Practicum Training

• Successful completion of background check
• Demonstration of professional liability insurance coverage
• Consistent behaviors in accordance with the guidelines established by the relevant professional codes of conduct (e.g. APA, ACA, NASW, AAMFT) and federal and State of Indiana laws and regulations
• Commit to placement duration of two consecutive semesters (fall and spring), options for continuing into the summer semester are offered upon staffing availability;
• Provision of a minimum of 7 hours of direct clinical service each week
• Participation in a minimum of one hour of individual supervision per week on-site
• Participation in didactic training sessions (Wednesday afternoons, fall semester)
• Participation in weekly case consultation (Wednesday afternoons)
• Presentation of clinical work, including brief segments of videotaped counseling sessions during case consultation
• Submission of at least two videotaped counseling sessions each semester to be reviewed by individual supervisor
• Participation in outreach programming, such as tabling and/or presentations within the campus community

**Wednesday afternoons are training days; applicants must be able to commit to being on-site for required meetings, didactics, and case consultation typically between 1 and 5 p.m. **

• Dedicated office space (includes computer, office furniture, recording equipment, personal washroom)
• Allowances for personal and unplanned sick time
• Professional development time
• Professional development stipend (eligibility determined at the time of placement)
• Employee surface parking pass
• Warm, welcoming, and fun multi-disciplinary team environment of dedicated professionals who love supporting the next generation of mental health professions

Clinical experiences will include conducting intake interviews (initially observed by a clinical supervisor), as well as providing brief and longer-term individual counseling services. Practicum students also shadow Initial Consultations appointments with senior staff throughout their placement. Opportunities to co-facilitate or serve as a process observer for group therapy are also available. Participation in campus outreach events is also a component of the training experience. Practicum students function independently as therapists and are responsible for the provision of a minimum of 7 contact hours per week, including intake assessments.

Doctoral students are expected to have a minimum of 8-10 contact hours scheduled per week. To meet caseload, training, and supervision requirements, doctoral students will be on-site 16-20 hours per week.

Master’s students are expected to have a minimum of 12-15 contact hours scheduled per week. To meet hour requirements for licensure, Master’s trainees are generally on-site for 25-30 hours per week. Hour requirements may be negotiated at the Master’s level based on specific policies and guidelines put in place by the individual's academic program.

For all practicum students, on-site weekly supervision is provided through use of a developmental model. Students will receive at least one hour per week of individual supervision provided by a licensed professional staff member. To increase the breadth of the trainees’ supervisory experiences, trainees will work with a different supervisor in their second semester of placement, pending staff availability. Students are formally evaluated and receive written feedback regarding their performance at the mid and end points of each semester. Informal verbal and written feedback is provided on an ongoing basis throughout the training year.

The training curriculum also includes weekly case consultation sessions with other practicum students and select staff members. During these meetings, one on-going case is discussed in depth by an assigned presenter.

During the fall semester, all trainees participate in a didactic training curriculum. The didactic presentations cover a range of topics, including crisis intervention, outreach, group therapy, case conceptualization, and brief therapy.