Faculty supervisor:
Larry Schor, Ph.D.
 

Course Description and Objectives

Structure of the Course:
The clinical practicum provides students with supervised experience in the practice of individual and group counseling / psychotherapy, treatment planning, and related professional activities. Students work at agencies in a variety of settings offering mental health services.
You should also enroll in a 1-credit Tutorial each semester, for a total of 4-credit hours during the semester. Licensure as a Professional Counselor requires 300 hours in the practice of professional counseling and can be met in either 1 or 2 semesters. Students expecting to meet the requirement in one semester should expect to work two 8-hour days at the site per week.
You should contact the Practicum instructor for making arrangements to interview and secure an internship site with an agency in the community (in Carrollton or Atlanta) prior to the beginning of the semester in which you enroll in the Practicum.
Class size is limited to a maximum of 10 students. The class will meet once a week for two hours as a group for discussions and case presentations. Additionally, you will meet with the instructor once each week for individual supervision.

Prerequisites for Admission:
The Clinical Practicum is designed for students in their second year of graduate study toward the M.A. degree in psychology or counseling.
Prerequisites for the Practicum are: Counseling and Psychotherapy Process or Counseling Methods (offered in CEP) plus at least one theoretical or phenomenological course dealing with psychotherapy or psychological disorders. Courses in group therapy and psychological assessment, and professional orientation are recommended. These prerequisites may be waived by the instructor if student has sufficient prior experience in counseling or psychotherapy.

Agencies:
Students are placed with various human service agencies, such as community mental health outpatient clinics, day treatment or residential programs, schools, juvenile court services, and other psychiatric inpatient and outpatient facilities. These agencies are located in Carrollton, Atlanta, and nearby counties (e.g. Haralson, Coweta).
Students will be given assistance in finding a field-placement, including a list of possible sites, but they are expected to initiate the contact with the site and make arrangements for interviews well in advance of the beginning of the course.
The purpose of the field placements is to be mutual benefit to the students and the agencies involved. The agencies will differ in terms of populations served, the settings (inpatient/outpatient), and the types of services (e.g. individual, family, group, milieu therapy). The specific opportunities and expectations will vary accordingly.

Below are the general expectations for the agencies and the students involved in the field placements.

Expectations for Agencies:

1. After a period of orientation/initial training required by the agency, the student(s) will have an opportunity to provide counseling/psychotherapy services directly to patients/clients whom they can follow minimally three weeks. The agency should be able to provide the student with a case load of 3-10 clients for weekly (or twice-weekly) individual counseling in addition to any other services such as group counseling or activity therapy, and case management , that the student is expected to perform.

2. The agency provides on-site supervision for the student(s) by a person who has at least a master’s degree and is licensed or certified in their field.

3. The student will be provided opportunities to learn about the functioning of the agency and the specific population it serves.

4. The on-site supervisor(s) will provide feedback on the students’ performance to the student, and to the instructor in the Psychology Department at the State University of West Georgia a) Orally (over the phone) and/or b) in writing at the end of each of the two semesters.

Expectations for Students at Agencies:

1. Become familiar with policies and regulations regarding agency functioning, including confidentiality of records, and abide by them.

2. Become familiar with ethical and legal principles, issues, and guidelines.

3. Gain experience in counseling/psychotherapy - - individual and/or group. In outpatient settings, eventually carry a case-load of 5 -10 clients with ongoing weekly sessions.

4. Utilize opportunities provided by the agency for gaining experience in diagnostic assessment and treatment planning (e.g. by attending and contributing to staffing and treatment teams meetings).

5. Learn about the specific population served by the agency and the types of services the agency provides for the community as well as related community resources
.
6. Attend and participate in all class meetings and supervisory sessions.

7. Be open to and utilize feedback from on-site supervisor(s) and staff.

8.  Maintain appropriate confidential records including; informed consent forms, consent to tape, case notes, treatment plans, verification of liability insurance, and log of all practicum-related activities totaling at least 300 hours per semester, or 150 hours per semester if you are planning to enroll in two semesters of practicum.