SECTION VI. PRACTICUM

The 6-credit Practicum (3 credits per semester – COUN 614 in the fall and COUN 616 in spring) is designed with lab experience where student CES counselors meet with volunteer student clients from Boise State University. Students must be prepared to commit and document the following categories and hours:

Direct Hours (60 of 150)

• Minimum of 30 hours of direct client contact (individual, group, or psycho-education) each semester in practicum lab;
• To count as a direct hour of client contact, the session must be digitally recorded in the lab (individual sessions) or videotaped in a classroom during lab hours (group sessions)
• All direct hours must be accrued across the entire semester so as to adequately evaluate your progress (for example, a good goal would be to complete about 15 client hours prior to midterm and about 15 client hours after midterm)

Indirect Hours (90 of 150)

• Minimum of 7 or 8 hours of individual supervision (15 required across both semesters)
• Minimum of 18 hours of group supervision (per semester)
• Minimum of 19 hours of other Practicum related activities (per semester) Priorities for indirect hours are:
  • Group supervision (18 hours per semester) and individual supervision (15 hours across the academic year)
  • Tape review, case notes, self-assessments, assigned and relevant readings
  • Other hours may include additional education (e.g., workshops, conferences), library research related to client issues, peer consultation, and other research

The student is responsible for maintaining weekly and summary logs of activities and contact hours, and for ensuring the necessary forms are signed and submitted in a timely manner. Documents (electronic and/or paper) that contain client information are not to be removed from the floor/department, except where explicitly stated. You are responsible for maintaining personal copies of logs and other items as needed for licensure.

Client Records

A signed Release of Information and Permission to Record/Observe/Consult form must be completed by each client at before beginning the first session with his/her practicum student Ph.D. in CES Counselor. Remember that only clients 18 and older are allowed to attend sessions in the Boise State Practicum Lab. Written communication (to be maintained in the client folder) to the Individual Supervisor is advised in questionable or unusual situations.

Insurance

You are required to have some form of professional liability insurance. Students who are currently members of American Counseling Association (ACA) or American School Counselor Association (ASCA) can obtain insurance through that organization at competitive rates. Students who are not currently members of ACA are encouraged to join at this time, not only for the opportunity to be insured under the group program but also to begin participation in a professional organization serving the interests of the counseling profession. You may secure insurance of your own choosing. You must submit a completed Statement of Liability Insurance form and attach Proof of Insurance prior to beginning practicum hours, and at any point that a renewal is needed.

Monitoring Methods

A variety of methods will be employed for monitoring student-client contact, including but not limited to:

• Digital recording of sessions
• Transcripts and analyses of recordings of sessions
• Monitoring through the digital recording system
• Direct supervision
• Presentation and discussion of case studies

Evaluations

In addition to periodic informal evaluations during individual supervisory sessions, Ph.D. practicum students will be formally evaluated by the individual supervisor on a variety of skills and activities at midterm and the end of the semester. Identified outcome competencies are integral to these evaluations. Maintaining client contact information including contact hour logs and client records is the responsibility of the student and will be included in the evaluation along with his/her attendance at scheduled individual and group supervisory sessions. The Ph.D. student’s knowledge, performance, and disposition are components for assessment. Each Counseling Practicum Ph.D. student will be asked to complete an evaluation of her/his individual Supervisor and the Practicum experience at the end of the semester. Additionally, clients may be given an opportunity to evaluate the student-counselor at the end of the semester or as an ongoing part of the practicum experience. Client comments will not be evaluated as part of the student’s grade, but will be reviewed and discussed with the student by the individual supervisor. Students will be expected to generate descriptive statistics summarizing client ratings for the fall and spring, as well as evaluating improvement from fall to spring semester.

Dress Code

We require you to dress professionally when working with clients. Professional attire is “business casual” clothing and an overall neat and well-groomed appearance. If you have any questions about what is professional attire, please do not hesitate to ask program faculty. While we want you to feel comfortable, we expect professionalism and professional attire while working with clients. Remember you represent yourself, the Department, and the University.

Use of Foreign Language In-Session

Counseling services should be provided in English, unless otherwise discussed with your individual supervisor.

Punctuality and Time Management

It is imperative that you arrive for your appointments with practicum lab clients promptly at the scheduled hour. It is also imperative that you end sessions promptly. All sessions should be 50 minutes in length. If a client arrives late, the session should be shortened to end at the original scheduled time. This demonstrates good boundaries and allows the next client to be seen in a timely manner.