The M.S. in Mental Health Counseling supervised field experiences (practicum and internship) provide students with an opportunity to develop and enhance their understanding of counseling theories, clinical skills, and competencies, as well as best practices in the mental health counseling profession. Students engage in experiential learning opportunities that include individual and group counseling as well as participation in counseling-related activities such as supervision, consultation, guidance, and professional development. This clinical experience prepares students as entry-level mental health counseling professionals.
The practicum is the first experiential training component of field experience. Practicum is defined as a “distinctly defined, supervised clinical experience in which the student develops basic counseling skills and integrates professional knowledge” (CACREP, 2001). It comprises 100 hours of clinical field experience: 30 hours of individual counseling, 10 of group counseling, and 60 of counseling-related activities.
Prerequisites
Students must successfully complete all of their core coursework and one residency (everything except the practicum and internship, the second residency, and thesis) before beginning the practicum field experience.
Arranging for the Practicum
Students completing a practicum must arrange for supervised practice in an appropriate setting. See the Submit a Completed Practicum Application section below for details on preparing the necessary documents and forms. Each student is responsible for finding a practicum site and a site supervisor. The field training coordinator must approve the site and the site supervisor before the student can begin the practicum. Students must ensure their field experiences meet their specific state board standards and requirements as well as those of the program.
1. Review the Field Experience Manual
The Field Experience Manual provides M.S. in Mental Health Counseling students with the information they need to be successful in their clinical field experiences. The manual addresses topics such as the application process, criminal background checks, malpractice insurance, completion and termination of practicum, procedures and policies (e.g., policy for resolving conflicts at the field experience site), extension of practicum, and evaluation forms. Students should thoroughly review the manual before starting the field experience process.
2. Select a Practicum Site and Supervisor
Students should begin the site selection process early in their enrollment at Walden University. Students are encouraged to consider the type of training sites available in their community. Practicum sites may include, but are not limited to, community mental health agencies, private practice, hospitals (inpatient and outpatient services), university counseling centers, social service agencies, and employee assistance programs. Students will receive instruction on selecting a practicum site during their residencies.
When selecting a practicum site, it is important for students to schedule a face-to-face appointment or an interview with a potential site supervisor to discuss the type of clinical experience possible (e.g., individual and group counseling, supervision). Students must ensure the site supervisor has the appropriate supervising credentials according to their state counseling board and the program requirements. The M.S. in Mental Health Counseling program encourages students to be supervised by a licensed professional counselor for their practicum field experience.
3. Submit a Completed Practicum Application
Practicum applications are due 12 weeks prior to the term in which the practicum is to begin. Therefore, students should have the application materials prepared no later than the first day of the previous term. Practicum application materials are reviewed by the field training coordinator, and students are notified of the approval decision no later than 2 weeks after the application submission deadline.
The practicum application includes the following documents:
- Practicum Registration Intent form.
- Practicum Application Form (includes Practicum at Place of Employment if applicable).
- Counseling Training and Supervision Memorandum of Understanding.
- Agency Description Form.
- Practicum Learning Agreement.
4. Register for COUN 6671 Practicum
To complete the practicum experience, students must register for COUN 6671 Practicum for one term (unless an extension is needed to fulfill the practicum hourly requirement). Registration for this course is limited to students who both meet the prerequisites and have an approved practicum application on file. Approval from the field training coordinator is required for initial registration.
To register for this course, students follow regular course registration procedures. Students are responsible for understanding the requirements of their state and should consult the rules and regulations of the licensing of professional counselors from the appropriate state licensing board.
Conflict Resolution at the Practicum Site
It is essential for students to keep their practicum instructor informed of any problems encountered at the practicum site. If a problem is detected, students should communicate that information immediately. Practicum instructors will discuss issues that need to be addressed with the site supervisor and the field training coordinator. The procedure for addressing conflict at a site is described in detail in the Field Experience Manual.
The internship field experience is completed after the student has fulfilled the practicum experience. According to the CACREP standards (2001), internship is “a distinctly defined, post-practicum, supervised ‘capstone’ clinical experience in which the student refines and enhances basic counseling or student development knowledge and skills and integrates and authenticates professional knowledge and skills appropriate to the student’s program and initial postgraduate professional placement.”
Prerequisites
Students who have successfully fulfilled their practicum requirements are able to apply for the internship field experience. Successfully completing the practicum field experience encompasses completing the hourly requirement, successfully completing COUN 6671 Practicum, and submitting all practicum field experience forms (e.g., the practicum hourly log, site supervisor evaluation). Students should refer to the Field Experience Manual for more detail.
Arranging for the Internship
Students completing an internship must arrange for supervised practice in an appropriate setting. See the Submit a Completed Internship Application section below for details on preparing the necessary documents and forms. Students are responsible for selecting an internship field experience site and site supervisor. The field training coordinator must approve the internship site as well as the site supervisor before the student can begin the internship.
1. Review the Field Experience Manual
The Field Experience Manual provides M.S. in Mental Health Counseling students with the information they need to be successful in their clinical field experiences. The manual addresses topics such as the application process, criminal background checks, malpractice insurance, completion and termination of internship, procedures and policies (e.g., policy for resolving conflicts at the field experience site), extension of internship, and evaluation forms. Students should thoroughly review the manual before starting the internship process.
2. Select an Internship Site and Supervisor
Students are encouraged to attempt to secure an internship site simultaneously while finding a practicum site. Students are allowed to complete their practicum and internship field experiences at the same site and/or with the same organization. Internship sites may include, but are not limited to, community mental health agencies, private practice, hospitals (inpatient and outpatient services), university/college counseling centers, social service agencies, and employee assistance programs. Students will receive instruction on selecting an internship site during their residencies.
When selecting an internship site, it is important for students to schedule a face-to-face appointment or an interview with a potential site supervisor to discuss the type of clinical experience possible (e.g., individual counseling, group counseling, supervision). Students must ensure the site supervisor has the appropriate supervising credentials according to their state counseling board and the program requirements. The M.S. in Mental Health Counseling program encourages students to be supervised by a licensed professional counselor for their internship field experience.
Students who complete their practicum and internship field experiences at the same site and/or with the same organization are required to have a different site supervisor for each clinical experience (i.e., the site supervisor for the practicum must be different than the site supervisor for the internship). Both site supervisors must be approved by the field training coordinator.
3. Submit a Completed Internship Application
Internship applications are due 12 weeks prior to the term in which the internship is to begin. Therefore, students should have the application materials prepared no later than the first day of the previous term. Internship application materials are reviewed by the field training coordinator, and students are notified of the approval decision no later than 2 weeks after the application submission deadline.
The internship application includes the following documents:
- Internship Application Form (includes Practicum at Place of Employment if applicable).
- Counseling Training and Supervision Memorandum of Understanding.
- Agency Description Form.
- Internship Learning Agreement.
4. Register for COUN 6682 Internship
To complete the internship experience, students must register for COUN 6682 Internship for two terms (unless an extension is needed to fulfill the internship hourly requirement). Registration for this course is limited to students who both meet the prerequisites and have an approved internship application on file. Approval from the field training coordinator is required for initial registration.
To register for this course, students follow regular course registration procedures. Students are responsible for understanding the requirements of their state and should consult the rules and regulations of the licensing of professional counselors from the appropriate state licensing board.
Conflict Resolution at the Internship Site
It is essential for students to keep their internship instructor informed of any problems encountered at the internship site. If a problem is detected, students should communicate that information immediately. Internship instructors will discuss issues that need to be addressed with the site supervisor and the field training coordinator. The procedure for addressing conflict at a site is described in detail in the Field Experience Manual.
