Supervision Structure: Group supervision will be held for one hour per week. An additional 30 minutes of individual supervision will be provided at least two times per month (more as needed/desired). Students will bring counseling case notes, personal notes, audiotapes or videotapes of sessions to each supervision meeting. It is imperative that student clinicians keep in close contact with the supervisor concerning the status of counseling cases. Any concerns about a child’s welfare or the welfare of others because of the child’s mental health status (e.g. concern about abuse, suicide risk, endangering others’ lives) should be reported to me immediately.

Group Supervision: Small group supervision meetings will be held for one hour per week (Mondays from 3:00 to 4:00 for doctoral students; Mondays from 4:00 to 5:00 for specialist students). During each group supervision meeting, time will be set aside for students to raise questions or concerns about issues that have come up during the past week. Additionally, students will be expected to make formal case presentations on a rotating basis. These presentations will include 1) briefly summarizing the case (presenting problem, case formulation, treatment strategies), 2) playing a short segment of the previous week’s session (audiotaped or videotaped), and 3) soliciting feedback from the group. Each student will be expected to make at least three formal case presentations throughout the remainder of the semester.

Case Load:

Case load for specialist students: It is expected that each specialist student enrolled in practicum will maintain a case load of one individual counseling client and one group. (A classroom-based intervention may be substituted for the group). Also, approximately 30 hours of additional clinical work will be completed by each specialist student. This requirement may be met through additional cases in the school setting or by counseling clients or the Psychological Services Center or For Children’s Sake.

Case load for doctoral students: It is expected that each doctoral student enrolled in the counseling component of practicum will maintain a case load of two individual counseling clients and two groups. (A classroom-based intervention may be substituted for the group). Also, approximately 60 hours of additional clinical work will be completed by each doctoral student. This requirement may be met through additional cases in the school setting or by counseling clients of the Psychological Services Center or For Children’s Sake.

Case Selection: Students will conduct counseling in their respective school placements during the semester. While the actual referral process may vary with the setting, teachers will generally make referrals. After referrals have been clarified and additional information gathered, the referrals will be reviewed with the supervisor, and appropriate cases selected. Once cases have been selected for counseling, parent consent forms will be sent home. You may not begin meeting with the child until written parental consent has been obtained.

Case Management: For each counseling case, students will conduct pre-assessments, develop a treatment plan, keep weekly counseling notes, and conduct post-assessments. After the first three sessions, students will complete a psychosocial summary that includes pre-assessment information and initial plans for treatment. A follow-up cae summary will be written at termination. Students will be expected to meet with the child’s parents at the initiation and termination of each case and maintain ongoing, collaborative communication. Decisions about specific procedures regarding each case will be made in conjunction with your supervisor.

Assignments:

Counseling notes by session. For groups, notes should be completed for the group as a whole as well as for each member. Counseling notes will be kept on file at the PSC. For classroom-based interventions, notes need only be completed for the class as a whole.

Audiotapes or videotapes of all sessions.

Treatment plan and case summary for each counseling case.

Again, for groups, forms should be completed for the group as well as for individual members. These will be kept on file at the PSC.

Criteria for Evaluation/Grading:

Knowledge of counseling/intervention theories and techniques as demonstrated in case notes, treatment planning, and case presentations.

Skills and applications of theories and techniques as demonstrated in audio/videotapes, case notes, etc.

Professionalism as demonstrated by relationship with service users, peers, supervisors, preparedness for supervision, ethical behavior, seeking appropriate readings related to cases, etc.

Class participation as demonstrated by contribution during group supervision meetings. When you are not presenting, your participation should facilitate the presenter’s understanding of the case and should include constructive feedback about personal style, impact, and interventions used.