Pre-doctoral Practicum Training Program
Training Program Description
Students will have the opportunity to engage in individual and, when available, couples therapy. This opportunity will also involve practicum students in assessing and conceptualizing presenting concerns from a theoretical frame-of-reference, and formalizing treatment planning and implementation. Given staff availability, practicum students may participate in group therapy as a process observer.
Weekly Schedule
Typical counseling practicum schedule
The week for CAPS Practicum Students can be anywhere from 16-18 hours depending on the individual contract developed by each student. The schedule listed below is a rough approximation of the time that is spent each semester engaging in training, direct, and indirect service provision (based on an average of a 16-18 hour week):
FALL/SPRING SCHEDULE |
|
| Activity | Hours per Week |
|---|---|
Direct Clinical Service |
|
| Individual/Couples Therapy | 6-8 |
| Initial Appointments/Intakes | 1-2 |
| Group Process Observation (if available) | 2 |
Supervision |
|
| Individual | 1-2 |
| Case Conference | 1 |
Other Training |
|
| Agency/Team Meetings | 2 |
| Case Management/AdministrativeTime | 2-3 |
Direct Service Opportunities
Individual and couples therapy
Practicum Students conduct therapy sessions seeing Purdue students in brief model psychotherapy providing between 6-8 individual contact hours a week. Every student enrolled full-time or part-time can receive an initial consultation at no charge during the semester in which they are enrolled to determine on-going therapy and/or medication needs. Individual and couples therapy also involves practicum students in assessing and conceptualizing from a theoretical frame-of-reference presenting problems, providing disposition on cases, and formalized treatment planning and implementation.
Group co-therapy: Therapy, support, and psycho-educational groups
Practicum students can be involved with process observation with one of the various types of groups that are facilitated through CAPS. These opportunities are conditional on staff availability and practicum student readiness.
Psych-educational programming and outreach
Practicum students may engage in a variety of programming and outreach including invited presentations to departments, classes, and residence halls. Outreach opportunities for practicum students are often conducted jointly with a member of the CAPS staff.
Training Activities
Individual one-one-one supervision
Supervision of practicum students is conducted on a regularly scheduled, individual basis by licensed, HSPP psychologists, post-doctoral residents, and psychology interns.
Practicum students are expected to be prepared each week for supervision. Preparation can involve reviewing web cam videos, organizing cases, preparing questions, and reviewing goals for supervision.
Case conference
Practicum students engage in weekly case conference meetings. Case conference is a time to review cases, discuss specific struggles as therapists, address any direct clinical issues; such as ethics, multiculturalism, diagnosis, and treatment planning. Case conference is a time to seek group support, instruction, and process various therapeutic difficulties.
Case management
Practicum students (in collaboration with their supervisors) are responsible for managing their case loads. Administrative time is provided each week to write reports and case notes, write business/professional letters and e-mails, return telephone calls, and consult with other staff.
Evaluation Procedures
Evaluations are conducted formally at the end of each semester by your supervisors. You also have the opportunity to evaluate your supervisor and your supervisory experience.