Kansas State University

Master's interns and practicum counselors will provide short-term individual counseling (e.g., 8-15 sessions or less) to K-State students who present with a wide range of concerns including mood disorders, family of origin issues, adjustment concerns, etc., with increased responsibility likely to occur throughout the training experience.  For example, working with high-risk clients, e.g., clients with suicidal ideation, and trauma histories.  Master's interns and practicum counselors may work with one client on a long-term basis.

Master's interns and practicum counselors receive one hour of individual clinical supervision per week. Each therapist will be assigned one supervisor, which may be a permanent staff member or an Intern in Health Service Psychology. To provide a variety of supervisory experiences, Master's interns and practicum counselors often switch their supervisor after the semester break. All supervision sessions are videotaped. The functions of the supervisory relationship include monitoring client welfare, enhancing practicum counselor skills, enhancing multicultural competence, promoting personal and professional growth, and evaluating the practicum counselor's professional development continuously. Master's interns and practicum counselors are required to prepare for supervision (e.g., be ready to discuss clients and professional growth, watch taped sessions and have clips identified to review with supervisor).

Master's interns and practicum counselors will meet together with the Training Coordinator for one hour each week to receive didactic and experiential training related to consultation, topics of interest identified by the training cohort, case conceptualization, treatment planning, and videotape review. Time will also be devoted to keep practicum counselors informed about center developments, discuss concerns, and provide support in adjustment to the training experience.

Master's interns and practicum counselors are required to attend the other training opportunities at Counseling Services. For instance, twice a month we have a one-hour multidisciplinary staff small case conference group with doctoral interns, psychologists, and other clinical staff members to discuss cases. We also have one-hour large case conferences in which doctoral interns conduct a formal case presentation and two-hour in-services in which a member of the professional community presents on a specialty area or area of interest.