor. You will receive a posted grade of approval via Blackboard from the Clinical Coordinator if your site/ supervisor have been approved. You cannot start accruing hours until (a) the ASU academic semester begins and (b) you have received the approval grade in Blackboard. 4. My potential supervisor does not have prior training in supervision. Can he or she be my supervisor? As long as the on-site supervisor meets the other requirements, they will have access to a free supervisor training/orientation provided by ASU. The Clinical Coordinator will be in contact with your on-site supervisor after you have submitted the Practicum On-Site Supervisor Agreement form. Students cannot accrue any hours at their Practicum site until their supervisor has the required training in clinical supervision. 5. I don t know if I want to be a clinical mental health or school counselor. Can I use Practicum to explore my options? No. Students in Practicum must complete their hours during Practicum within the specialty program (i.e., clinical mental health or school counseling) they are pursuing. 6. Can I use my current employment site as a Practicum site? Students can get paid for their Practicum experience if they are fortunate enough to secure a site that provides compensation. However, not all students get paid for their clinical experiences. That being said, many students are currently employed in the clinical mental health or school counseling field. These students can use their current employment setting as their Practicum site. However, a few items need to be taken into consideration: * Students should look at the clinical experience as an opportunity to further develop and enhance their counseling skills. Students employed at sites longer than six months and/ or doing professional work other than counseling (e.g. case management, case work, school aide) are required to seek out new opportunities at their employment site in consultation with their on-site supervisor. Students will be asked to list these additional duties on the Practicum Registration document. * Having the same person serve as your on-site supervisor and your employment supervisor may be a potential and problematic dual relationship. Students should strongly consider finding a different person to supervise their Practicum experience and at times, this may be required. * CACREP, our accrediting organization, has specific requirements for the clinical experiences. Students should look closely at the CACREP standards required 19
for Practicum and ensure that their current employment/ Practicum site will be able to fulfill these requirements. The Practicum site should allow for developing counseling skills with actual clients and learning about the roles and responsibilities of counselors in the respective setting, e.g. school counseling. 7. When can I begin collecting hours? After the site and supervisor are approved, students can being collecting hours once the official ASU semester begins (refer to Academic Calendar for specific dates), although the first face-to face class or ZOOM class may differ. We do not allow students to begin collecting hours before the first day of the official ASU semester. 8. What is the purpose of the face-to-face class? The face-to-face class times and/or live classroom ZOOM class serves as the group supervision requirement. Students should be prepared to discuss their clinical experiences during these sessions. Additionally, class time and/or live classroom supervision includes important instruction such as suicide assessment, working with special populations, etc. According to CACREP, students participate in an average of 1 ½ hours per week of group supervision on a regular schedule throughout the entire Practicum. 9. Who performs consultation with my on-site supervisor? Your on-site supervisor should expect to be contacted 5x throughout the semester by either the Clinical Coordinator or the Practicum instructor in order to monitor student learning. This contact is to (a) ensure ongoing communication with the site, (b) to help build relationships with sites and supervisors, (c) to field questions the supervisor may have, (d) to check in on the student s progress at his/her site, and (e) to offer additional support to the on-site supervisor. The consultation may consist of emails, phone calls, and/or a face-to-face meeting, if necessary. Note that the consultation process occurs in addition to the supervision evaluation process. 10. What if I don t finish my practicum hours? Can I get an incomplete? No, you may not accrue practicum hours past the last day of the academic semester. Failure to complete your practicum hours and required paperwork, will result in having to re-take the practicum course the following year. You will no longer be in cohort and may be asked to step out of the program for a year or only take one class per semester until you have successfully completed Practicum. You will need to work with your Academic Advisor on your degree plan moving forward. Note: All Online Plus students technically earn a SP grade in the Spring semester so they can attend the subsequent summer intensive. This grade does not grant permission to accrue hours past the spring semester deadline. 11. What else may be expected of me as a Practicum student? Students are expected to behave professionally at their site at all times. This includes, but is not limited to the following: ensuring they are dressed appropriately for their site, maintaining their anticipated work schedule at their site, communicating 20
to their on-site supervisor if they need to miss a day at their site, and for making arrangements to transition their clients/students to another counselor at the end of the Practicum experience. 12. Who can I use as clients for my recorded counseling sessions? Client recruitment-please consult on-site supervisor, ASU supervisor and ethical guidelines to avoid dual relationship issues and potential dangerous situations. Client selection is a collaboration between on-site supervisor, ASU supervisor and take into account safety consideration. 13. I understand that I am required to have weekly site supervision that averages one hour per week. My on-site supervisor will be out next week. How do I get supervision for this week? Students need to work out arrangements for site supervision directly with their onsite supervisor. If a supervisor will be out of the office for personal or professional reasons, the student and supervisor can plan for additional supervision time for the following week. If an on-site supervisor will be out of the office for longer than one week, the student and supervisor must make arrangements for the student to obtain supervision from another professional, under the guidance of the on-site supervisor. Students should ideally schedule for 1 clock hour of weekly supervision. However, this may not be possible at all sites or with all supervisors. As the CACREP standard requires weekly supervision that averages one hour per week, the student and on-site supervisor can schedule shorter, but more frequent supervision sessions as long as the student is being adequately supervised in the shorter time span. 14. I would like to attend a two day training on (special topic). Can I count these hours towards my 100 clock hours? Professional development may be counted as indirect hours. Indirect hours and professional development hours should be determined in consultation with your onsite supervisor and ASU supervisor. Travel to and from the training cannot be counted. 15. I accumulated the minimum 40/100 clock hours before the end of the semester. Do I have to remain at my site? Students are required to remain at their site throughout the Practicum course, even if the minimum number of hours for Practicum has been completed. In addition, students need to honor their commitment made to the site and clients/students. 16. If I accrue over 100 hours for Practicum, can these count towards Internship I hours? Students can only accrue hours for Internship I and II once the course has officially begun and your site/supervisor has been approved by the Clinical Coordinator. 17. I am staying at the same Practicum site and with the same supervisor for Internship I. Do I need to complete a new Internship Registration document? 21