School of Behavioral and Social Sciences
CNSL 5360/61/62 Practicum/ Internship/Advanced Internship in Counseling
Spring 2015
Mission: Wayland Baptist University exists to educate students in an academically challenging, learningfocused and distinctively Christian environment for professional success and service to God and humankind.
COURSE NUMBER & TITLE:
INSTRUCTOR:
OFFICE HOURS:
Meeting Times and Location
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Practicum/Internship in Counseling
Dr. Terry Duncan
Please contact the instructor in advance to schedule an appointment before
or after class.
Feb 27,28, March 27,28, Apr 24,25, May 8.9 at Doyon
210- 863-1126 terry.duncan@wayland.wbu.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Practical experience in a mental health or school counseling setting as an intern;
student provides a broad array of counseling services under the supervision of a licensed practitioner as
accepted by the state board of counselors; additional individual and group supervision, as well as didactic
information about counseling in both a school counseling setting and a mental health setting. The number of
direct and indirect hours will vary but will meet requirements in the state in which the student is seeking
licensure and/or certification.
PREREQUISITES: Enrolled in MAC graduate program; completion of a minimum of minimum of 24 hours
TEXTBOOKS:
CNSL5360 - Practicum in Counseling
Encyclopedia of Counseling Rosenthal Taylor & Francis 3rd 2008 9780415958622
CNSL 5361 - Internship in Counseling
Bad Therapy: Master Therapists Share Their Worst Failures Kottler Taylor & Francis a 2003 9780415933230
CNSL 5362 - Advanced Internship in Counseling
Mummy at the Dining Room Table Kottler John Wiley & Sons, Inc. a 2003 9780787978044
The Client Who Changed Me Kottler Taylor & Francis a 2005 9780415951081
COURSE OBJECTIVES: The major function/role of counseling is to facilitate individual and interpersonal
development throughout the life span. There are many approaches to promoting the individual’s development,
not one of which may serve all. Counselors should mature with experience in their ability to critically evaluate
counseling approaches to determine the appropriate one’s to use with their clientele. All counselors, regardless
of work setting, should be prepared in a common core of knowledge and basic skills. All counselors-inpreparation should engage in critical self-analysis regarding their suitability for becoming a counselor, their
competencies, and weaknesses. All counselors should engage in continuous peer and self-evaluation regarding
the quality of their counseling services. Through a critical exposure to a broad spectrum of literature and
research, the reflective counselor becomes committed to increasing knowledge about human behavior and the
conditions that influence it. Through reflection, counselors appreciate the importance of themselves, as persons,
in the helping process and will strive to clarify how their personal characteristics influence the outcomes of the
helping process. All counselors should understand, develop, and implement an ethical code of conduct and be
aware of their state’s licensing board requirements. Therefore, by the conclusion of this course, successful
students will be able to:
E.
F.
G.
I.
J.
K.
A. Accept and use supervisory feedback to improve counseling effectiveness.
B. Actively and constructively participate in peer group supervision.
C.
Demonstrate appropriate use of core counseling skills (e.g., attending, empathy, respect,
concreteness, genuineness, and confrontation.)
D. Use counseling skills and competencies
Conduct initial client assessments and make recommendations for counseling services.
Demonstrate ability to appropriately prepare clinical documentation.
Learn to integrate theory with practice.
H.
Continue to develop a coherent personalized counseling approach that is adequately based on
accepted counseling theory and research.
Critically evaluate their in-session counseling behaviors.
Accurately assess their counseling strengths and weaknesses.
Engage in professional and ethical conduct at all times.
L.
Demonstrate awareness, knowledge and skills in counseling clients who are culturally different,
including racial, ethnic, gender, sexual orientation and socioeconomic differences.
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES: Live demonstrations, role-play, review of students’ videotaped counseling for
analysis and feedback, lectures on topics such as documentation, case conceptualization, micro skills, crisis
management, and treatment planning, and review of appropriate material in preparation for the comprehensive
examination.
Plagiarism Policy:
“Plagiarism — The attempt to represent the work of another, as it may relate to written or oral works, computerbased work, mode of creative expression (i.e. music, media or the visual arts), as the product of one's own
thought, whether the other's work is published or unpublished, or simply the work of a fellow student. When a
student submits oral or written work for credit that includes the words, ideas, or data of others, the source of that
information must be acknowledged through complete, accurate, and specific references, and, if verbatim
statements are included, through use of quotation marks as well. By placing one’s name on work submitted for
credit, the student certifies the originality of all work not otherwise identified by appropriate acknowledgements.
