Education | Practicum in Counseling
G524 | 5933 | Dr. Jeff Daniels
I. Course Description
This course entails closely supervised counseling practice with
clients in the departmentís counseling laboratories or in approved
field sites in schools or agencies. G524 will consist of group
supervision, discussion of mutually agreed-upon topics related to
counseling, and formal case presentations.
II. Course Objectives
1. Students will conduct counseling sessions with a variety of
2. Students will facilitate at least one group counseling experience
3. Students will develop the ability to conduct initial interviews
with individual clients.
4. Students will be able to demonstrate the ability to conceptualize
a client and his/her presenting concerns.
5. Students will develop the ability to conceptualize a comprehensive
counseling plan for clients.
6. Students will develop the ability to conceptualize and implement
counseling interventions with clients.
7. Students will develop the ability to evaluate progress in
8. Students will develop the ability to appropriately terminate
counseling with individual clients.
9. Students will become aware of the professional role and functions
of professional counselors.
10. Students will demonstrate effective group facilitation skills.
American Psychiatric Association (2000). Diagnostic and statistical
manual of mental disorders IV text revision. Washington, D. C.:
Additional course readings will be available on OnCourse throughout
IV. Course Requirements
1. Students are required to be at the practicum site at least 12
hours per week.
2. Students are required to have at least 40 hours of direct client
services during this course. Students must engage in both individual
counseling and group counseling, with at least 10 of the 40 hours
involving the facilitation of groups.
3. Students must show proficiency in case conceptualization and
4. Students must receive one hour of weekly supervision per week to
review their counseling with clients from doctoral students. Students
must also have one hour of weekly supervision with their site
supervisor. If there are any problems with supervision, students are
responsible for informing the instructor immediately.
5. Students must adhere to all policies of their site and the Center
for Human Growth.
6. Sessions need to be videotaped (or at least audiotaped).
7. Class attendance is mandatory. Failure to attend all scheduled
classes or to obtain an excused absence from the instructor will
result in a lowering of your grade.
8. Students must be knowledgeable and demonstrate professional
behavior consistent with the ACA and APA ethical standards.
9. Students must present taped examples of their counseling, write
case study reports, write a paper evaluating their counseling, and
develop a collective bibliography.
Grades are influenced by:
1. Evaluation of a studentís performance is based on the on-site
supervisorís written evaluation of the studentís counseling 25 points
2. Evaluation of a studentís performance is based on doctoral
supervision student supervisorís written evaluation of the studentís
counseling. 25 points
3. Studentís demonstration of counseling techniques in videotaped
4. Studentís ability to work effectively with various types of
5. Studentís ability to conceptualize client issues and develop
appropriate treatment plans based on those factors.
6. Studentís participation in class meetings and professional
demeanor in class. 10 points
7. The quality of the written materials
VI. Written Requirements
1. Case Study Report (outline attached) Ė Due the week BEFORE you
present Ė 5 Points.
2. Overall evaluation of your counseling effectiveness (5 to 7
pages) Ė Due May 7. Please write about your strengths and weaknesses
as a counselor. Also, what is your plan for turning your weaknesses
into strengths? 25 Points
3. Collective Bibliography (provide copies to class members) Ė Due
April 28. For every client you see, please find outside sources.
Include the APA reference, one or two sentences describing what the
article is about, and then a statement about how useful (or not) the
article was for you. 20 Points
Case Presentation Outline: G524 Practicum in Counseling
1. Client presenting issues/background information:
2. Current counseling goals:
3. Diagnostic impression(s):
4. Description of counseling
5. Interventions used and theoretical basis for their use
6. Overview of process factors and evaluation of current outcome
7. Analysis of your strengths and limitations in working with this
8. Questions for the class
Tentative Course Outline
DATE/ASSIGNMENT/FOR NEXT WEEK
Introductions; Syllabus; Site Issues
Site Issues; Clinical Issues
Ethics; Site; Clinical; Turn in proposal for bibliography
Peer Groups & Supervision; Site; Clinical
Reading: Writing Case Notes
Writing Notes; Site; Clinical
Reading: Diversity Issues
Diversity Issues; Site; Clinical
Stress & Self-Care; Site; Clinical; Case Presentation
Risks; Site; Clinical; Case Presentation
Reading: Risk Assessment
Closing Cases; Site; Clinical; Case Presentation; Turn in Draft of
Bibliographies DSM, pp. 1-35
Site; Clinical; Case Presentation; Introduction to the DSM
DSM: Learning Disabilities
Site; Clinical; Case Presentation; Learning Disabilities
DSM: Communication Disorders
Site; Clinical; Case Presentation; Communication Disorders
DSM: Pervasive Developmental Disorders
Site; Clinical; Case Presentation; Pervasive Developmental Disorders
DSM: Attention-Deficit & Disruptive Behavior Disorders
Site; Clinical; Case Presentation; Attention-Deficit & Disruptive
DSM: Tic Disorders
Site; Clinical; Case Presentation; Tic Disorders
DSM: Other Disorders of Infancy, Childhood, or Adolescence.