COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY AND COUNSELING
FALL SEMESTER, 2005
PSYC7971/7972
CLINICAL/COUNSELING PRACTICUM I /II
2 HOURS

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Practical supervised experience in counseling, psychometric assessment, and report writing in approved practicum sites. Classroom and weekly meetings with the faculty supervisor will allow students to share their experiences and learn from one another, as well as providing further guidance to students and training in working in a professional setting and presentation of cases to other mental health workers. Prerequisite: PSY7900.

COURSE EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES FOR M.S. CLINICAL-COUNSELING DEGREE
1. Students will demonstrate competence in appropriate assessment practices and issues.
3. Students will demonstrate knowledge of DSM diagnostic criteria, skill at applying diagnostic techniques appropriately, and awareness of issues relevant to specific diagnostic categories.
4. Students will demonstrate the ability to prevent psychological problems through alteration of pathological environments and early intervention.
5. Students will demonstrate the appropriate use of interventions at the individual and systems levels.
6. Students will demonstrate skill in conducting interviews in several formats including intake, diagnostic, crisis, and termination.
7. Students will demonstrate the integration of information from several sources (e.g., testing, interviews, etc.) in the writing of assessment reports and intervention notes and plans.
8. Students will demonstrate active and skillful consultation with other professionals and consumers.
9. Students will demonstrate knowledge and awareness of current issues in the field of psychology and mental health (e.g., neuropsychological assessment, substance abuse treatment, managed care practice, health psychology, and other relevant issues).
10. Students will demonstrate awareness of the needs of a culturally diverse clientele.
11. Students will demonstrate ethical decision-making and resolution of moral dilemmas.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. Students will conduct psychological and/or intellectual evaluations as required by their individual practicum site.
2. Students will write coherent interpretive reports based on evaluations, making responsible treatment recommendations and diagnostic decisions where appropriate.
3. Students will utilize counseling skills honed in prior classwork with clients.

Positively Impacting Learning Through Evidence-Based Practices

4. Students will follow appropriate professional and institutional guidelines regarding ethical standards and procedures.
5. Students will present a case to fellow students and faculty with awareness of research-validated interventions.

COURSE EVALUATION
Practice: Students are required to work for 200 total hours in a setting approved by the departmental practicum committee. The on-site supervisor will complete evaluations of the student at the midterm and final week of the semester. Logs will be kept by students, and verified by site and faculty supervisors utilizing the web Internship Logging System located at http://www.internetloggingsystem.com/. Instruction on the use of this system will be given in class.

Case Presentation: Students are required to conduct one case presentation to be scheduled early in the quarter. Presentations will be made of an actual case from one’s practicum, with appropriate precautions taken to best protect the confidentiality of the client. The case may be either an assessment or counseling case. It would likely be best to present an ongoing case with which you could use some assistance from other class members and/or faculty (the department will be invited to attend case presentations). You should work with the instructor to select an appropriate case for presentation. The presentation should consist of an overview of the case, including relevant demographic information, presenting problems, diagnosis if appropriate, course of intervention, and questions to be answered. Ideally, the case presentation will result in an active discussion among those in attendance, to help you formulate directions to go. Plan to spend 45 minutes on this presentation.

Topical Presentation: Students are required to present on a topic of interest relevant to the practice of psychology. The topic will be decided upon by the student with the instructor’s assistance. A handout outlining the presentation should be given to all members of the class. The presentation should reflect the type of work and/or clientele worked with, including referenced sources from the literature and/or the field. This presentation should be conducted as though teaching one’s fellow classmates (and instructor) about an area of the field or a specific psychotherapy technique. As such, the student can employ whatever means of teaching they choose – didactic, discussion, overheads, technology, etc. Plan to spend one hour on this presentation.  

Grading Criteria (possible 200 points):

 

Participation: 50 points
Case Presentation: 50 points
Topical Presentation: 50 points
Practicum Supervisor's feedback: 25 points

On-site Supervisor's feedback:   25 points
Note: Since this course is graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis, a grade of 80% (160 points) will serve as the line of demarcation between the two grades.

ATTENDANCE POLICY
VSU policy requires class attendance. Students will also meet individually with Dr. Wolfteich 1-2 times per month to review cases and address any necessary issues. Missing class or individual meetings will result in deduction of points at a rate of one point per hour missed.

PLAGIARISM AND CHEATING POLICY:

The full text of this policy is available in the College of Education Dean’s Office, EC room 227.  The following penalties will be enforced, as stated in the Policy:

FIRST OFFENSE: The student will earn a “0” on the assignment, test, project, etc. 

SECOND OFFENSE: The student will earn the letter grade “F” for the course.            

THIRD OFFENSE: The student will earn the letter grade “F” for the course, and further action involving referral of the matter (with documentation) to the appropriate college (university) officials within the administrative structure will be taken. (Please see page 39 of the VSU Student Handbook.)

