Practicum and Internship Handbook: General Guidelines and Policies

All counselor trainees are expected to read these guidelines and policies prior to application for practicum or internship classes. All trainees are expected to follow these guidelines and policies.

Eligibility and Pre-Requisites for Practicum and Internship

The following criteria exist for enrollment in Practicum (COUN 551):

A or B grade in COUN 516 Basic Skills

  • A or B grade in COUN 548 Advance Basic Skills
  • The student must have completed the following class COUN: 501, 510, 516,528, and 548.
  • Degree-seeking students must be fully admitted to Counseling Program and have a degree plan on file in the Department office

Note: The students are recommended to take following classes before practicum 512, 522, 530, 517, 540, 545, and 564.

If you do not know your admission status, connect with the graduate school or your faculty advisor from the department.
Pre-requisite for Internship I and II (COUN 552): a “Satisfactory” grade in Practicum Pre-requisite for Internship II. (COUN 552): a “Satisfactory” grade in Internship I

Attendance, Participation and Restrictions

Counselor trainees are expected to attend all class and supervision meetings (group, individual, on-site, off-site). Be prompt and be prepared. Trainees should develop a schedule with their field sites regarding attendance and come prepared to fully participate in the field site experience. Practicum trainees should plan to spend approximately 10 hours a week at their field sites; internship trainees should plan to spend approximately 20 hours a week at their field sites.

Supervisors and field sites must be notified in a timely manner if you will be delayed or will miss attendance. It is the responsibility of the trainee to arrange make-up supervisions. Consistent failure to attend class or supervision meetings in a timely manner or prepare client cases (with recordings) for review may result in the trainee being dropped from the class or receiving a failing grade.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Counseling Program trainees are not permitted to make home visits during their practicum and internship unless accompanied by licensed supervisor or other licensed professional. Counselor trainees must always have immediate access to a professional colleague or the site supervisor for consultation and support when at their field sites. Trainees may not work alone in a building at their field sites.

Professional Demeanor

Counselor trainees should conduct themselves in a professional manner in dress and behavior at their field sites. Consult with your field site supervisor about appropriate dress. The counselor trainee's professional demeanor must be consistent with the current ethical guidelines of the American Counseling Association (posted on the Department website).

Locations for Class and Group Supervision Meetings

Trainees can choose to take their practicum and internship classes from the following locations Metroplex Center in Mesquite, TX, the Collin Higher Education Center in McKinney, TX, Dallas Location, TX, or on the East Texas A&M University campus. Students have to proactive in submit applications and registering for classes. Individual supervision meetings with faculty instructor’s supervisors may occur ONLY at these locations.

Documentation

It is important that counselor trainees carefully manage the documentation required for practicum and internship. The numerous forms are designed to facilitate your learning process and verify information for Department records, CACREP review, and Texas licensure and certification. Many of the forms you will be using this semester will remain in your department file as verification of your field experience coursework. It is in your best interest to complete all required documentation in a timely and efficient manner. Trainees should retain a copy of all completed forms they submit to the Department during Practicum and Internship.

Supervision

A critical element in practicum and internship experiences is the extensive supervision received by counselor-in-training. Counselor trainees are expected to present client cases for review and discussion in individual supervision with their faculty instructor's supervisor (individual supervision), their field site supervisor (site supervision), and their peers (group supervision during class). Case presentation typically includes recordings (audio or video) of counseling work; these recordings have to be kept in password protected laptop or flash drives. The recordings must be deleted after completing the respective coursework.

The class supervision is group; individual or triadic supervision is done by the field site supervisor. The students can meet with the faculty instructor to watch the tape as well individually or in small groups. Missing supervision meetings or being unprepared for supervision (e.g., no recording to review) will result in a failing grade. A defensive or non-receptive posture regarding supervision is unacceptable behavior and will seriously impair the trainee's progress through the clinical sequence.

Confidentiality

Counselor trainees are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of all information related to their clients. Trainees must understand and follow the confidentiality practices of their field sites and maintain documentation and recordings in a secure manner.

  • Do not identify clients by full name in practicum or internship documentation (e.g., recording, notes, recording critiques), except for recording consent forms. Instead, use first names, initials, or some other coding method.
  • NEVER fax or email anything with client names (e.g., consent forms).
  • Do NOT discuss clients over email. Instead, indicate to your supervisor that you wish to discuss a client situation and arrange to do so via meeting or phone conversation.

The maintenance of client confidentiality extends to classroom discussion and viewing or listening to recorded counseling sessions. Never discuss clients outside the classroom or with anyone other than supervisors, faculty members, and professionals at the field site.

