Counseling and Consultation Service

Extended Advanced Counseling Practicum

The Counseling and Consultation Service provides an extended advanced practicum experience for doctoral level students in Psychology (Clinical and Counseling) or masters/doctoral level students in Counselor Education or Marriage and Family Therapy. To be eligible for the extended advanced practicum, students must have already completed the 2-quarter advanced practicum at CCS.  Qualified students from similar graduate programs at other institutions are also welcome to apply.  Non-OSU students should contact the Practicum Coordinator directly at 614-292-5766 before applying.  There are 4 credit and 5 credit options available.

Outline Of The Practicum:

• STANDARD PRACTICUM (approximately 10 hours per week, equivalent to 4 credit hours for OSU students

  • 5 individual clinical hours per week*
  • 2 hours of individual supervision per week
  • 1-2 hours of group supervision per week
  • 1-2 hours preparation, client notes, etc., per week
  • 1 outreach program or workshop per quarter

  * The exact character of clinical hours can be negotiated with the practicum coordinator depending on the practicum student's training needs and agency service needs. Some options include individual counseling, couples counseling, intake/urgent care coverage, process observation of a group, or a combination of these options. Individual counseling might also take a particular clinical focus, such as multicultural counseling or working with clients with certain clinical concerns.

• EXPANDED PRACTICUM (approximately 12 hours per week, equivalent to 5 credit hours for OSU students)

  This option is available to interested students and includes all the above activities listed in the standard practicum program plus involvement in some of the activities listed below. Individual negotiations will be arranged with each practicum student to determine which of the additional activities will be included in this expanded option. Both student interest and agency need will be considered in the selection of additional practicum activities. Some of the possibilities include:

  • involvement in weekly training seminars
  • increasing individual caseload by 2 counseling hours
  • providing an additional 1-2 workshops or outreach programs

Regardless of the credit option selected, practicum students are encouraged to attend the Wednesday, semi-weekly, 10:00-11:00 a.m. full staff meeting during which important information is shared. Not only is information exchanged, but it is also the only time the entire staff meets as a group, so it is an excellent way for students to meet the rest of the staff. In addition, students are welcome to attend some of our training seminars on topics of clinical, research, assessment, and multicultural & diversity issues.

Requirements:

• Prior completion of the two-quarter advanced practicum at CCS.

Application Procedure:

Contact the practicum coordinator at 614-292-5766 to express your interest in the extended advanced practicum and to inquire about openings for the upcoming quarter. Please also submit an updated vita and a cover letter explaining your interest in and goals for an extended practicum experience. A brief interview may also be required. In the event that there are more applicants than available slots, extended practicum placements will be awarded on the basis of agency service needs and applicant qualifications.

Application Deadlines:

• Summer, 2008:  April 25, 2008
• Fall, 2008:  July 11, 2008 
• Winter, 2009:  October 24, 2008
• Spring, 2009:  January 30, 2009 

Send All Materials To:

Coordinator, Practicum Program
Counseling and Consultation Service
4th Floor, Younkin Success Center
1640 Neil Avenue
Columbus, OH 43201-2333

Benefits Of CSS Practicum:

1. Flexibility in scheduling client hours around class times (primarily a benefit for OSU students);
2. Large university counseling center setting;
3. Multidisciplinary professional staff of psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and counselors;
4. Psychology internship program accredited by the American Psychological Association;
5. Full range of client severity;
6. Ample client base;
7. No travel time to site (for OSU students);
8. Inexpensive, overnight, on-campus lodging for out-of-town students:
9. Resources available to utilize in preparing for workshop presentations;
10. Digital recording capability for recording sessions, and weekly individual and group clinical supervision;
11. Opportunity to interact with other trainees at different places in their educational programs.