 

SPECIAL NEEDS STATEMENT:

Valdosta State University is an equal opportunity educational institution. It is not the intent of the institution to discriminate against any applicant for admission or any student or employee of the institution based on the sex, race, religion, color, national origin, handicap, veteran status, or sexual orientation of the individual. It is the intent of the institution to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and subsequent Executive Orders as well as Title IX and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

http://www.valdosta.edu/catalog/0506/ugrad/ungrad_whole_catalog.pdf

 

Students requesting classroom accommodations or modifications because of a documented disability must contact the Access Office for Students with Disabilities (http://www.valdosta.edu/ssp/) in 1115 Nevins Hall, 229.245.2498 (voice) and 229.219.1348 (tty).

 

 

INSTRUCTOR
Paula Wolfteich, Ph.D.

Dept. Of Psychology and Counseling

Continuing Education Building, Rm. 308

903 N. Patterson St.

Phone: (229) 333-5979

Office hours:   Tues.  1:00-3 pm

                        Wed.  3:00-5 pm

                        Thurs. 11:00-2:00

E-mail: pwolftei@valdosta.edu

Website: http://teach.valdosta.edu/pwolftei

COURSE SCHEDULE

1-18-05	Introduction to the course; review of paperwork, ILS, etc
1-25-05	Discussion of cases, Empathy/Self disclosure, Schedule individual supervision
9-1-05	Discussion of cases, Treatment Planning
9-8-05	Instructor's topic, Relaxation and Imager y(speaker)
9-15-05	2 Case Presentations
9-22-05	Topical Presentation, Correctional treatment/forensics (speaker)
9-29-05	Case Presentation, Topical Presentation
10-6-05	Topical Presentation; Discussion of cases, Mid-term practicum evaluation due
10-13-05	Case Presentation, Substance abuse (speaker)
10-20-05	Topical presentation; Discussion of cases
10-27-05	Case Presentation; Confrontation, schedule site visits by this date
11-3-05	Case Presentation, Termination
11-10-05	Topical presentation, Discussion of cases
11-17-05	Case Presentation, Topical presentation
12-1-05	Topical presentation;  Wrap-up discussion of cases, End of term practicum evaluation due

Program	Course	Program Outcome	Activity	Assessment
M.S. Clinical-Counseling Psychology Degree	Practicum I/II	1. Students will demonstrate competence in appropriate assessment practices and issues.	Lecture, discussion, case supervision/presentation	Evaluation of case presentations, reports, treatment plans.  On-site supervisor’s feedback. The instructor uses appropriate grading criteria to evaluate students’ work.
		3.  Students will demonstrate knowledge of DSM diagnostic criteria, skill at applying diagnostic techniques appropriately, and awareness of issues relevant to specific diagnostic categories.	Lecture, discussion, topical presentation, case supervision/presentation,  in-class role plays and activities	Evaluation of case and topical presentations,  treatment plans.  On-site supervisor’s feedback. The instructor uses appropriate grading criteria to evaluate students’ work.
		4. Students will demonstrate the ability to prevent psychological problems through alteration of pathological environments and early intervention	Lecture, discussion, topical presentation, case supervision/presentation	Evaluation of case and topical presentations,  treatment plans.  On-site supervisor’s feedback. The instructor uses appropriate grading criteria to evaluate students’ work.
		5. Students will demonstrate the appropriate use of interventions at the individual and systems levels	Lecture, discussion, topical presentation, case supervision/presentation	Evaluation of case and topical presentations,  treatment plans.  On-site supervisor’s feedback. The instructor uses appropriate grading criteria to evaluate students’ work.
		6. Students will demonstrate skill in conducting interviews in several formats including intake, diagnostic, crisis, and termination	Lecture, discussion, topical presentation, videotape training, case supervision/presentation,  in-class role plays and activities	Evaluation of case presentations.  On-site supervisor’s feedback. The instructor uses appropriate grading criteria to evaluate students’ work.
		7.  Integration of information from several sources (e.g., testing, interviews,  observations, etc.) in the writing of assessment reports	Lecture, discussion, reports, case presentations/supervision	Evaluation of case presentations, reports, treatment plans.  On-site supervisor’s feedback. The instructor uses appropriate grading criteria to evaluate students’ work
Program	Course	Program Outcome	Activity	Assessment
		8. Students will demonstrate active and skillful consultation with other professionals and consumers.	Lecture, discussion, case presentations/supervision	Evaluation of case presentations,  treatment plans.  On-site supervisor’s feedback. The instructor uses appropriate grading criteria to evaluate students’ work
		9. Students will demonstrate knowledge and awareness of current issues in the field of psychology and mental health (e.g., neuropsychological assessment, substance abuse treatment, managed care practice, health psychology, and other relevant issues).	Lecture, discussion, topical and case presentations, outside speakers	Evaluation of case and topical presentations, reports, treatment plans.  On-site supervisor’s feedback. The instructor uses appropriate grading criteria to evaluate students’ work
		10. Students will demonstrate knowledge and awareness of the needs of a culturally diverse clientele	Lecture, discussion, topical and case presentations, case supervision, outside speakers	Evaluation of case and topical  presentations,  treatment plans.  On-site supervisor’s feedback. The instructor uses appropriate grading criteria to evaluate students’ work .
		11. Understanding of ethical issues and resolution of moral dilemmas	Lecture, discussion, topical and case presentations, case supervision	Evaluation of case and topical  presentations.  On-site supervisor’s feedback. The instructor uses appropriate grading criteria to evaluate students’ work