Respect for Clients

Clients who consent to receive counseling services from practicum and internship students are helping trainees to become effective counselors. Treat them respectfully. Clients do not exist to serve the needs of trainees. It is inappropriate to keep seeing a client whose goals have been met or pull a student/client from class simply to meet your needs for recording or accumulating direct service hours.

Audio and Video Recording Counseling Sessions

Counselor trainees are expected to record many of their counseling activities during their field placement courses. Trainees present portions of their recorded sessions for review during weekly supervision meetings with faculty instructor's (practicum), during group supervision (class), and recorded sessions are graded by the instructor in both practicum and internship.

Trainees should record as many counseling activities as possible so that they can select the best/worst recordings for learning purposes. Individual instructors will give directions regarding how many recordings will be graded, session critique forms, and related matters. Signed consent forms (provided elsewhere in this Handbook) must be completed before any recording is done and must accompany any recording handed in for a grade or review. If your site has a different consent forms, kindly use those as well. Additional suggestions regarding recording equipment is found elsewhere in this Handbook.

Crisis Procedures

Counselor trainees must know the appropriate procedures at their field site regarding crisis situations (e.g., suicide, violent behavior). Trainees should notify their field site supervisors immediately of actual or potential crisis situations with clients and follow the supervisor's directives. In the event of a death (esp. suicide or homicide) of a client, the counselor trainee must notify her/his practicum/internship faculty instructor or, in their absence, the Director of Training and Placement or the Department Head.

Professional Liability Coverage

The university provides liability insurance for all the students enrolled in practicum and internship semester. Additionally, counselor students/trainees are required to obtain professional liability coverage (insurance) during practicum and internship. This is NOT homeowners insurance, but insurance that specifically addresses counseling services provided by a counselor trainee during practicum and internship. Most counselor trainees will find professional liability insurance from the Texas Counseling Association (TCA) or American Counseling Association (ACA) easiest to obtain. These professional organizations require membership (student rate) in addition to a nominal fee for the coverage. You should purchase the coverage specifically for students. The benefit of joining these organizations goes far beyond simply buying insurance and is highly recommended by the Counseling Program.

The Department does not endorse any particular insurance plan and the rates quoted below may vary.

  • THE AMERICAN COUNSELING ASSOCIATION, via the ACA Insurance Trust (ACAIT). Call 800.347.6647 or visit their website. The student insurance fee is located under the membership benefits.
  • THE TEXAS COUNSELING ASSOCIATION. Call 800.580.8144 or visit their website (click on join/renew w/ insurance). Liability insurance available for an extra fee.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Purchase the insurance at least 6 weeks before your practicum semester so that coverage can begin on time. Proof of liability coverage, usually a certificate of insurance, must be provided at the first class meeting.

Background Checks and Criminal Records

Counselor trainees are advised that some field site placements may run background checks, especially regardin any history of legal or criminal difficulties. You may be denied a placement if you have a conviction record. Felony or misdemeanor convictions will impair, and quite possible prevent, licensure as a professional counselor in Texas. Please also note the Texas LPC rules and regulations (681.164) regarding this matter.

Removal for Cause of Trainee From Field Site

The counselor trainee may be removed from a field site placement for the following reasons:

  • Failure to obtain and show proof of professional liability insurance
  • Failure to function in a mature, responsible, and professional manner
  • Failure to follow the ethical guidelines of the counseling profession (ACA and Texas BHEC)
  • Dishonesty regarding field placement log or contract, recording, obtaining client consent
  • Failure to maintain confidentiality of client records and/or client situations
  • By request of the field site administrator/field site supervisor.

Removal for Cause from practicum or internship will be investigated and could possibly result in a failing grade in the course and a Counseling Student Competency Evaluation. The outcome of this evaluation could be a remediation plan or removal from the Counseling Program.

Texas Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

The Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors requires a minimum of 300 hours of supervised experience that is “primarily counseling in nature” during the degree program. Students who wish to become LPCs in Texas should refer to the LPC Board Rules (Title 22, Texas Administrative Code, Subchapter C, §681.83, amended to be effective November 21, 2021, 46 TexReg 7786) in regard to which, if any, of their internship experiences may apply to LPC requirements.
Note: The degree program in Counseling requires 700 hours of practicum and internship (combined) and Texas LPC only requires 300 hours. The additional 400 hours may not be applied to the 3000-hour post-degree internship requirement for the LPC, according to board rules.

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