COUN 5389:

 Site-Based Internship

Spring 2006

Instructor: Dr. E. A. Schmidt                                                                              Office: ED 4016

Phone: 512-245-3979                                                                                             Office hours: by appointment            

E-mail: es17@txstate.edu

Course Description:

An on-site practicum-internship occurring in a school or agency setting with supervision by on-site and university supervisors. May be repeated based on the recommendation of the counseling faculty. Graded on a credit (CR), no credit (F) basis.

Prerequisites : COUN 5689, recommendation of COUN 5689 supervisor, and consent of COUN 5389 supervisors.

Course Objectives:

1.             The student will demonstrate knowledge of the theoretical foundations of counseling, systematically articulate their own professional philosophy, and integrate this philosophy into practice. (CACREP IIK: 5b)

2.             The student will demonstrate appropriate strategies and interventions that integrate theory, client assessment information, and professional counseling skills while providing a safe and secure therapeutic environment. (CACREP IIK: 5b, 5c)

3.             The student will demonstrate a working knowledge of ethical standards, and an ability to exercise ethical, moral reasoning in all matters relative to professional practice. (CACREP IIK: 1h)

4.             The student will demonstrate a commitment to becoming a responsible and contributing member of the counseling profession. (CACREP IIK: 5a)

5.             The student will demonstrate an understanding of the ongoing relationship between a counselor's self-care and professional effectiveness. (CACREP IIK: 5a)

6.             The student will demonstrate an understanding of the dynamics of the client-counselor relationship. (CACREP IIK: 5b)

7.             The student will demonstrate assimilation and accommodation of individual differences that include but are not limited to differences of age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, spirituality, socioeconomic class, and educational level, the physically challenged, and implement this understanding in personal, professional and community relationships. (CACREP CC: A5)

8.              The student will demonstrate the ability to select, administer, and interpret, assess and evaluate instruments and techniques. (CACREP IIK: 7g)

9.              The student will demonstrate ethical and legal considerations as they apply to the selection, administration, and interpretation of instruments and techniques.   (CACREP IIK: 7i)

10.            The student will demonstrate the use of research to improve counseling effectiveness. (CACREP IIK: 8e)

11.            The student will demonstrate ethical and legal considerations as they apply to the use of research. (CACREP IIK: 8f)

Objectives 1-11 meet CACREP Standards for CC:D, MFT: D, and SC: D.

Methods of Instruction:

Lectures via multiple multimedia formats (e.g., class discussions, powerpoint, handouts, etc.), outside activities, small group role plays, and experiential exercises.

Course Requirements:

The Internship is not just a collection of hours. Your work must be considered quality counseling by your supervisor(s). You must complete 300 hours this semester, of which 120 must occur in direct contact with clients. Session transcriptions, outside readings for particular situations, and other specific assignments may be required at the discretion of the supervisor.

A. Setting up your site -

1.             Students arrange their own site placements. There are notebooks in the counseling suite designed and created by previous interns. These notebooks describe sites where students have worked. You may establish a site based on your own initiative as well. Simply clear it with me.  

B. The staffings will be held in the education building. At the second meeting, you must bring:

• Your current address and telephone number, the name of the site(s) where you are doing your internship, a map to your site, complete address and telephone numbers, name of your site supervisor, and your approximate weekly schedule;
• The packet of internship materials (required forms), including a signed memorandum of agreement with your supervisor and a proposed internship activity plan. If you do not have these forms, notify me and I’ll email them to you; and

3.             Proof of your paid liability insurance;

• Staffings - You are expected to attend and fully participate in all staffings. The dates of the

staffing sessions are August 28, September 11, September 25, October 9, October 23, November 6, and November 20. In all staffings, be prepared to:

1.             Present hours;

2.             Give an evaluation of your last counseling session with a client;

3.             Share your goal for the upcoming session with that client;

4.             Discuss (in accordance with the Code of Ethics) any session(s) that you observed;

5.             Be involved in all cases. Ask yourself, "What would I do?" as each case is discussed;

D.    Keep appropriate documentation –

1.             Document each weekly meeting with your supervisor. Remember to have your supervisor sign off at your weekly meetings, as well.

2.             Some categories regarding direct and indirect hours are listed in the internship packet. However, you may have to adapt the categories to your particular setting.

• By the end of the semester, you will need to have documented 300 hours (180 indirect and 120 direct). If you are on the school counseling track, you’ll be required to document 600 hours (360 indirect and 240 direct) in one semester. (CACREP: CC:D, MFT:D, SC:D)

E.    Things to give me at the end of the semester –

• One sheet listing all hours and signed by your supervisor;
• 3 copies of an orientation notebook for your site. You will give one copy to your respective agency(s), which is a professional way to communicate appreciation. One copy will go to the shelves in suite 4012 (a.k.a., the Counseling Suite) so future students can access it for assistance in selecting a site. Finally, one copy will be given to the professor. Completion of this notebook will also help you become aware of your agency, thereby expanding networking and professional opportunities. If your site already has such a manual, revising this manual is acceptable for the project. Include brochures or publications describing your setting, as well as any that your site distributes to clients. Also, include any forms, copies of articles, or other printed materials you found helpful or relevant, as well as any materials that are routinely used with clients. Then, modify the outline below to fit your site.

INTERNSHIP ORIENTATION MANUAL

Your Agency’s Name

Address and Phone Number

• An Overview of your school or agency
• Program or Mission Statement
• Organizational Chart and Staff List
• Client Materials
• Schedules of regular activities for either clients or staff
• Schedule of a typical week for you
• Policies & Procedures
• Readings and Resources.

3.             A completed evaluation from your on-site supervisor (see internship packet).

F.   Application for temporary license -

• Call the LPC board and ask for a packet for the temporary license. To receive a temporary license, send your final transcript (which shows you completed a master's degree) to the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors, along with a passing score on the NCE. Remember that any hours you accrue between the end of your internship and the day that your temporary license is approved will not be counted toward the 3000 hours needed for licensure.
• Any hours over the 300 required by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors (i.e., the   LPC board) that you accrue during your time in the program may be counted toward your 3000 post-grad hours (maximum of 400 surplus hours counted).

3.             Make sure that I sign your “Practicum Documentation Form” for this class. If you do not have one, please see me.  

Grading:

Evaluations are on a credit/no credit basis. Consideration will be given to the student’s skill level, attendance, progress, participation at one’s site, participation in class meetings, ethical and professional demeanor, and the site-based supervisor's evaluation. Failure to interact with peers, facilitators, clients, supervisor(s), or faculty in a manner consistent with the performance expectations of a professional counselor may result in a failing grade in the course and a referral to a faculty review committee. Individuals who do not complete the requirements of the course by May 10 th will receive an F (failure to complete requirements) or PR (progress - which requires re-enrollment in the course).

If you fail to earn the required hours for this course, you will be required to re-enroll. You may re-enroll until you meet the hour requirement of the entire internship (total of 600 hours – 360 indirect and 240 direct over two semesters).

Texas State University seeks to provide reasonable accommodations for all qualified individuals with disabilities. This university will adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as required to afford equal opportunity. It is the student’s responsibility to register with Disability Support Services and to contact the faculty member in a timely manner to arrange for appropriate accommodations.