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Counselor Training

You are here: Counseling Center

NOTE: Practicum applications for Fall 2008 are being accepted. Screening will begin April 1 and continue until positions are filled.

Overview

We offer a practicum training program for graduate students completing their degrees in counseling-related fields, either at the masters or doctoral level. The generalist nature of the program is intended to prepare students for work in university counseling centers and most other community outpatient mental health settings.

The majority of learning occurs through providing individual counseling services to UW-Stout students, where practicum counselors may expect to encounter a wide range of common developmental and mental health concerns. Opportunities for gaining experience with crisis intervention, couples and/or group counseling may also be available.

Other opportunities for learning include weekly participation in individual supervision, clinical staff meetings, and providing outreach presentations/psycho-educational programming to classrooms, student organizations, and/or other university venues.

Model of Training

The Counseling Center supports a practitioner- and developmentally-oriented model of training, which recognizes the unique assets, strengths, and areas of growth and improvement for each student. The practitioner focus emphasizes the application of counseling theory and knowledge through direct experience; the developmental focus offers greater levels of initial structure and support, followed by increasing autonomy over time. An awareness of and respect for differences in counseling style and approach round out the developmental focus of the program.

Program Structure

The Counseling Center is currently able to accommodate three to four practicum counselors each semester, depending on office space and supervisor availability. Most practicum counselors complete between 16 and 32 on-site hours (i.e., 2, 3, or 4 full days) per week. To optimize the training experience, practicum counselors are encouraged to complete no fewer than 16 hours (2 full days) per week over 2 semesters; however, other schedules will be considered based on individual need. Practicum hours during summer months (June, July, August) are available but much more limited, due to decreased staffing and reduced client flow.

Counseling services provided by practicum counselors include intake assessments, ongoing counseling sessions, individualized alcohol assessments, collaboration with other care providers and campus resources, making referrals, after-care planning and emergency response/crisis intervention. When not seeing clients for direct services, time is filled through attendance at supervision and clinical staff meetings, completion of case notes, professional reading, and preparation for outreach programming activities.

Application and Selection Process

The application process begins with an initial screening of student application materials followed by invitations for in-person interviews with selected applicants. Interviewing takes place the semester prior to placement. Decisions to accept practicum counselors for placement are based upon (1) the student's overall readiness for placement, and (2) "goodness of fit" between a student's training needs and ability of the Counseling Center to meet those needs, and (3) support provided by professional references.

Application materials should include:

• Letter of application describing applicant's interest in completing a practicum at the UW-Stout Counseling Center
• Resume including a summary/review of counseling-related education and experience
• Names and contact information for three (3) professional references who have either directly observed the applicant's counseling performance and/or have knowledge of the applicant's counseling-related experiences (examples may include professors, clinical supervisors, etc)

Review of applications begins April 1 for fall semester placement and November 1 for spring semester placement, if positions are available. Application materials may be sent electronically (via attachment) to jackelenm@uwstout.edu, or by U.S. Mail to: