School of Behavioral and Social Sciences
CNSL 5360/61/62 Practicum/ Internship/Advanced Internship in Counseling
Summer 2014
Mission: Wayland Baptist University exists to educate students in an academically challenging, learning- focused and
distinctively Christian environment for professional success and service to God and humankind.
COURSE NUMBER & TITLE:
INSTRUCTOR:
OFFICE HOURS:
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Practicum/ Internship/Advanced Internship in Counseling
Dr. Peggy Wilson
Please contact the instructor in advance to schedule an appointment before
or after class.
(602) 279-1011, wilsonp@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 24 in the program to include CNSL5307.
TEXTBOOKS:
Rosenthal, H. (2008). Encyclopedia of Counseling Package (3rd Ed.) Routledge; Taylor & Francis Group, New York.
ISBN : 978-0-415-95862-2.
Paperback trade books required:
1. The Client that Changed Me by Kottler and Carlson.
2. The Mummy at the Dining Room Table by Kottler and Carlson
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-in-preparation 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:
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.)
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D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
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.
Continue to develop a coherent personalized counseling approach that is adequately based on accepted
counseling theory and research.
I. Critically evaluate their in-session counseling behaviors.
J. Accurately assess their counseling strengths and weaknesses.
K. 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
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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) 2913765. 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.
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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
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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.
C) Book Review: (20%) You will read and review the two books that are required for this course. For each review,
reflect upon several of the cases that you read about and 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 these 2 book review assignments can be provided in class. Each book review is to be a
minimum of 5 pages (double spaced).
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