The Counseling Center Practicum/Internship spans three semesters long (Fall, Spring, and
Summer). Interns are expected to commit to a minimum of 15 hours/week in the Fall
semester, followed by 20 hours/week in the Spring Semester and 20-25 hours/week in the
summer semester. This program of supervised clinical experience is designed to satisfy the
clinical requirements of a master’s degree in preparation for licensure as a Clinical Mental
Health Counselor in the State of Florida.
Training at the Center allows for exposure to a broad range of clinical opportunities,
such as individual counseling, group counseling, outreach, and crisis intervention. That
exposure occurs under the guidance and support of our supervision team, which is
made up of a variety of supervisors who have years of experience and a commitment
to the professional development of our interns. Broadly speaking, our team at the
Center is multidisciplinary, consisting of mental health counselors, social workers, a
nutritionist, psychiatric nurse practitioners, a psychiatrist, psychologists, and support
staff. Additionally, interns work alongside other student clinicians in training, including
those completing their master’s degree in social work, their doctoral degree in Clinical
or Counseling Psychology, or their doctoral degree in Nursing. Our Center also trains
postgraduate and postdoctoral clinicians. Training within our multidisciplinary setting
allows interns to learn from other mental health professionals and prepares them to
work effectively in multidisciplinary environments after graduation.
Our goal for every intern is that they truly become part of our staff! As their time allows,
interns are welcome to attend didactic presentations, staff meetings, case conferences, and
other Counseling Center activities. We look forward to creating relationships with each
intern and seeing how they decorate the office assigned to them!
Eligibility
Students who are completing the requirements for a master’s degree in clinical Mental
Health Counseling are eligible to apply. Minimum academic requirements include
completion of courses in ethics, counseling, and psychopathology. Additional course work in
advanced counseling theory/technique and group dynamics is preferred. If your university
does not have an affiliation agreement with our center, we will need to obtain one prior to
the start of the internship. Currently, our center has affiliation agreements with the
University of North Florida, Jacksonville University, and Nova Southeastern University.
Qualifications
Applicants must be enrolled in a master’s program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
and
be in good standing with their program. Minimum academic requirements include
completion of courses in ethics, counseling, and psychopathology. Additional course work
in
advanced counseling theory/technique and group dynamics is preferred. Effective
communication skills and a commitment to personal growth are highly desired.
Candidates must be able to work within the normal operating hours of the Center (Monday-
Friday 8 am - 5 pm). Interns are invited to complete outreach programs, which sometimes
occur in the evening or on weekends. Outreach opportunities, especially those that occur
outside of operating hours, are not required, but interns are encouraged to participate
in
those that would further their training, when they have the resources to do so.
Responsibilities and Training Experiences
- Orientation
A week-long orientation will be held during the first or second week of August.
Interns
are
required to attend all orientation sessions. Interns will receive information
about
Counseling
Center policies and procedures, participate in a staff meet and greet, gain
information
about
the Center's services, and receive brief training on topics relevant to the
start of
their
training.
- Intake Sessions
Initially, interns will observe staff counselors and their supervisors as they
conduct
intake
sessions and then complete supporting documentation. After observing several
sessions,
interns will conduct intake sessions while their supervisor observes. Once
supervisors
and
interns feel prepared and competent, interns will complete weekly intakes on
their
own.
- Individual Counseling
Every effort is made to provide interns with a variety of clients and presenting
issues,
commensurate with their level of ability and experience. Other factors that
influence
the
assignment of clients to interns include the client and/or intern’s availability
and
the
intern's
current caseload. Interns are expected to work with increasingly complex clients
as
the
training year and their capabilities progress.
- Group Counseling
All interns co-facilitate an interpersonal process group with a staff member
each
semester.
Trainees will have the option to co-facilitate additional group(s), on top of
their
interpersonal
process group, beginning in the Spring semester. Additional groups could include
psychoeducational, support, and art therapy groups.
- Outreach Activities
Interns will have the opportunity to develop and present outreach activities to
the
University
community throughout the year. Student groups, campus departments, and residence
hall
advisors often request that the Center present programs to students on a variety
of
topics.
Some of these programs are offered during evenings and weekends, but attendance
is
not
required if working outside business hours does not align with the intern’s
needs or
resources.
- Documentation
Trainees are required to document all counseling contacts in a timely manner
through
case
notes created in the Center's documentation and scheduling software.
Additional
documentation may be required regarding supervision, outreach, and other
clinical
activities.
- Liability Insurance
Trainees are required to carry professional liability insurance. Documentation
of
coverage is
required prior to independent client contact.
Group Psychotherapy
At our counseling center, interns will receive a number of group counseling training
experiences. It is expected that by the end of the internship, interns will have at
least
55 hours of group counseling direct contact hours. Group supervision is conducted
before and after each group and interns are required to attend a formal group
facilitators meeting.
Trainees' Typical Week:
Direct Contact
- Initial Appointment
- Individual Counseling
- Group Counseling
- Emergency Coverage
- Outreach
Indirect Contact
- Supervision with a Licensed Counselor
- Case Notes and Paperwork
- Group Supervision
- Supervision of Groups
- Supplemental Supervision
Total Hours Per Week = 15-25 hours depending
on the semester
Trainees might be offered additional opportunities, such as:
- Staff Meetings
- Case Conference
- Group Supervision with Doctoral Interns
- Didactic Training with Doctoral Interns
- Additional Group Counseling
Note: If a trainee exceeds 14 hours of direct client contact,
or schedules less than 8
hours of paperwork per week, there will be an increase in total hours at the Counseling
Center to accommodate for more paperwork time.
Supervision
Trainees will receive:
- 1-hour of individual supervision with a licensed mental health
counselor every week.
- 1-hour of supplemental supervision from a doctoral intern every other week
(some semesters).
- 1-hour of supervision of group counseling every other week.
Trainees' counseling sessions are videotaped for use in both individual and group
supervision. Trainees also have the opportunity to observe and consult with our
psychiatrist,
psychiatric nurse practitioners, and nutritionist.
Evaluation
Trainees receive formal evaluations from their supervisors based on the requirement of
their
academic program. Evaluation guidelines are determined in conjunction with the policies of
each trainee's academic program and the expectations of the Center. Trainees meet with
their supervisors to discuss their evaluations.
Trainees also complete evaluations of their supervisors midway throughout the semester
and at the end of the semester and discuss these with their supervisors.
Counseling
Personal issues or difficulties sometimes arise for trainees in the course of their initial
experience as counselors that exceed the limitations of supervision. While we encourage all
current UNF students to utilize services at the Center, trainees are unable to obtain
personal counseling during the term of their practicum or internship. The staff is available
to
assist trainees in locating community resources when a referral is indicated.
Information on CVs and Examples
Correspondence
Inquiries, applications, and letters of recommendation should be addressed to:
Kathryn White, Psy.D.
Director of Training
University of North Florida Counseling Center
Building 2, Room 2300
1 UNF Drive
Jacksonville, FL 32224-7699
Telephone: (904) 620-2602
kathryn.white@unf.edu