Areas of Concentration
Although Advanced Practicum counselors are being trained as generalist counselors, some of their direct hours may be used to focus on a chosen area of concentration. These areas of areas of concentration include the following categories:
- Student Population – International students or 1st generation students.
- Presenting issues – Eating disorders, anger management, social anxiety, substance abuse, sexual abuse and trauma recovery, or gender issues.
- Psychotherapeutic Approaches/Interventions – Psychodynamic therapy, mindfulness, biofeedback, crisis intervention, or outreach/consultation.
Each counselor will create an individualized contract with their supervisor and the training coordinator that will determine their weekly schedule.
Individual Counseling
Trainees typically see 6-8 clients per week. After an initial assessment of the trainees’ needs, supervisors work with each trainee to select cases that will facilitate development in particular areas. The Counseling and Wellness Center endorses a brief psychotherapy model (1-12 sessions) and incorporates a variety of theoretical orientations, such as humanistic, feminist, psychodynamic, and cognitive-behavioral. All trainees will see a range of cases that include work with individuals who require very short term (1-6 sessions) problem-oriented interventions as well as brief psychotherapy (7-12 sessions) involving more complex therapeutic interventions.
Trainees make individual presentations of cases in a weekly group supervision meeting, and receive supervision from their individual supervisor each week. Both individual and group supervision provide ongoing monitoring of case conceptualization, treatment planning, and intervention. Trainees are asked to integrate the application of career counseling interventions in their individual therapy as needed. This may include applications of interest and career counseling inventories (such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Strong Interest Inventory, and the CHOMP program).
The CWC does not diagnose clients. However, Practicum and Advanced Practicum/Co. Ed. Specialist Intern students are expected to be able to engage in discussions and know possibly relevant diagnoses. They receive seminars on variety of forms of conceptualizing client issues. In addition, they are encouraged to attend Continuing Education programs that provide evidence based practices relevant to treatment.
Group Counseling and Workshops
There are several group therapy training opportunities each semester, and which may include: process observation, co-leadership, or case consultation meetings.
Process Observation
Process observation is available to all students. This is an opportunity for experiential learning without the responsibility of leadership. A process observer is often a silent member in the group who monitors the process and group dynamics occurring between members, members to leaders, and the group as a whole.
Process observers agree to attend every group session and participate in weekly group supervision with the group leader(s) to discuss their observations, reactions and feelings experienced during the session.
Using a developmental training model, as the semester progresses the trainee and the co-leaders may decide for the process observer to have a speaking role within the group. For example, the process observer may be asked to share their process observations with the group depending on the type of the group, the composition of the group members, and the style of the group facilitator(s).
Group Therapy Co-Leadership Supervision
Advanced Practicum students may participate as a co-leader in a therapy group if they have taken a graduate level group therapy course or a comparable course approved by the group coordinator.
If a trainee does not meet the criteria listed above, they may still be eligible to be a co-leader, for example if they have previously co-lead a process therapy group at another training site. However, exceptions are rare given formalized, didactic training is essential in learning to be an effective group psychotherapist. This will be reviewed on a case by case basis with the practicum and group coordinators. Students are eligible to co-lead a group with senior staff member during Fall semester, and with doctoral intern or senior staff member during Spring and Summer semesters. The staff member or doctoral intern will serve as the trainee’s group therapy supervisor.
The CWC requires you to attend weekly group therapy supervision for either 30 minutes (e.g. psychoeducational groups) or 3o to 60 minutes (e.g. process groups). However, if you and your group supervisor decide you would like to adjust the supervision time, this is something that can be negotiated together.
Trainees are assigned to co-lead a group by the group coordinator based on this training hierarchy: doctoral interns and then advanced practicum/Co. Ed. Specialist Intern/group therapy only trainees. Trainees are assigned as co-leaders based on their training goals and level of group experience. Placement with a co-leader may include an interview between the trainee and potential co-leader to ensure a good fit.
Clinical Assessment
The first method of assessment is a brief consultation. Clients are assessed for severity, appropriateness for Center services, recommended mode of treatment (individual, couples, group counseling, etc.), and referral options. If the client remains at the Center, a new client appointment is scheduled in which a formal clinical assessment interview takes place. The brief consultation helps inform and direct the nature of this assessment.
The CWC does not diagnose clients. However, trainees are expected to be able to engage in discussions and know possibly relevant diagnoses. Trainees receive seminars on variety of forms of conceptualizing client issues. In addition, they may attend Continuing Education programs that provide evidence based practices relevant to treatment
Crisis Intervention
Crisis intervention strategies and techniques are presented during practicum seminar. A clinician is always available for crisis consultation. Trainees are expected to consult with any available clinician when dealing with crisis situations. They are also expected to develop referral skills as an appropriate extension of assessment and counseling techniques. During orientation, the trainees become familiar with the supportive resources available on the campus and in the community. A directory of such services is made available, and the procedure for referral is discussed. All trainee referrals are monitored by the individual supervisor.
Advanced Practicum counselors may choose this as an area of concentration. Specific training and duties will be negotiated with the individual supervisor and training coordinator.
Consultation
Advanced Practicum counselors may choose this as an area of concentration. Specific training and duties will be negotiated with the individual supervisor and training coordinator.
Outreach Workshops
Advanced Practicum counselors may choose this as an area of concentration. Specific training and duties will be negotiated with the individual supervisor and training coordinator.