University of Miami Counseling Center Practicum
In addition to offering an APA accredited Internship in Professional Psychology, the Counseling Center has demonstrated a long standing commitment to the training of graduate students by being a key practicum placement for doctoral students from the Clinical Psychology Training Program and the Counseling Psychology Program.
The Setting:
The Counseling Center is the sole provider of psychological services to the University of Miami student body. Individual and group psychotherapy, which are provided at no cost, are the primary modes of intervention available for personal and developmental problems. However, the Counseling Center also offers a full array of clinical services including psychiatric consultation, diagnostic testing and career counseling. Clients seek treatment at the Counseling Center for a broad spectrum of psychopathology as well as for the typical adjustment issues that college students experience. The treatment approach at the Counseling Center follows a brief therapy model. In addition to these clinical activities, the Counseling Center offers consultation services and outreach programming for the entire University community. The Counseling Center has a diverse, multi-disciplinary staff, which includes highly experienced licensed psychologists with a variety of specialty interests.
Supervision:
Each practicum student receives one hour of weekly individual supervision from a licensed psychologist. Furthermore, typically practicum students receive a second hour of weekly individual supervision from a doctoral intern or post-doctoral resident in psychology. In addition, practicum students and interns participate in the hour-long weekly Clinical Training Seminar during which trainees present ongoing therapy cases, including video tapes, on a rotational basis. This seminar is conducted by the Training Director.
Clinical Activities:
While the number of clients can vary, practicum students are expected to work with approximately eight individual therapy clients per week. Experience and training in working with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds and life styles is a valued feature of the Counseling Center practicum. Opportunities for co-leading groups as well as couple counseling are also typically available.
Outreach Programming:
Practicum students are called upon to provide presentations and engage in outreach programming to the University of Miami community on numerous relevant topics such as stress management, LGBTQ challenges, test anxiety, eating issues, suicide prevention and date rape. Practicum students are encouraged to provide presentations on areas that are of interest to them.
Time Commitment:
The practicum extends from the beginning of the Fall Semester to the end of the Spring Semester. There is an orientation meeting at the start of the Fall Semester. It is anticipated that practicum students will be involved in approximately 12 to 15 hours of activities at the Counseling Center per week including record keeping. Please note that, practicum students are not required to remain at the Counseling Center when not actively engaged in professional activities.
Eligibility:
University of Miami Clinical and Counseling Psychology doctoral students are eligible for the Counseling Center practicum upon permission from their Director of Training. Interested students can contact the Training Director, Dr. Ed Rappaport, for an interview. Dr. Rappaport (erappaport@miami.edu) is also available to answer any questions or concerns regarding the practicum.
