Practicum and Internship Handbook for Masters Program in

Community/Agency and School Counseling

I. INTRODUCTION

A. Purpose of the Handbook

This handbook is designed to introduce prospective student interns to departmental expectations and requirements for satisfactory completion of ELH 690 (Practicum) and ELH 691 (Counseling Internship). No handbook can ever completely prepare 6ne for the Practicum and Internship experience and resultant learning can come only through the exploration of the unknown, taking risks, making mistakes, and incorporating this learning into one's counseling. However, this handbook can provide information about much of the necessary paperwork, suggest ways to ensure solid communication between student and supervisor, and share background data relative to professional standards and ethics. The intent of this handbook is to concentrate on the mechanics, thereby freeing the intern to focus on and maximize the learning experience that the Internship is intended to provide.

B. Prerequisites

1. Practicum: The following prerequisites must be completed prior to taking the Practicum:

ELH 620 Human Development Counseling

ELH 623 Pre-Practicum in Counseling

ELH 624 Theories and Techniques of Counseling

ELH 625 Principles of Group Counseling

2. Internship: The student must successfully complete Practicum and have consent of the instructor to enroll in ELH 691 (Internship).

C. Purpose of the Practicum and Internship.

Practicum and Internship emphasize counseling skills. Although interns are expected to assume a broad spectrum of counseling roles and functions, the focus of Practicum and Internship is on individual and group counseling. The intent is to relate academic and theoretical learning to field experience. The Practicum/Internship experience provides interns with evaluative feedback on their knowledge, attitudes, and skills with specific client populations. The intern participates in as many activities as feasible in the setting that are similar to the responsibilities of an employed counselor. The purpose of Practicum/internship is to provide realistic, relevant, and meaningful experiences. The Practicum and Internship are designed to satisfy requirements for professional training as stipulated by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accreditation standards.

II. SELECTING A SITE

Each student is responsible for selecting an appropriate site with the approval of her or his advisor. Selecting the most appropriate site depends on a number of criteria, and the student is advised to consider carefully the following guidelines.

A. When selecting a site, you may wish to consider the type of clients with whom you will be working. Thus, you may be concerned with the following questions: Will I be exposed to a heterogeneous group of people? Will my clients be of varied socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds? Will I be able to work with client populations with different presenting problems? Will I be allowed to choose with whom I wish to work, or will I be assigned clients?

B. Facilities also play an important role in site selection. Certain minimum standards must be met. Suitably equipped office space must be available to you to ensure counseling privacy and the ability to videotape each session. Additional facilities and equipment (such as cameras and VCRs, observation rooms, computer availability) may also be site selection considerations.

C. A major portion of one's evaluation is based upon video tapes of on-site counseling sessions. Therefore, the student is responsible for selecting a site that ensures on-site taping may be accomplished.

III. SITE SUPERVISOR

The Practicum student or intern is ultimately responsible for communicating ELH departmental expectations and requirements (application procedures, assignments, taping of sessions, etc.) to the site supervisor. The following steps are suggested as a means of assuring effective communication between the student and the site supervisor.

A. Each site supervisor will receive a letter/syllabus from the ELH office which outlines course expectations (see Practicum/Internship packet). However, the student's job is to discuss fully all departmental expectations with the site supervisor.

B. Early in the semester, the university supervisor will host a meeting for the site supervisors. A letter of invitation will be sent to the site supervisor, but the student should also discuss this meeting with the site supervisor.

C. The student should be prepared to work on a number of objectives during the Practicum/Internship. These should be communicated to the site supervisor and faculty (preferably in writing). It is advisable to schedule an early meeting with the site supervisor to discuss/review these plans.

D. As a professional courtesy, the student should provide the site supervisor with a schedule of the beginning and ending dates of the Practicum/Internship as well as dates (holidays and the like) when the student would not expect to be present at the site.

E. At least once during the semester, the university supervisor will visit the site to meet with the site supervisor and the student. During such visitations the university supervisor will discuss the intern's progress, course expectations, and may wish to observe the intern conducting one or more counseling sessions.