A student will avoid being charged with plagiarism if there is an acknowledgement of indebtedness. Examples
include:
1. Quoting another person's actual words.
2. Using another person's idea, opinion, or theory, even if it is completely paraphrased in one's own words.
3. Drawing upon facts, statistics, or other illustrative materials — unless the information is common knowledge.
4. Submitting a paper purchased from a term paper service as one's own work.
5. Failing to accurately document information or wording obtained on the World Wide Web.
6. Submitting anyone else's paper as one's own work.
7. Violating federal copyright laws, including unauthorized duplication and/or distribution of copyrighted
material.
8. Offering, giving, receiving or soliciting of any materials, items or services of value to gain academic
advantages for yourself or another.”
Source: http://www.spjc.cc.fl.us/webcentral/admit/honesty.htm#plag
Disciplinary Procedures: Probation, Suspension, and Dismissal
The Graduate School Catalog specifies the circumstances under which students may be placed on probation,
suspended, or dismissed. Additionally, the Counseling Program Faculty may recommend to probate, suspend,
or dismiss from the program students who (a) do not meet the program’s academic requirements, (b) do not
make satisfactory progress over time toward completion of the Masters in Counseling degree, (c) exhibit
behavior unbefitting a scholar, researcher, or counselor, or (d) display such inappropriate behaviors that cause
the Counseling faculty to be concerned about whether the student possesses the interpersonal, emotional, and
ethical behaviors necessary for entry into the counseling profession. Accordingly, on an as-needed basis, the
Counseling faculty in formal meetings will discuss student progress with regard to academic performance as
exhibited in classes, on examinations, and in their field site placements and nonacademic performance as
exhibited in counseling relationships, personal and professional attitudes, professional behaviors, adherence to
good ethical behavior, and overall compatibility with the Counseling Program at Wayland Baptist University
and the counseling profession.
Immediate Dismissal
Success in the Counseling Program consists of more than grades. Work habits and attitudes play a major role in
the success of any counseling student. Any of the following actions are considered just cause for immediate
dismissal from the Counseling Program: Dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism, etc.), Disclosure of client
confidential information with unauthorized individuals, Negligence of misconduct, Mistreatment of clients,
fellow students, research participants, or faculty, Abusing a client, fellow student, faculty member, or staff
member, (including abusive language), Violations of the rules, regulations, and principles in the ACA Ethical
Code, Receipt of a Failing grade in Practicum, Internship, or Advanced Internship, Willful submission of false
information or alteration of any official records, counseling reports, papers, or examinations, Willful conduct
that may cause injury to self or others, Unethical behavior as defined by ethical guidelines and practice (e.g.,
ACA), and Sexual harassment as defined by Wayland Baptist University.
Disabilities:
Services for Students with a Disability
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), it is the policy of Wayland Baptist
University that no otherwise qualified person with a disability be excluded from participation in, be denied the
benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational program or activity in the university. Wayland
Baptist University provides fully accessible buildings and classrooms for students with a disability. The
Coordinator of Counseling Services serves as the coordinator of students with a disability and should be
contacted concerning accommodation requests at (806) 291-3765. Documentation of a disability must
accompany any request for accommodations.
It is the responsibility of the student to notify the instructor during the first class meeting if any
accommodations have been requested.
Evaluation of student performance:
Students must complete supervised internship direct and indirect hours to meet state requirements.
Documentation forms will be available at the first class meeting. The internship provides for the development
of counseling skills under both faculty and site supervision. The student’s internship includes an evaluation of
the student’s performance throughout the course. Failure to complete the necessary hours will result in a failing
grade. A student who receives an “incomplete” will not be allowed to enroll in the Internship II course the
following semester, which may delay their graduation by one semester.
All students must provide proof of professional liability insurance coverage before they will be permitted to see
clients. Students are free to obtain this insurance through any insurance company. Professional liability
insurance is available through the American Counseling Association and additional resources can be found in
the Counseling Program Handbook.
Field Site Responsibilities: Students will participate in field site activities according to the mode of operation of
the setting. During the internship, students are expected to perform, under supervision, the principal
professional activities of the setting. The University delegates supervisory and administrative responsibility for
field site activities to field site supervisors. University faculty instructors will communicate and collaborate
with field site supervisors as necessary and desirable, and may make site visits. If special problems or concerns
(clinical, supervisory, interpersonal, etc.) develop, site supervisors are asked to contact the University
supervisor in a timely fashion, depending on the nature of the problem. It is the responsibility of the University
faculty instructor to work with field site supervisors and students to resolve special problems or concerns. If
you as a student have a problem or concern regarding your site or your site supervisor, you must notify your
professor immediately. At the end of the semester, site supervisors will complete evaluation forms, on which
they assess students’ skills and abilities. This form will be provided to you in class and you must give it to the
site supervisor with ample time for them to return it to you so that you can get it to the professor by the due date.
