Advanced Practicum (PY 846) provides for student experience with client problems and the learning of relevant psychological skills. Admission to Advanced Practicum assumes the completion of 400 clock hours of supervised practicum at the Master’s degree level. Direct admit students (i.e. students without a terminal Master’s degree in Counseling or a related field) must complete an initial practicum in their second year, followed by the advanced doctoral practicum in their third year. Doctoral students who have completed the initial practicum in a Master’s Program at another university must complete the certification form for practicum (available in the Program office). The Advanced Practicum is part of the preparation for the full year Pre-Doctoral internship.
The prerequisite skills for entering the Advanced Practicum include satisfactory completion of the courses taken to date in the doctoral program. In addition, the program endorses the prerequisite skills that have been developed by the Association of Directors of Psychology Training Clinics (ADPTC) Practicum Competencies Workgroup. These prerequisite skills are detailed below:
- Interpersonal skills: ability to listen and be empathic with others; respect for/interest in others’ cultures, experiences, values, points of view, goals and desires, fears, etc. These skills include verbal as well as non-verbal domains. An interpersonal skill of special relevance is the ability to be open to feedback.
- Cognitive skills: problem-solving ability, critical thinking, organized reasoning, intellectual curiosity and flexibility.
- Affective skills: affect tolerance; tolerance/understanding of interpersonal conflict; tolerance of ambiguity and uncertainty.
- Personality/Attitudes: desire to help others; openness to new ideas; honesty/integrity/valuing of ethical behavior; personal courage. Personality/Attitudes: desire to help others; openness to new ideas; honesty/integrity/valuing of ethical behavior; personal courage.
- Expressive skills: ability to communicate one’s ideas, feelings and information in verbal, non-verbal and written forms.
- Reflective skills: ability to examine and consider one’s own motives, attitudes, behaviors and one’s effect on others.
- Personal skills: personal organization, personal hygiene, appropriate dress.
In addition to the Advanced Practicum, Doctoral students may consider engaging in some time-limited clinical experience during their third and fourth years. The decision about pursuing additional clinical training should be made in consultation with the student’s advisor and/or Director of Training. The advanced practicum placements need to be approved by the Advanced Practicum Coordinator. All other employment or placements of a psychological nature must be approved by the Director of Training. All third year students (and fourth year Direct Admit students) engaged in clinical experience, prior to the Pre-Doctoral internship, must enroll for a section of PY846.
The Lynch School Counseling Psychology Program intends that the advanced practicum training should facilitate the development of the following important capacities:
- understanding of and commitment to professional and social responsibility as defined by statutes of the ethical code of the profession;
- the capability to conceptualize human problems;
- awareness of the full range of human variability, including the physically challenged;
- understanding of one's own personality and biases and of one's impact upon others in professional interaction;
- skill in relevant interpersonal interactions such as systematic observation of behavior, interviewing, psychological testing, psychotherapy, counseling, and consultation;
- ability to contribute to current knowledge and practice; and
- understanding of and skill in working with clients from diverse, ethnic, cultural, and social backgrounds.
Achievement of these objectives in the practicum setting will require a high degree of access to professional psychologists who will serve as appropriate role models. Such contact is intended to facilitate the student's development of a professional identification and skills as a practicing psychologist.
The Advanced Practicum requirements include a minimum of 400 hours in placement of which 150 hours are in direct service experience and at least 75 hours are in formally scheduled supervision. Typically these practicum experiences involve placement in a clinic or counseling center setting 20-24 hours per week over the course of nine months. In practice, students generally exceed the minimal requirements. Recommended practicum activities include attending case conferences and writing reports and clinical notes. The Advanced Practicum together with the earlier Master’s level practicum supervised field experience graded in intensity and responsibility provide preparation for the pre-doctoral internship. The training is coordinated by a faculty member who maintains a close liaison with the working professionals in the practicum setting and holds regular seminar discussions. Advanced Practicum Guidelines are available in the Program office.