The following are the expectations of students in our program:

1. A breakdown of the 15 hour per week* time commitment is as follows:
   
   

   Duties	Hours
   Direct Client Contact	7-9
   Individual Supervision	2
   Supervision Preparation	2
   Practicum Seminar	1.5
   Group Case Supervision	1.5

   *Students are expected to be at the Student Counseling Service 15 hours each week. This means that if a client does not show for an appointment, you are still expected to be at the Student Counseling Service. That time may be used to watch tape, read, complete case notes or for other professional development activities. It is expected that all your time be accounted for in our scheduling system and that you are onsite in accordance with that schedule.

   Direct Client Contact
   
   Clients are seen for an average of 6 sessions. The Student Counseling Service provides the greatest benefit to the most students in the shortest amount of time. Staff conceptualize clients from a variety of theoretical perspectives.

   Individual Supervision
   
   Quality supervision is seen as the cornerstone of our training program and is highly valued by the entire staff. Interns (and, on occasion, senior staff) serve as the primary supervisors for practicum counselors during the semester. Supervisor assignments are based on a combination of what the practicum counselor is wanting from supervision and goodness of fit with the supervisor. Primary supervisors meet weekly with the practicum training committee for supervision of supervision and to consult with each other regarding training issues and work on enhancing the supervisory process. Additionally, practicum counselors may expect to receive "live supervision" from their supervisors.

   Supervision Preparation
   
   Practicum counselors are expected to spend at least two hours per week preparing for supervision. It is expected that practicum counselors use part of this time to review an entire taped session of their work with a client. Other activities during this time may include completing case notes, reviewing training tapes, or readings. Use of this additional time is determined between the practicum counselor and her/his supervisor.

   Practicum Seminar
   
   This seminar is designed to be a combination of didactic and experiential activities to further skill and case conceptualization development in the art and science of psychotherapy. In conjunction with topics/activities the practicum training committee brings to these seminars, this is a time for practicum counselors to identify specific areas of training and development in therapy that they wish to address.

   Group Case Supervision
   
   During this time, practicum counselors as a group will meet with a senior level psychologist. Practicum counselors will have the opportunity to bring in tapes of their work and receive feedback from the group about their work with a particular client. This time is specifically designed to address case conceptualization skills and identify specific interventions that practicum counselors may utilize with their clients.

2. Multiple Practicum Policy:

   Our training belief emphasizes the intentions with which trainees enter a practicum experience. As such, we believe that a commitment to a practicum at the Student Counseling Service should be taken seriously and with an awareness of what amount of energy and focus a trainee is able to invest in that commitment. To avoid situations that may present either an unnecessary commitment of time or an unnecessary exposure to mixed messages about training, we have adopted the following guidelines for committing to a practicum with us. Students may enter into the practicum training program if:

   1. between commitments to class hours, assistantships/work, and practicum there is not an expectation of greater than 45 hours per week; and,
   2. they are not committed to a separate practicum experience that is of a similar nature to our counseling center. For example, practica in Veterans' Affairs, neuropsychology, and assessment are sufficiently dissimilar to our practicum experience that they would be acceptable. However, practica at the Counseling and Assessment Clinic or any other university/college counseling center are too similar to the experience in our counseling center to be done at the same time. Students who have situations that may involve either of these two restrictions are encouraged to discuss them with the practicum coordinator. Final decisions involving these guidelines will be made by the training director.
   
   
   
3. Each practicum counselor is required to give a formal case presentation. Presenting a client case provides an opportunity for practicum students to articulate to the SCS staff their theoretical orientation and demonstrate their case conceptualization skills. This type of experience should also help prepare the practicum counselor to discuss his or her therapeutic style and will likely be useful preparation for the internship application process.
   
   
4. Required attendance: Students will be expected to attend all scheduled meetings, including orientation, meetings with supervisors, group case supervision and practicum seminar. Students who do not meet all program requirements will not receive required evaluations for the practicum experience and may have their practicum grade affected.
   
   
5. Professional attire: Appropriate attire at the Student Counseling Service is business casual. Students will be expected to maintain this standard while conducting official business at the Student Counseling Service.
   
   
6. Caseload management: Students will be responsible for schedule management of clients assigned to them during the semester. In the event of a planned absence, student will notify clients and reschedule appointments as appropriate. In the event of accident or illness, students will notify Student Counseling Service staff as soon as possible and ask that clients be contacted and rescheduled. Client case notes are to be completed on the day of service before leaving the building. All recorded materials are to be stored in the file room when not being used to tape sessions or review sessions. Client information is never to be kept in practicum offices while practicum students are not using those offices.
   
   
7. Evaluation of Practicum Students: At the end of the semester, supervisors will provide written feedback to practicum counselors regarding their performance throughout the semester and they will recommend a grade for the practicum to the appropriate academic program. Supervisors and supervisees are encouraged to discuss progress throughout the semester but in particular at an informal evaluation meeting at mid-semester. In addition, practicum counselors will evaluate their individual supervisors and the practicum program as a whole.