I. Course Description
Closely supervised counseling practice with clients in the
department’s counseling laboratories or in approved field sites in
schools or agencies. Intensive supervision.

II. Course Objectives

Students will conduct counseling sessions with a variety of
individual clients.

Students will facilitate at least one group counseling experience
with clients.

Students will develop the ability to conduct initial interviews with
individual clients.

Students will be able to demonstrate the ability to conceptualize a
client and his/her presenting concerns.

Students will develop the ability to conceptualize a comprehensive
counseling plan for clients.

Students will develop the ability to develop and implement counseling
interventions with clients.

Students will develop the ability to evaluate progress in individual
counseling.

Students will develop the ability to appropriately terminate
counseling with individual clients.

Students will become aware of the professional role and functions of
professional counselors.

Students will demonstrate effective group facilitation skills.

III. Text
American Psychiatric Association (2000). Diagnostic and statistical
manual of mental disorders IV text revision. Washington, D. C.:
Author.

Baird, B. N. (2002). The internship, practicum, and field placement
handbook: A guide for the helping professions (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle
River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

IV. Course Requirements

Students are required to be at the practicum site at least 12 hours
per week.

Students are required to have at least 40 hours of direct client
services during this course.

Students must engage in both individual counseling and group
counseling, with at least 10 of the 40 hours involving the
facilitation of groups.

Students must show proficiency in case conceptualization and
counseling techniques.

Students must receive one hour of weekly supervision per week to
review their counseling with clients from doctoral students. Students
must also have one hour of weekly supervision with their site
supervisor. If there are any problems with supervision, students are
responsible for informing the instructor immediately.

Students must adhere to all policies of their site and the Center for
Human Growth.

Sessions need to be videotaped (or at least audiotaped).

Class attendance is mandatory. Failure to attend all scheduled
classes or to obtain an excused absence from the instructor will
result in a lowering of your grade.

Students must be knowledgeable and demonstrate professional behavior
consistent with the ACA and/or APA ethical standards.

Students must present taped examples of their counseling, write case
study reports, develop an outline for leading a group, write a paper
evaluating their counseling, and develop a collective bibliography.


V. Evaluation

Grades are influenced by:

Evaluation of a student’s performance is based on the on-site
supervisor’s written evaluation of the student’s counseling.

Evaluation of a student’s performance is based on doctoral
supervision student supervisor’s written evaluation of the student’s
counseling.

Student’s demonstration of counseling techniques in videotaped
presentations.

Student’s ability to work effectively with various types of clients.

Student’s ability to conceptualize client issues and develop
appropriate treatment plans based on those factors.

Student’s participation in class meetings and professional demeanor
in class.

The quality of the written materials

VI. Written Requirements

Case Study Report (outline attached) – Due the week BEFORE you
present.

Group leadership outline – Due March 11. An outline is forthcoming.

Overall evaluation of your counseling effectiveness (5 to 7 pages) –
Due May 8. Please write about your strengths and weaknesses as a
counselor. Also, what is your plan for turning your weaknesses into
strengths?

Collective Bibliography (provide copies to class members) – Due May
1. For every client you see, please find outside sources. Include the
APA reference, one or two sentences describing what the article is
about, and then a statement about how useful (or not) the article was
for you.

Case Presentation Outline: G524 Practicum in Counseling

Client presenting issues/background information:
Current counseling goals:
Diagnostic impression(s):
Description of counseling
Interventions used and theoretical basis for their use
Overview of process factors and evaluation of current outcome
Analysis of your strengths and limitations in working with this client
Questions for the class

Tentative Course Outline

DATE
ASSIGNMENT
FOR NEXT WEEK

1/14
Introductions; Syllabus; Site Issues
Read Ch. 1 & 2

1/21	
Discuss readings; Site Issues; Clinical Issues	
Read Ch. 3 & Appendix G

1/28	
Ethics; Site; Clinical; Turn in proposal for bibliography	
Read Ch. 4 & 5

2/4	
Peer Groups & Supervision; Site; Clinical	
Read Ch. 7 & 8

2/11	
Writing Notes; Site; Clinical	
Read Ch. 6

2/18	
Diversity Issues; Site; Clinical	
Read Ch. 9 & 10

2/25	
Stress & Self-Care; Site; Clinical; Case Presentation	
Read Ch. 11

3/4	
Risks; Site; Clinical; Case Presentation	
Read Ch. 12

3/11	
Closing Cases; Site; Clinical; Case Presentation; Turn in Draft of
Bibliographies	
DSM, pp. 1-35
Group Leadership Outlines DUE

3/18	
SPRING BREAK	

3/25	
Site; Clinical; Case Presentation; Introduction to the DSM	
DSM: Learning Disabilities

4/1	
Site; Clinical; Case Presentation; Learning Disabilities	
DSM: Communication Disorders

4/8	
Site; Clinical; Case Presentation; Communication Disorders	
DSM: Pervasive Developmental Disorders

4/15	
Site; Clinical; Case Presentation; Pervasive Developmental Disorders
	
DSM: Attention-Deficit & Disruptive Behavior Disorders

4/22	
Site; Clinical; Case Presentation; Attention-Deficit & Disruptive
Behavior Disorders
DSM: Tic Disorders

4/29	
Site; Clinical; Case Presentation; Tic Disorders	
DSM: Other Disorders of Infancy, Childhood, or Adolescence

5/1	
Site; Clinical; Case Presentation; Other Disorders of Infancy,
Childhood, or Adolescence
Bibliographies Due.

5/8	
FINALS	
Counseling Effectiveness Reports Due Today.