SYLLABUS

Course Number:        COUN 526

Course Title:              COUNSELING INTERNSHIP I

Course Time:              Monday, 6-9 p.m.

Course Location:        E642

Semester:                   FALL 2008         

Credits:                       3 credits          

Instructor:                  Dr. Mike Cutler

                                    Office E612

426-1307

martincutler@boisestate.edu

                                    Office Hours: M & Th 2-5pm and/or by appointment

Course Description

The Counseling Internship experience is the final and most comprehensive professional experience in a student’s counseling program.  It is an opportunity to synthesize and apply knowledge with supervised training at a site congruent with the student’s career goals while counseling clients’ representative of the ethnic, lifestyle, and demographic diversity in the community.  Through the sharing of experiences in both group and individual supervision, students refine previously learned skills in an increasingly autonomous role with clients.

Course Objectives

The six credit, two semester Counseling Internship is designed to provide the student with an opportunity to practice and expand her/his counseling skills.  For students enrolled in the School Counseling emphasis, at least one semester’s site must be a K-12 setting with 600 hours total over two semesters being supervised at a school site. The additional 100 hours (total = 700 hours) can be at any site. Supervised hours must total 350 hours each semester. For students in the Addictions Counseling emphasis, 350 hours per semester are needed in order to total 700 hours. Site Supervisors monitor student activities and provide effective and appropriate feedback with direct supervision. Campus Supervisors serve as a link to the Program and a monitor of student progress through video and/or audio recording, group supervisory sessions, student logs, and possible direct supervision.

The internship student will be expected to demonstrate a commitment to implementing and/or expanding the following skills:

·                    establish and maintain a client caseload;

·                    apply appropriate intentional counseling and intervention techniques, including consultation, demonstrating multicultural awareness, knowledge and increasing skills;

·                    establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, supervisors, and colleagues;

·                    demonstrate willingness to learn with appropriate follow through to feedback;

·                    exhibit continued awareness of ethical standards of practice within a defined and consistent decision-making paradigm;

·                    develop the specialized knowledge and techniques relevant to the requirements of the host site;

·                    demonstrate ability to explore and use community resources for referrals;

·                    consistently exhibit personal traits conducive to effective counseling, learning, and professional growth;

·                    demonstrate enthusiasm for and a commitment to the counseling profession including professional membership and involvement; and

·                    demonstrate willingness to meet professional obligations, including punctuality of self and requisite documentation.

Course Content

DOCUMENTED HOURS

            Each student must be prepared to commit a minimum of 350 clock hours each semester to the Internship/Field experience, 4.75 hours/day or 24 hours/week over the semester,  including:

a minimum of 140 hours of Direct Service with clients                                        140 hours

            (40% of 350 total intern hours to be Direct Service,

            e.g., one to one, group, couples, or families work)

a minimum of 1 hour individual Site Supervision per week                                              18 hours

            (be aware additional direct service hour above must

            carry at least a 20:1 supervision ratio)

a minimum of 1 ½ hours of Group Supervision per week                                               24 hours

            (accomplished with meetings every other week, and

            consistent attendance is mandatory)

additional hours spent in peer or supervisor observations; case study                  171 hours*

            preparation, presentation (other than during Group Supervision), and

            evaluation; analysis of recorded sessions and log update;

            staff meetings and orientation; consultation; research on

            behalf of clients; developmental program or curriculum unit

            preparation and evaluation; non-credit workshop/continuing

            education; professional conferences; other activities approved

            in advance by Site Supervisor or Campus Coordinator

                                                                                                                                    ___________

                                                                                                                                    350 hours

*hours available depending on Direct Service hours documented.

As you complete your total hour requirements, note: an Intern scheduled (better do scheduling early) meeting with Campus Coordinator to review Site Supervisor evaluation, Intern evaluation of site and supervisor, and formal campus evaluation, and to verify completed logs.  DUE:  Student evaluations of Supervisors.  Final evaluations of Interns from Site Supervisors to Campus Coordinators NO LATER THAN 6:00 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 15, 2008.

            DUE:  COMPLETED, VERIFIED LOGS TO Campus Coordinator

                        NO LATER THAN 6:00 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15, 2008

Note:  if you reach a point where the requirements are satisfied and you no longer want to accumulate hours, you may certainly turn in your documentation early.

Required Readings

Gladding, S. T. (2002).  Becoming a counselor:  The light, the bright, and the serious.

                Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.

Suggested Optional Readings

American Counseling Association. (2005). ACA Code of Ethics, 2005.  Alexandria, VA: Author.

Web site: www.counseling.org

Gladding, S. (2001).  The counseling dictionary.  Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall         Publishing Company.

