Consultation Seminar
1 Hour every other week
In one of many efforts to create more inclusive and culturally competent psychologists, the CWC internship program provides individual and cultural diversity training via the Social Justice Consultation Group Project (SJCP). Interns engage as an intern group in a large-scale project focused on mental wellness in the larger global community. The consultation supervisors work with interns to identify and explore points of contact, consultee/population of interest, partnerships, funding/resources, etc. Engagement in the consultation project will increase over the course of the full internship year and will account for approximately 2-5% of your internship time on any given week. Interns will first learn more about consultation before selecting their project focus and will gain subsequent support to meet standardized benchmarks toward completion of the consultation project by the end of their internship year. At the end of the internship, interns will share the consultation project with the staff via a presentation.
The SJCP originated in 2017 and each intern cohort collaborated with professionals in Jamaica to increase knowledge and awareness about cultural factors that impact mental health and mental health treatment seeking behaviors in these populations. Interns have traveled to Jamaica where they have facilitated an exchange of culturally sensitive mental health training and outreach programming with these partners. The CWC is aware that increasing interns’ and staff’s cultural sensitivity and competence has an impact on interactions with students (i.e. improved communication, understanding and perceptions of support) and retention of diverse students, many of which are of Caribbean heritage. Thus, the CWC internship program and consultation supervisors are committed to not only continuing these collaborations, but to also disseminate relevant information and skills to the broader CWC staff, trainees and other UF staff involved in direct student service.
Intern Seminar
1.5 Hours per week
Training seminars are an integral part of the training program. The format is both didactic and discussion/process oriented in nature. A wide variety of topics are covered that pertain to major areas of knowledge needed to be a competent clinician. Diversity and social justice considerations are infused in all presentations.
Topics may include, but are not limited to: Brief Consultation Interviewing, Lethality Assessment, Group Counseling, Trauma, Crisis Intervention, Working with LGBTQ+ Clients, Working with International Students, Assessment, Eating Disorders, Job Search, Addictions, Couples Counseling, Consultation, Spirituality in Counseling, and Mental Health Recovery.
Diversity is infused in all seminar presentations
Particular diversity seminars are also highlighted throughout the year. In addition, in the spring semester we hold a series of diversity process seminars that are focused on the impact of diversity on the intern personally and professionally. Two professional staff members lead the diversity process series where interns are encouraged, but not required, to explore historical influences of self that may affect subsequent clinical practice related to culture. The internship training program functions in a manner consistent with the American Psychological Association’s 2002 Ethical Standard 7.04 (Student Disclosure of Personal Information) as contained in the Revised Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (APA, 2002). (Adapted from Texas A & M University Student Counseling Services’ diversity disclaimer statement).
Individual Supervision
2.0 Hours per week
As an intern, you will receive two hours per week of individual supervision all year long. This supervision will focus most intensely on your clinical work with individuals and couples. In addition, it will focus on your overall training experience, your work in consultation and outreach, and your supervision of practicum trainees. The majority of time in individual supervision will focus on discussing cases, helping you continue to develop your clinical skills and identity as a counselor, and increase awareness of self. Video recording, live observation, co-therapy, and other supervision methods are also used during this time. Interns switch senior staff supervisors after the Fall semester, therefore having the opportunity to experience two different supervisors over the course of the year.
Group Supervision
2.0 hours bi-weekly, and 1 hour bi-weekly
In this meeting, interns meet as a group (with a licensed clinician) and discuss cases, make case presentations, and review digital recordings of clinical work. A formal case presentation is required, as is the showing of at least one recording. It is also an environment to explore and develop an awareness of self as it informs interns’ work professionally. Great effort is made to make this a trusting community of learning so that interns can explore new and creative avenues in their clinical work.
Group Supervision of Supervision
2 hours bi-weekly
During the spring semester, interns supervise practicum trainees from the Counseling Psychology Program or doctoral/master’s trainees from the Counselor Education Program. This supervision provides group supervision for this work. The option sometimes exists to also supervise a trainee in the summer semester.
Couples and Group Case Consultation
1.0 Hour bi-weekly
Over the course of the year, interns attend couples and group counseling case consultation meetings held bi-weekly. Once during Fall semester interns will individually present a ten minute case presentation during the group counseling case consultation meeting. Interns attend with their co-therapist and consult about cases. Various forms of learning occur including watching videos of evidenced based couples counseling.
Continuing Education
Interns participate fully in continuing education workshops conducted regularly at the CWC or in the community.
Professional Development and Areas of Concentration
Interns have the opportunity to attend CWC staff development programs, as well as workshops and conferences offered by other university departments and community groups.
Interns are offered an average of 4-6 hours per week over the course of the year for professional development and research activities. Interns may use some of this time to complete their dissertations, conduct job searches, and attend conferences, review video of their own clinical work or their supervisee’s clinical work, or conduct research. Throughout the year, interns have the opportunity to develop an area of concentration. Examples of such include: Couples Counseling, International Initiatives, Crisis Intervention, Assessment, and Consultation. Interns receive additional hours during the summer to focus more on these projects.