Counseling Practicum and Internship

Overview

We have a multidisciplinary team working together to provide trainees with solid training and growth opportunities. Our fast-paced Counseling Center is housed within the Campus Health Center at NC State University. The strengths of our training program include our dedicated staff, the center’s commitment to training, and our outstanding trainees.

For more information or questions, please contact:
Kelsey McKaplan, MA, LCMHCS
Coordinator of Master’s Level Training

About the Practicum and Internship

The Counseling Center at NC State offers Practicum and Internship Opportunities for Graduate Students in Counselor Education, Counseling, Social Work, and Counseling Psychology. We prefer individuals who are able to make the commitment to do a full academic year of training beginning in the Fall and carrying through the Spring semester. Starting dates that do not follow this timeline are available at times, however, you may inquire to see if this option is a possibility. This is an unpaid opportunity, but training and supervision are provided.

Our Practicum and Internship program accepts talented students from differing programs (e.g., Counseling, Psychology, and Social Work) and allows all students to work with senior staff from varying disciplines. Many college counseling centers operate within a multidisciplinary framework, and our training program is no exception. We expect a cooperative spirit and enthusiasm to learn from a variety of colleagues (peers, supervisors, senior staff, psychiatrists, and our office staff).

The Counseling Center prioritizes training as a whole, emphasizing opportunities for professional development and continuing education.

NC State’s Counseling Center welcomes and serves students of all backgrounds. Trainees are encouraged to explore their beliefs, attitudes, and skills to assess and increase their cultural awareness, cultural humility, and anti-racist practices. Furthermore, the emphasis placed upon personal understanding as part of professional development may require that trainees consider issues that are somewhat personal in nature. Every effort is made to provide a safe and nurturing environment that respects disclosure and protects trainees’ confidentiality.

In support of the desire to foster cultural awareness, cultural humility and anti-racist practices, the Counseling Center is committed to developing training for staff. The Counseling Center recognizes that factors such as race or ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, religion, and range of ability affect college students’ lives and sometimes present unique challenges. The Counseling Center values each student’s individuality and commits to welcoming all people with respect and sensitivity. Counseling Center staff also attends to their own professional development by participating in training and programs designed to enhance their understanding of the needs of diverse people.

The practicum and internship are grounded in the Practitioner-Scholar Model, which aligns with master’s and doctoral-level training programs. As practitioners, we value the learning that comes through direct service experiences and thoughtful self-reflection. As scholars, we recognize the importance of theory, research, intentionality, and critical thinking.

	Practicum	Internship
Modality	In person	Hybrid Work Arrangement (In person and remote work)
Semester	Only offered Spring semester (January – April)	Academic Year Cohort Model (Starts each fall and ends in April)

The Counseling Center does not offer training opportunities over the summer.

Schedule

Practicum in Counseling

Trainees will typically need 100 hours over the course of their practicum to meet the requirements for their individual programs of study. Most programs require that 40 of these hours be direct service. Over the course of the semester, Practicum students in our agency will generally work 10 hours a week. This will more than meet the hours required by your program and will prepare trainees to advance into their Internship experience.

Your time can be conceptualized in three categories:

direct service
training/supervision
administrative work

Direct Services Activities:	Hours Per Week
Observing Senior Staff (Initially)	0 – 5
Individual Counseling	6 – 8
(Personal and Academic)
Outreach Programming	0 – 2
Group Counseling	0 – 2

Training – Supervision Activities:
Individual Supervision (on site)	1
Group Supervision	1
Supervision of Group Counseling	0 – 1

Administrative Activities:
Clinical Notes & Paperwork	2
Preparation for Supervision	.30 – 1
Outreach Preparation	0 – 2

Approximate Totals:	10 – 12

Notes
Initially, more hours are spent observing, which are replaced by increasing individual counseling appointments as training progresses.

We expect all trainees to take a lunch break when appropriate (when full or most of the day is worked). Self-care is essential for a positive and successful training experience. Also, trainees are not able to see students after the counseling center is closed unless the supervisor has agreed to remain and be available. This does not include educational outreach presentations, which may be scheduled after hours.

Internship in Counseling

Trainees will typically need 600 over the course of their internship to meet the hours requirements for their individual programs of study. Most programs require that 240 of these hours be direct service and at least 1 hour a week of individual supervision be provided.

Your time can be conceptualized in three categories:

direct service
training/supervision
administrative work

Direct Services Activities:	Hours Per Week
Intakes (Personal and Academic)	2 – 3
Individual Counseling Follow-Ups	12 – 15
(Personal and Academic)
Outreach Programming	0 – 1
Group Counseling	0 – 2
Observing Senior Staff	0 – 1
Total Direct Service:	15 – 20

Training – Supervision Activities:
Individual Supervision (on site)	1 – 2
Group Supervision	1
Training Seminar Topics	1
Supervision of Group Counseling	0 – 1
Total Training & Supervision:	3 – 5

Administrative Activities:
Clinical Notes & Paperwork	3 – 5
Preparation for Supervision	.30 – 1
Outreach Preparation	0 – 2
Staff Meeting	2
Professional Development	0 – 2
Total Administrative:	8 – 10

Approximate Totals:	20 – 25

Notes
We expect all trainees to take a lunch break when appropriate (when full or most of the day is worked). Self-care is essential for a positive and successful training experience. Also, trainees are not able to see students after the counseling center is closed unless the supervisor has agreed to remain and be available. This does not include educational outreach presentations, which may be scheduled after hours.

Evaluation Procedures

All staff involved in training will give feedback designed to both support and challenge the trainee’s development. This will occur on an ongoing basis during the placement and in supervision meetings. More formal evaluations will be provided to the trainee and the trainee’s home graduate department mid-semester and again at the end of each academic term. The training director will work with the trainees and supervisors to ensure these reviews are completed. Typically, both an internal evaluation form and the form required by the trainee’s home graduate department will be completed.

The areas covered on the written evaluation forms for master level trainees are:

Initial Assessment Skills
Crisis Intervention Skills
Clinical Skills
Professional Standards & Behavior
Ethical behavior and practice
Case Conceptualization and Diagnosis
Treatment Planning and Intervention Skills
Use of Supervision and Incorporation of Feedback
(Other Job-specific Skills)

Intern Feedback for Supervisors and Training Staff

Feedback should be designed to both support and challenge the trainee’s development. This will occur on an ongoing basis during the placement and in supervision meetings. Trainees will also be asked to evaluate elements of our training program at the conclusion of their training.

Trainees are asked to evaluate the training program in areas of:

Treated with professionalism
Strength of training
Quality of supervision
Overall learning
Overall skills training