Direct Service

Practicum counselors provide short-term individual counseling to USD students who present with a wide range of presenting concerns including adjustment disorders, mood disorders, relationship concerns, stress and anxiety concerns, developmental issues, brief alcohol and drug interventions, and more.  Practicum counselors may work with one client on a long-term basis.  After receiving extensive intake and crisis intervention training, practicum counselors begin to conduct their own intakes with clients.  Tentative option of co-leading a psycho-educational group with a licensed staff or intern.  Optional outreach opportunities may be available to practicum counselors; these may include providing workshops co-led by a licensed staff or intern. 

Supervision

Practicum counselors receive three to four hours of supervision per week and are assigned to two supervisors.  Supervisors include one licensed clinical staff and one pre-doctoral intern.  Practicum counselors will have the opportunity to change at least one of their supervisors at mid-year so as to receive a variety of supervisory training.  Practicum counselors will also attend a weekly 1 hour consultation group which consists of pre-doctoral interns and staff clinicians, and a one hour peer consultation group.

Professional Development & Consultation Opportunities

Practicum counselors will attend weekly team meetings with the practicum coordinator.  Once per month, a topical seminar will be offered in place of the team meeting to enhance professional skills.   As stated above, practicum counselors will also participate in a weekly one hour peer consultation group for practicum counselors and one hour of attending a consultation group for the entire staff.  Practicum counselors have the opportunity to attend any in-services or Continuing Education seminars that are offered by the USDCC.  In-services are offered once per month for the academic year and are two hours in length. 

The USD Counseling Center works collaboratively with other Wellness Division units on campus, as well as provides consultation to various groups on campus.  Trainees have the opportunity to interact with physicians from the USD Student Health Center, counselors from the Health & Wellness Promotion and counselors from Disability Services office for case coordination or consultation.  Brief alcohol and drug interventions will be provided through the Health & Wellness Promotion Office.  In addition, trainees will also have the opportunity to interact with University administrators, faculty, staff and students in general.

Practicum Counselors Contract

The practicum program will consist of 25 hours per week not including any trainings that may be offered on occasion for an 10 month period.  Supervision includes two hours per week consisting of individual supervision with licensed staff who may be licensed less than 3 years and will include a pre-doctoral intern.  Additionally, we require practicum counselors to see 11-12 clients per week.  The practicum counselor is expected to average 25 hours per week for 10 months (44 weeks) in order to obtain 1000 required hours by the end of the practicum year.  They must be available for 6-8 hours MWThF, and 2 hours on Tuesday mornings (see site application for specific details).  We expect the practicum year to begin mid-August and end mid-June.