F. The student must spend a minimum of one hour per week with the site supervisor. The content of these sessions is determined jointly by the student and the site supervisor. The format of supervision will vary; some site supervisors will wish to critique tapes, while others will simply consult with the student counselor. In any case, the student has the responsibility of making sure that she/he receives the best possible supervision. If concerns arise, the student should first talk with the site supervisor. However, if problems persist, the intern should relate such concerns to the university supervisor.

G. Evaluations of student counselors should be completed by the site supervisor at midterm and near termination of the Practicum/Internship. The form for these evaluations should be given to the site supervisor in the beginning of the Internship so that the departmental expectations are clear (see Practicum/internship packet).

IV. INSURANCE

All students are required to have professional student malpractice insurance when enrolled in Practicum and/or Internship courses. Application forms to join ACA and obtain insurance through ACA are available in the ELH office. Students must carry $1,000,000-$3,000,000 coverage. Securing insurance takes time and students should apply at least one month prior to the start date of Practicum/internship.

V. ACTIVITIES AND GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

A. Practicum

The Practicum experience is designed and supervised by the instructors for ELH 690 & 691 and by the site supervisor. Students enrolled in Practicum are required to spend a total of 150 clock hours of Practicum activities. Of these 150 hours, a minimum of 40 hours must be in direct service work with clients appropriate to one's program of study. An emphasis is placed on developing individual and group interaction skills. The Practicum student is to have one hour per week in supervision with the site supervisor, one hour per week with a program faculty member, and two and one-half hours per week in group supervision (class time). No clinical hours may be earned until after the course has commenced (ELH 690 or ELH 691).

Students are required to complete the Practicum/Internship packet by the first week of the semester. This contract requires a signature from the site supervisor. A site supervisor evaluation must be filled out by the student at midterm and by the start of final examinations. Students are also required to keep a weekly log (see Practicum/internship packet) describing their field experiences, the date of the experience, the amount of time spent and the student's reactions to the experience. Students are required to attend all individual and group supervisory meetings held during the semester.

B. INTERNSHIP

The Internship (ELH 691) is a required three semester hour supervised opportunity for the student to perform all the activities that a regularly employed counselor in an agency or school setting would be expected to perform. Students enrolled in Internship are required to spend a total of 600 clock hours in that setting. Of the 600 hours, 240 hours are to be spent in direct service work with clients appropriate to one's program of study. The Internship students are to have one hour per week in supervision with the site supervisor, one and one-half hours every week in supervision with peers. The student will meet once during the semester with a university faculty member and will attend class each week.

In some instances, students and employers may choose to have the 750 hours Practicum/Internship experience extend over fall and spring. The student would work at the site approximately 20 hours per week for two semesters. If clock hours need to be counted between fall and spring semesters, a one credit hour Practicum elective is offered during January Interim.

VI. SUPERVISION

A. Practicum

The Practicum student is to have one hour per week in supervision with the site supervisor, one hour supervision per week with a program faculty member and two and one-half hours per week in group supervision. The Practicum experience is designed and supervised by the instructor of the ELH 690 class and by the field site supervisor. Site supervisors are required to have a minimum of a master's degree with a supervised field practice and Internship, and have a minimum of two years of counseling experience at the appropriate level. The site supervisor is expected to acquaint the student with the site and its activities, meet weekly with the student to discuss progress, participate in an evaluation of the student, and consult with the university supervisor about the student's progress. The university supervisor is expected to assist the student by providing weekly individual and group supervision with other students in similar field experiences, consulting with the site supervisor about the student's progress, assuring that all required field experience forms are submitted, attending all university meetings of supervisors, assuring that all students complete competencies and submit grades for the students at the end of the semester.

B. Internship

The Internship students are to have one hour per week in supervision with the site supervisor, one and one-half hours per week in peer supervision, and two and one-half hours per week in group supervision (ELH 691 class time). The Internship site supervisor is expected to acquaint the student with the site and its personnel, meet once a week with the student to discuss progress, participate in a midterm and final evaluation of the student, and consult with the university supervisor about the student's progress. The university supervisor is expected to coordinate supervision for each student, conduct group supervision with students in similar field experiences, critique video counseling tapes for each student, consult with the site supervisor about the student's progress, assure that all required Internship forms are submitted, attend all university meetings of supervisors, assure that students complete all Internship requirements, assess student counselor competencies, and submit grades for the students at the end of the semester.

