The
Counseling Center provides
a supervised clinical training experience
for students in doctoral level Counseling and Clinical psychology
programs. The training experience is grounded in a developmental
model that draws from a general understanding of clinical skill
development and attention to individualized supervision and
professional development. The goal of the practicum training is to
provide a structured learning experience that is tailored to the
developmental needs and clinical interests of individual students.
The students are exposed to a variety of theoretical perspectives
and clinical issues, and they participate in a number of activities
that facilitate the development of their clinical skills and their
identity as mental health providers.
Practicum students will be
supervised
by a member of the Counseling Center senior
staff during the fall semester. During the spring semester,
practicum students may be supervised by a pre-doctoral intern under
the supervision of a licensed psychologist.

Eligibility
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Students will be in good standing in either the Ph.D. program in
Clinical or Counseling Psychology at UNC Charlotte.
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Students
will have completed courses in basic counseling/clinical theory and
techniques, ethics, and personality or abnormal psychology.
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It is also desirable that students have completed courses in
multicultural counseling, research design and methods, and group
therapy.
How to apply
Students will be expected to participate in two consecutive semesters of
practicum beginning in fall and continuing in the spring. The
application process will begin in early spring for the following fall
semester and will include both a written application and an on site
interview with the Practicum Coordinator and another staff member.
Students will submit a completed application form that can be found on
line, a vita, a letter of interest, and one reference from a faculty
member or current supervisor who is familiar with the students’ clinical
experiences.
Download application materials here,
complete the application, and send to Jessica Walker, Ph. D., Practicum
Coordinator, Counseling Center, University of North Carolina Charlotte,
9201 University City Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28223-0001. The
application materials will be reviewed and selected applicants will be
contacted for two 30 minute interviews, one with the Practicum Coordinator
and one with another senior staff member.
Applications are due by March in the spring
semester of the year that the student is seeking practicum placement.
Interviews will be conducted in March and April for placement in the fall
semester.
Practicum Activities and Expectations
The doctoral level practicum training
experience is a 20 hour per week training experience that can
include the following weekly activities:
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Two to four intake sessions.
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Five to ten individual or
couples sessions.
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Co-leading a
structured group.
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One hour of
individual face-to-face supervision.
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One hour of group
supervision.
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One hour and a half
of all staff professional development seminar held on Thursdays from
8:30 am to 10:00 am.
Policy on accessing counseling at the Counseling Center and concurrent
or subsequent practicum placement
Participation in counseling concurrent with practicum placement at
the Counseling Center is not permitted due to the dual role
relationships that would result. We have a strong belief in
the need for clarity of roles, and we maintain our ethical
responsibility to avoid dual role conflicts that may impede the
training process and experience. However,
counseling at the Center
prior to a practicum placement is permitted. If students receive
counseling at the Counseling Center prior to practicum, they will be
precluded from having their counselor as their supervisor in any
capacity during the practicum experience.
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