Community Agency Counseling Training Program
Ed.S. Practicum
Ed.S. Externship
The CSDC Community Agency Counseling specialist-level training program is intended to assist practicum and intern students in their ongoing development as generalist practitioners. In particular, the training experience emphasizes short-term therapy, college counseling issues, preventive approaches in mental health, e.g., outreach programming and consultation, intensive supervision and collegial interaction.
Practicum
The practicum for EdS Community Agency Counseling graduate students provides an opportunity for students to develop and enhance their basic counseling skills in a university counseling center setting.
Prerequisites
Students wishing to complete a practicum at the CSDC must be second-year graduate students in Community Agency Counseling; must have successfully completed the program's required preparatory counseling courses; must have permission of the Counseling Psychology Program Coordinator and Practicum Coordinator; and must obtain their own personal professional liability insurance by the beginning of the practicum experience.
Responsibilities
The primary focus of the practicum experience is on the development of clinical skill. To that end practicum students see 4-5 individual clients per week, process observe a therapy group (1.5 hours per week), receive one hour of individual supervision, and are responsible for the maintenance of their client and process observation notes. Practicum students may elect to co-facilitate psychoeducational outreach programs with other staff members. There are additional training opportunities which students may choose to attend (e.g., Training Seminar, Case Conference, Groups Supervision, Brief Therapy Treatment Team, Psychiatric Consultation, and Staff Meeting), but these are in addition to the previously mentioned required activities.
Practicum students are expected to work 10-15 hours per week and to accrue a minimum of 100 hours of service, at least 40 of which must be in direct service hours (e.g., individual and group counseling, psychoeducational program presentations). Practicum students are expected to abide by the established policies and procedures of the CSDC and the ethical standards of the counseling profession. Practicum students are also expected to participate in an orientation to the CSDC and the practicum experience prior to the start of the practicum.
Learning Objectives
Students completing an EdS Community Agency Counseling practicum at the CSDC will acquire the following knowledge, skills and experiences. Practicum students will:
- develop skill in operational/agency factors related to work in a university counseling center
- enhance individual counseling skills and knowledge
- acquire group process observation skills
- demonstrate professional and ethical behavior
- develop skill in engaging in the supervision process
- enhance personal qualities relevant to effective counseling practice
Deadlines
Application deadlines for Fall semester: April 15
Application deadlines for Spring semester: November 1
Students interested in completing a summer practicum must petition the Coordinator of Graduate Training for an exception to the CSDC's policy of not sponsoring summer practica experiences.
Application Process
- Schedule a meeting with the Coordinator of Training at the CSDC by calling 568-6552
- Submit the following application materials before the stated deadline:
- Cover letter stating interest in the CSDC as a practicum site and how it relates to short- and long-term career goals
- Resume (with listing of classes completed and to be completed during practicum)
- Name of professor who is familiar with your clinical skills and will serve as reference
- Applicants are chosen based upon recommendations from the Practicum Coordinator. Candidates will be notified of their selection within 2-3 weeks. The CSDC usually accepts 2-3 practicum students each semester
Questions
Questions about EdS practicum experiences at the CSDC should be directed to Tom Metzinger, Coordinator of Ed.S. Training, CSDC, MSC 0801, 568-6552, or metzintg@jmu.edu
Externship
The Ed.S. Externship Training Program at the CSDC is designed to be flexible enough to allow internship students the opportunity to sample from a variety of activities to meet their unique training needs. Interns work with their individual supervisors and the Coordinator of Training to design a training program which best suits their training needs and which still meets the needs of the CSDC. The choices trainees make are included as part of their Training Agreement.
Prerequisites
Students wishing to complete an internship at the CSDC must be third year graduate students in the Community Agency Counseling EdS program at JMU; must have successfully completed their practicum experience and comprehensive examination and have the approval of the Counseling Psychology Program and Internship Coordinator. Interns are expected to obtain their own professional liability insurance prior to the start of the internship experience.
Responsibilities
EdS Internship students work 25-30 hours per week for the academic year and must complete a total of 900 hours over the course of the internship year; 240 hours of the total must be in direct service activities. Interns are expected to abide by the established policies and procedures of the CSDC and the ethical standards of the counseling profession. Interns also are expected to participate in a two-week long orientation to the CSDC and the internship prior to the start of the start of the academic year.
Interns are paid a graduate assistant stipend by the University for their service during the academic year. They also receive a tuition waiver for a total of 18 hours of academic credit.
Direct Service Activities
- Individual counseling, 7-8 clients per week
- Intake assessment, 2 hours per week
- Group counseling, 1.5 hours per week
- Educational skills programming, 1 hour per week
- Psychoeducational outreach programming, 1 hour per week
- Specialization area, 1 hour per week
- Consultation, .5 hour per week
Training Activities
- Individual supervision, 2 hours per week
- Groups Supervision, 1 hour per week
- Brief Therapy Treatment Team, .5 hour per week
- Case Conference, 1 hour per week
- Psychiatric Consultation, 1 hour per week
Administrative Activities
- Staff meeting, 2 hours per week
- Case management, variable
Learning Objectives
Students completing an EdS Community Agency Counseling internship at the CSDC will acquire the following knowledge, skills and experiences. Interns will:
- develop skill in operational/agency factors related to work in a university counseling center
- enhance individual counseling skills and knowledge
- develop skill in intake assessment
- acquire group co-facilitation skills
- gain knowledge and skill in crisis intervention
- improve psychoeducational programming skills
- demonstrate expertise in one specialization area
- demonstrate professional and ethical behavior
- develop skill in engaging in the supervision process
- enhance personal qualities relevant to effective counseling practice
Deadlines
Application materials must be received at the CSDC by February 15th.
Application Process
- Schedule a meeting with the Coordinator of Training at the CSDC by calling 568-6552
- Submit the following application materials before the stated deadline:
- Cover letter stating interest in the CSDC as an internship site and how it relates to short- and long-term career goals
- Current resume
- Names and phone numbers of two references, at least one of whom must be familiar with your clinical skills
- Written clinical work sample (e.g., written portion of comprehensive exam, treatment plan, case summary)
- Materials will be reviewed and selected candidates scheduled for interviews during the first two weeks in March.
- Applicants will be notified of their selection by mid March.
Questions
Questions about EdS practicum experiences at the CSDC should be directed to Tom Metzinger, Coordinator of Ed.S. Training, CSDC, MSC 0801, 568-6552, or metzintg@jmu.edu
