WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF BEHAVIORAL & SOCIAL SCIENCES
PHOENIX CAMPUS
Wayland Mission Statement: 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 Title, Number, and Section: CNSL5360 - Practicum in Counseling (PH06)
Term: Fall 2015
Instructor: Dr. Ilana Oren, Ph.D., LMFT
Office Phone Number and WBU Email Address: 602-279-1011
Office Hours, Building, and Location: by appointment
Class Meeting Time and Location: Saturday 9:00-4:00, Phoenix Central Park location
Catalog Description: Selected, organized opportunities for students to apply and integrate knowledge, theories and
concepts of counseling and school counseling practice; building on previous life and work experience as well as
developing new areas of professional competence; integration of cognitive learning, professional competence,
values and ethics, and life experience; types of counseling and methods to enhance skill and critical analysis of the
counseling practice, program development, and the responsibility and integrity to provide professional counseling
services in the community and/or school 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.
This course is designed to emphasize Pre-practicum supervised field work experience under the supervision of a
faculty member, which shall include 100 total hours of pre-practicum activities, of which a minimum of 40 hours
shall be direct client contact hours.
Prerequisites: CNSL 5307
Required Textbook(s) and/or Required Material(s):
TITLE
The Client Who Changed Me
AUTHOR
Kottler
PUBLISHER
Taylor & Francis
ED
a
YEAR
2005
ISBN#
9780415951081
Optional Materials:
TITLE
AUTHOR
PUBLISHER
ED
YEAR
ISBN#
Encyclopedia of Counseling
Rosenthal
Taylor & Francis
3rd
2008
9780415958622
Course Outcome Competencies: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
 Accept and use supervisory feedback to improve counseling effectiveness.
 Actively and constructively participate in peer group supervision.
 Demonstrate appropriate use of core counseling skills (e.g., attending, empathy, respect, concreteness,
genuineness, and confrontation.)
 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.
 Critically evaluate their in-session counseling behaviors.
 Accurately assess their own counseling strengths and weaknesses.
 Engage in professional and ethical conduct at all times.
 Demonstrate awareness, knowledge and skills in counseling clients who are culturally different, including
racial, ethnic, gender, sexual orientation and socioeconomic differences.
Attendance Requirements: Students enrolled at one of the university’s external campuses should make every
effort to attend all class meetings. All absences must be explained to the instructor, who will then determine
whether the omitted work may be made up. When a student reaches that number of absences considered by the
instructor to be excessive, the instructor will so advise the student and file an unsatisfactory progress report with the
external campus executive director/dean. Any student who misses 25 percent or more of the regularly scheduled
class meetings may receive a grade of F in the course. Additional attendance policies for each course, as defined by
the instructor in the course syllabus, are considered a part of the university’s attendance policy. A student may
petition the Academic Council for exceptions to the above stated policies by filing a written request for an appeal to
the executive vice president/provost.
Statement on Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty: Wayland Baptist University observes a zero tolerance
policy regarding academic dishonesty. Per university policy as described in the academic catalog, all cases of
academic dishonesty will be reported and second offenses will result in suspension from the university.
Disability Statement: 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. 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.
Course Requirements and Grading Criteria: Students must complete supervised practicum experiences that total
a minimum of 100 clock hours (these hours include 40 hours of direct and 60 hours of indirect client contact hours
at a minimum). The practicum 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. A
student who receives an “incomplete” will not be allowed to enroll in the Internship 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, whether it is in a community, agency, or school setting. During the practicum, 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 supervisors and
site supervisors will communicate and collaborate with field site supervisors as necessary. If special problems or
concerns (clinical, supervisory, interpersonal, etc.) develop, site supervisors are asked to contact the University
supervisor in 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.
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.
Assignments.
Video and Case File: (50% of final grade) Film 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! The video is to be at least 40 minutes long.
In class, we will watch the video and 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. 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: use official WBU 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.
Student Log of required hours and evaluation forms: (45% of final grade) Logs need to be signed each week
by site supervisor and brought to class every meeting. The university supervisor will sign each meeting.
Trade Book: (5% of final grade) Read “The Client who Changed Me” and prepare 3 cases to discuss in class.
Details will be provided in the first class meeting.
The University has a standard grade scale:
A = 90-100, B = 80-89, C = 70-79, D = 60-69, F= below 60, W = Withdrawal, WP = withdrew passing, WF =
withdrew failing, I = incomplete. An incomplete may be given within the last two weeks of a long term or within
the last two days of a microterm to a student who is passing, but has not completed a term paper, examination, or
other required work for reasons beyond the student’s control. A grade of “incomplete” is changed if the work
required is completed prior to the last day of the next long (10 to 15 weeks) term, unless the instructor designates an
earlier date for completion. If the work is not completed by the appropriate date, the I is converted to an F.
Student grade appeals:
Students shall have protection through orderly procedures against prejudices or capricious academic evaluation. A
student who believes that he or she has not been held to realistic academic standards, just evaluation procedures, or
appropriate grading, may appeal the final grade given in the course by using the student grade appeal process
described in the Academic Catalog. Appeals may not be made for advanced placement examinations or course
bypass examinations. Appeals limited to the final course grade, which may be upheld, raised, or lowered at any
stage of the appeal process. Any recommendation to lower a course grade must be submitted through the Executive
Vice President/Provost to the Faculty Assembly Grade Appeals Committee for review and approval. The Faculty
Assembly Grade Appeals Committee may instruct that the course grade be upheld, raised, or lowered to a more
proper evaluation.
http://catalog.wbu.edu
See attached paged for tentative schedule.
Tentative Schedule:
SEMINAR # 1
Introduction to Practicum course expectations
Students describe where they will be working and what they will be doing
Complete sign-up sheet for when each student is to present their case file to the class.
Check all forms for signatures and check insurance coverage
Discuss the Field Site Log Worksheet, Consent forms, and Evaluation Form
SEMINAR # 2
Student Log Review due
Discussion of site experiences
Discussion of any client issues requiring consultation and feedback
Class discussion of Client who Changed Me
Exam study (if needed)
SEMINAR # 3
Student Log Review due
Discussion of any client issues requiring consultation and feedback
Discussion of the student’s personal counseling theory
Exam study (if needed)
Discuss upcoming placement for Internship and expectations
SEMINAR # 4
Student Log Review due
Evaluation Forms due (both your evaluation of site, supervisor, and self as well as the
Site Supervisor evaluation of the student—these forms must be turned in this weekend)
Discussion of any client issues requiring consultation and feedback
Discussion of best and worst counseling experiences during this semester