VII. PROCEDURES AND STEPS (SUMMARY)

Step 1 Identify a site and a site supervisor.

Step 2 Obtain professional malpractice insurance. It usually takes about one month to process an ACA insurance application.

Step 3 Visit the site (after site and supervisor approval) to plan with the site supervisor prior to the first week of class. Inform the site supervisor of the required meeting during the second week of class.

Step 4 Become familiar with responsibilities and assist the site supervisor in understanding his/her responsibilities, as described in this handbook.

Step 5 If you have an emergency situation making it impossible to proceed with the Practicum or Internship, notify the ELH office immediately. You must reapply for the semester you choose for re-admission.

SUMMARY OF HOURS REQUIRED

Combined Practicum and Internship hours that must be clocked 280 direct hours

470 indirect hours

750 Total clock hours (minimum)

Practicum

40 direct hours

110 indirect hours

150 total clock hours

Internship

240 direct hours

360 indirect hours

600 total clock hours

Notes:

Direct clock hours are exactly that: direct service to clients as in one-to-one counseling, group counseling, family counseling, group presentations addressing counseling topics (conflict resolution, self-esteem, communication, etc.).

Indirect clock hours are all the activities one performs in connection with the specifics and protocols of the Practicum/ Internship site.

Students may begin to accumulate clock hours to apply to the 750 total during specific summer and interim Practicum elective courses and during the Practicum. Clock hours earned in these lab courses may be applied cumulatively each term.

Students may earn clock hours in their current work setting only if they are engaging in new learning; the Practicum/internship experience must be a new experience, not simply maintenance of what the student has been doing.

School Counselor students only (CACREP).

Since the Practicum is a generic skills program, that is, all ELH counseling students are expected to address and learn the same counseling skills, school counseling students do not specifically have to have a school site placement to earn the 40 supervised direct service hours and the 110 indirect hours (total of 150 hours).

During the school counselor's Internship, the student may earn up to 300 supervised direct service hours in a non-school placement provided the following conditions are met. One, the clients must be school age children; two, the non-school site must be related to the school site; three, the student must be supervised by a school counselor who meets the on site supervisor standards.

Selected State of Illinois Requirements for school counselor students

At least 3 semester hours must be earned in a supervised counseling practice providing interaction with individuals and groups of an appropriate, school-aged population. The Practicum must include a minimum of 100 clock hours, 40 hours of which must involve direct service work with school-aged children.

At least 3 semester hours must be earned in a post-practicum Internship that provides an actual on-the-job experience in a school setting. The Internship must be a sustained, continuous, structured and supervised experience lasting for a substantial period of time in which the candidate engages in the performance of various aspects of the counseling role and is gradually introduced to the full range of responsibilities associated with that role.

The Internship shall be waived for an applicant who holds a comparable out-of-state school service personnel certificate and has had two years experience as a school counselor

For applicants with less than two years of teaching experience, the Internship must include a minimum of 600 clock hours, 240 hours of which must involve direct service with an appropriate clientele.

For applicants with two or more years of teaching experience, the Internship must include a minimum of 300 clock hours, 200 of which must involve direct service contract with an appropriate clientele.

"Appropriate clientele" means school-aged children, parents, teachers and other parties interested in student's welfare.

VIII. HINTS FOR SUCCESS

Each site placement is idiosyncratic, so not all of the ideas and information that follow will apply to each field experience.

A. Dress appropriately and in accordance with existing dress codes within the site setting. Also, call the site if you will be delayed or absent. Be on time for meetings with clients and staff. You wish to be treated as a professional and need to act accordingly. Consider that dress and behavior reflect not only on the student but upon the university and future students.

B. Select a site that is as similar as possible to the setting in which you eventually wish to work. The advantages are twofold: you will discover if you do want to work in such a setting and if so, you will make important career contacts.

C. Select a site early to avoid last minute, unsatisfactory placement. This also reduces the risk of not meeting program approval.