Field-Site (Off-Campus) Supervision: Students also meet once a week with their field site supervisor. These
meetings are arranged with the field supervisor according to the requirements of the field setting.
Ethical and Professional Conduct: Counselors-in-training are expected to behave in accordance with the ACA
Ethical Standards and other standards of accepted professional conduct, including attire appropriate to
professional counseling. Special attention is called to standards of confidentiality.
University Grading Scale: The University has a standard grading scale as follows: 90 - 100 = A (excellent); 80
- 89 = B (good); 70 - 79 = C (average); 60 - 69 = D (acceptable but below average); below 60 = F
(unacceptable); W=the student withdrew from the course before the deadline; WP=the student withdrew passing
before the deadline; WF=the student withdrew failing before the deadline (note that WF and F count the same in
the GPA); and I=incomplete. A grade of “incomplete” is given only if circumstances beyond the student’s
control prevented completion of work during the semester enrolled and any attendance requirements have been
met. A grade of “incomplete” is changed if the deficiency is made up by midterm of the next regular semester;
otherwise, it becomes an “F”.
Homework Assignments:
A) Case File: (50% of final grade) you will be required to videotape an actual counseling session and assemble
an actual case file for a client you are working with. Please put your video on a USB thumb drive that can be
viewed on a laptop or smart T.V. It is imperative that you test your video using the classroom system prior to
the date of your presentation. DO NOT plan on testing your video and presenting on the same day! Over the
course of this semester, you will sign up for which weekend you will be presenting your case and will only
present one case to the classroom for discussion and constructive feedback. Your video is to be at least 40
minutes long. However, we may only have time to review a portion of the video in class. The class will view
your video and will ask questions, offer feedback and provide suggestions. The purpose of this assignment is to
help you polish your counseling skills. If your agency or school will not allow videotaping or if you cannot find
a client who will give consent, then you should find someone who would be willing to participate. Be sure to
get a signed consent form from the client indicating that you are a graduate student who is serving as a
counseling intern and that they are aware that a graduate class and the professor will be reviewing this tape and
information. Also, please alter, mask, or blacken out any identifying information on all written documentation
to protect and maintain the confidentiality of the client. Please ask your professor during class for clarification
on how to do this assignment if you are unsure. You will be graded on your counseling skills, your ethics, your
ability to discuss and conceptualize your case, and the quality of your written documentation. Your file should
include the following:
Signed consent form
Case Conceptualization: one or two page brief summary of the client and their presenting concerns
Transcription: transcribe a portion of the counseling session including your micro skills analysis after each
dyadic interaction. This transcription should be 5 pages in length.
Treatment Plan: one page summary of what problem(s) you would address what
treatment strategies you would employ, long term goal, and short term objectives.
Progress Note: one page note of this session including the type of treatment (individual
or group), the length of the session, mini-mental status exam (client appeared alert and
oriented with no evidence of psychotic features and was not currently suicidal), what the
client talked about, what the therapist explored, any homework given, any progress or
recommendations or concluding observations, date/time of next appointment, and
clinician’s signature, title, and date.
Self-evaluation: one page reflection on what theoretical approach you took, a personal
critique to include your overall evaluation on your skills, to include demeanor, body
language, attending as well as anything you would have done differently in hind-sight.
Your entire presentation of the video and the discussion that follows should take about 60 minutes to complete.
B) Student Log Review, Accrual of minimum required internship hours, and turning in evaluation forms as
scheduled: (30% of final grade) Each weekend we meet, your professor will ask each student to turn in their
log to sign off on their hours accrued. The site supervisor should sign off on the student’s hours on a weekly
basis. Your grade on this section is partially based on promptly turning in logs and forms as scheduled, as well
as completing the required supervised internship hours (including the minimum number of both direct and
indirect client contact hours). The log book must be turned in for review and signature by the instructor each
time that we meet for class. Your site supervisor’s comments will also be considered as well. You must
complete the requirements for this class, before advancing to the next internship course. Therefore, in some
unforeseen instance that you will not be able to accrue the required minimum hours, please consult with your
professor and/or division chair on how best to address your situation.
Field Experience Hourly Requirements:
Practicum—100 hours total (40 of these hours must be direct client contact)
Internship—135 hours total (60 of these hours must be direct client contact)
Advanced Internship—165 hours total (80 of these must be direct client contact)
Note: For Alaska students, the internship and advanced internship courses must be taken twice
each in order to complete the hourly curriculum requirements for the state of Alaska.
C) Book Review: (20%) You will read and review one book that is applicable for this course. For the review,
reflect what you read about and how it is applicable to your cases/clients. Talk about what you learned from
this experience or what you might have done differently. Also, talk about the therapists’ theoretical orientation
and how it fits with your own personal counseling style. More details on the book review assignment can be
provided in class. Each review will be a presentation given in class.
.