1.      Read the contents of this syllabus.  Do your best to ask necessary questions the first part of class or as they come to you, rather than later.

2.      You are responsible for maintaining weekly and summary logs of activities and contact hours. You are also responsible for notifying your Site Supervisor of dates for evaluations and providing him or her with the necessary forms in a timely manner.

3.      Each Group Supervision meeting has an agenda. Time is set aside to process site problems or

professional issues that are beneficial to air in a group setting. Please arrange campus

supervisor consultation as needed.  Your campus supervisor can usually arrange to get to your site if warranted.  Your first line of resource is the Site Supervisor of course, but the key to a positive field experience is communication and early response.

Course Requirements

Two (2) Case Presentations

**Keep in mind the usual purpose of staffing a case is to generate insights and strategies from

            other professionals.  It is important to have in mind what specific kinds of assistance you

            want from the group.

Written portion:  see standard format example—BE CONCISE!  Distribute copies to your Campus Supervisor and cohort members before presenting.

Oral portion:

            Identify the problem and the current or proposed management of it (3-4 minutes);

            Lead a discussion of possible management alternatives, perspectives of the problem itself, cultural considerations, potential ethical concerns and legal issues (10-12 minutes);

            Respond professionally to constructive feedback;

            Pose questions for the group as needed.

Remove personal identifiers from any documents and do not reveal your client’s identity.

Two (2) Demonstration Sessions of Skills (Purpose: skill identification and improvement)

Must be videotape/DVD.  If either recording is deficient, another recording must be presented.

Each tape MUST be of a different client, a client not used in the Case Presentation.  If in the School Emphasis, one recording can be implementing a guidance lesson in the classroom.

Orally provide the necessary background (max. 10 minutes), including target skill(s).

Play cued recording (max. 10 minutes from the recording of the entire session).

Engage discussion of skill(s), difficulties, strengths, etc. (max. 10 minutes).

If working with minors in schools, a copy of the appropriate signed permission to tape/record

and completed “Self-assessment” to be submitted to Campus Supervisor prior to the demonstration.  One recording may be of a guidance lesson in the classroom – no permission to record is necessary as this is a group setting.

Recorded segments should be selected to not reveal your client’s identity.

For Your Information:  Licensure and Certification

Your Site Supervisor will sign for your supervised hours toward Licensed Professional Counselor for the State of Idaho.  Your Campus Supervisor will sign for your State Department of Education Pupil Personnel certification.  We encourage you to keep all logs at least until final documentation for licensure and certification is completed.  BSU retains copies of your summary logs only.

Group Supervision does not count toward licensure.

Pass/Fail grades for COUN 526 Counseling Internship will be based on the following criteria:

                        punctual and consistent attendance; completion of assignments;

                        evidence of professional enthusiasm and demeanor;

                        completion of required number of clock hours;

                        accurate maintenance of advanced practicum/internship/field experience log; and

                        formal evaluations by Site Supervisors, Campus Coordinators, and Program                              Advisors.

A “Pass” grade indicates that in addition to completing all the course requirements, including record keeping in a timely and professional manner, the Student Counselor demonstrates strong to excellent counseling skills, consistently exhibits appropriate standards of professional and personal behavior, demonstrates a willingness to learn and to incorporate feedback into his/her work, is cooperative and resourceful in her/his work environment, and is committed to the counseling profession.

Read the above carefully as it includes timely attendance at group and individual supervision and on site as well as assignments and paperwork; a work ethic that is productive, consistent, team oriented, and sensitive to others, and an aura of professionalism is speech, dress, and manner that indicates motivation to learn and a positive attitude towards counseling.  Campus Coordinators and Site Supervisors expect to review student progress regularly, and you may expect prompt feedback of any concerns along with avenues by which you address those concerns.

Please refer to the BSU Graduate Catalog and the Master of Arts in Counseling Student Handbook for additional explanation and detail of BSU grievance procedure, Program requirements, internship forms, and Program retention policy.

Disability Statement:

If there is someone in the class who has a special need which may be the result of a disability or alternative learning style, I would appreciate hearing from you.  Appropriate arrangements will be made to accommodate you.  Please see me after class or during my office hours.

Academic Integrity Statement:

Academic misconduct or dishonesty such as cheating and plagiarism is unacceptable and appropriate penalties will be imposed.  This includes referencing material which has not been read by you, such as secondary references.

Diversity Statement:

This is a safe, welcoming, and inclusive classroom environment for students of all races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities/variances, ages, religions, economic classes, and ability statuses.  As such, you will be encouraged and challenged to use language and basic counseling techniques that are respectful, inclusive, representative and culturally appropriate.