D. Go to your site at least a week before the placement officially commences. This allows time to become acquainted with your coworkers and the site's procedures. It also provides the opportunity to learn your way around and to select and/or arrange office space. In essence, arriving ahead of schedule will permit you extra time to

attend to hundreds of details before you actually are faced with the awesome task of counseling clients.

E. Take advantage of co-worker's expertise; you have built-in resources, and you must take the initiative in making the best use of your experience.

F. Become involved in a variety of on-site activities; running groups, participating in in-service workshops and staff meetings, etc. These are all unique opportunities. Not only do you gain valuable experience, but you will have a chance to discover what you do and do not enjoy about a counseling position.

G. The videotapes of your counseling sessions are a primary means of assessing your progress; thus, your supervisor(s) must be able to see your tapes. Therefore, you are strongly urged to invest in good quality tapes. Use of a microphone attachment will ensure adequate quality sound.

H. Clearly, the key to a successful Practicum/Internship is involvement with clients, staff, supervisors, and peers. You may get by with doing the minimum: cutting corners, avoiding risks, and not trying new behaviors. However, your experience will be exactly what you choose to make of it. What you put into the courses is what you will get back. You will never have another opportunity for such intensive supervision.

IX. PRACTICUM & INTERNSHIP SUPERVISORS

The following are some guidelines for practicing counselors who are supervising students enrolled in, ELH 690 & 691. Site supervisors spend at least an hour a week in direct supervision with the student. During Practicum, the university supervisor will also be spending an hour a week with each student. As compensation for your time, leadership and skill, the University offers a stipend for the Practicum and for the Internship. There is a difference in

emphasis between the Practicum and the Internship that will make some difference in the activities and the amount of time spent on certain activities depending on which class the student is taking. The Practicum stresses counseling skills. Individual and small group counseling activities should be the focus of the major part of the time the student spends on site. Other activities may be included in the student's experience, however the bulk of the time should be directed toward individual and group counseling. The Internship focuses on the range of services provided by the counselor. It is appropriate for the student to be involved in the variety of services the counselor provides including consultation, coordination, etc.

X. SUGGESTIONS FOR SITE SUPERVISORS

A. Provide the student counselor with an orientation to the agency or school, faculty and staff. Introduce the student and show her or him the ins and outs of the site. Explain any unique features of the site and the population it serves.

B. For the first week or two let the student observe you as much as possible in counseling situations. Discuss with the student your personal orientation and any specific procedures that the student should be aware of working in your school or agency setting.

C. When you feel that the student is ready, help her or him get started working directly with clients. One way to do this, and to check the student's readiness to work with your clients, is to begin by co-leading a group or two.

D. When you feel that students are ready for more independence, we would like them to have the opportunity to work with individual clients and to lead groups as the primary counselor. The first individual and or group the student counselor works with should be "normal" with a developmental emphasis. As the student gains skills and confidence, more challenging situations may be appropriate.

E. It would be helpful for you to provide feedback to the student as often as possible. We require at least two formal evaluation sessions with the student, one at midterm and the second at the end of the semester. This will enable the student to work on any specific weaknesses the two of you discover in your work together and will allow the student time to work with the university supervisor to improve skills as well.

F. Please feel free to contact the university supervisor at any time if you have any questions or need clarification.

G. The university supervisor will arrange site visits through the student counselor. The university supervisor will visit the site once during the Practicum and once during the Internship. During the visits the university supervisor might wish to observe the student working with clients. The university supervisor is available for site visits as needed to help the student and the site supervisor during the semester.

H. Student counselors will be required to complete interview notes for each individual and group session at some sites. They will also be asked to maintain a log of their activities and the time they spend in each activity. They should also complete any forms or paperwork you require for the normal administration of duties performed by the student counselor.

I. The student counselor is encouraged to join and participate in the state and national associations that promote counseling and the counseling profession. Students are required to have liability insurance before they begin to work independently in your site.

J. Grades for the class are given by the instructor for the course. Your input is a major part of the consideration in the grading process. Please be sure to return your evaluation form at the end of the semester or contact the university supervisor for an oral report.