Counseling & Psychological Services

Clinical Practicum 

Students who participate in practicum at the Center will be on site 10 hours per week for one semester (or two, depending on the requirements of the home program). The 10 hour requirement may exceed what is required by a trainee's home program, but our staff feels that this requirement is necessary to ensure a good opportunity for professional growth and experience. Emphasis is placed on individual counseling and diagnostic skills in this training experience.  Practicum students typically participate in one hour of individual supervision each week, one hour of peer supervision each week (Tuesdays at 8am), an hour of group supervision (Thursdays at 8am), and see six individual therapy clients per week.  An additional hour is given for administrative tasks such as completing notes.  Practicum trainees are expected to be on site during times when class is in session (are not expected to be on site during university breaks, holidays, or other university closures).  The placement typically begins the week classes start and ends the week of finals.  Practicum trainees wishing to do an externship at the center will be required to re-apply (we cannot gaurantee an automatic externship following the conclusion of practicum).  

Practicum--Typical Activities

Please note that a training opportunity in Group Therapy is not a part of the 10-hour training experiences for practicum, though the opportunity to process observe a group may be available as a training experience above and beyond the required 10 hour practicum week.

Master's-Level and PsyD Externships

Appalachian State's Counseling Center externships offer a more advanced and in-depth training experience for graduate students. We refer to our advanced Master's-Level and PsyD student trainees as "Externs" in order to distinguish this experience from our APA-accredited Doctoral Psychology Internship.

The Center staff accepts externship applications from students in App State's CMHC program and Clinical Psychology PsyD program, though applicants from similar programs at other institutions are welcome to apply as well. The externship is a supervised placement at the Center that takes place over two semesters and entails a minimum of 21 hours per week on site (including 15-17 direct service/clinical hours, two hours of individual supervision, an hour of group supervision, and an hour of peer supervision).  We realize that this requirement may be more than what is required by trainees' home programs, but our staff believes that this requirement is necessary to help prepare students for entry-level practice (in the case of our Master's-level trainees) and the full time doctoral psychology internship (for PsyD/doctoral-level students). The emphasis includes training in individual counseling and diagnostics, and may also involve conducting initial consultation appointments and co-leading a therapy group.  Externs may also have the opportunity to participate in specialized training in  areas such as behavioral health consultation. The externship is designed to prepare trainees for entry-level practice or doctoral-level internships.  

Externship Typical Activities

Social Work Field Placement

Students in their second year in the MSW Program may pursue their field placement in the Counseling Center for 16 hours/week for 2 semesters.  Training opportunities may involve referral coordination, individual counseling and diagnostics and outreach and prevention (based on an individual's interests, experience, training and concentration area).

Social Work Field Placement Typical Activities

*Field Placement MSW students may have the opportunity for Individual Therapy hours depending on experience and training. 

Diversity Graduate Assistantship

The diversity graduate assistantship typically co-occurs during a trainee's practicum and/or externship placement in the counseling center. The externship involves 20 hours per week and takes place during Fall and Spring semesters. During the externship, training focuses on individual counseling/psychotherapy and outreach programming. As the Diversity Graduate Assistant, the extern is also expected to engage in activities that assist the Center in reaching out to and providing services to underserved and diverse student populations. Specific activities are negotiated but often include targeted outreach programming and groups for special populations.