Clinical Practica

Clinical training is an integral part of our clinical counselor training program. The clinical Internship/Practicum experience is organized to correspond with the sequencing of the curriculum. Clinical practicum and internship training play an important role in the integration of theory, research and practice. Clinical practice provides opportunities for students to integrate critical thinking and hypotheses testing into their clinical activities and to assimilate an empirical, scientifically informed approach to clinical practice.

The department works collaboratively with a number of training sites in the area to ensure appropriate training opportunities exist for the students. Training generally occurs in a mental health setting across various communities. During their practicum training experience, students gain direct experience in general therapy and assessment skills. The general focus of the training program is to ensure that the student receives a broad-based, foundational training experience in therapy and/or assessment techniques. Students have opportunities to gain experiences in a number of ways. For example, students may work in either inpatient or outpatient settings; and they may work with children, adolescents, or adults. Students may also gain experience working with specific mental health diagnoses and problems such as anxiety disorders/OCD, substance use disorders, depression, trauma, and sports performance. Although the department primarily has a cognitive-behavioral orientation, students are often exposed to multiple theoretical orientations and intervention techniques during their practicum experience.

Students begin applying to training sites toward the end of their first year of full-time study (January-February) and typically begin the practicum experience at the beginning of their second year of full-time studies (June-August). The student will accumulate a minimum of 700 hours of clinical experience by the conclusion of their graduate studies, this includes a minimum of 280 hours of direct service. While this requirement is not stipulated by the program, it does align with the on-site training requirement for state licensure. The Program Director will work closely with the student to facilitate placements that are consistent with the student's training needs and, where possible, areas of interest. Students are only placed at department pre-approved clinical sites. The Program Director ensures that practicum experiences are appropriately supervised and structured to meet the training needs of students.

Sample Practicum Placements

Anxiety Treatment Center of Greater Chicago
Bailey Behavioral Health
Lake Behavioral Hospital
Moving Towards Health
Mount Sinai: Under the Rainbow
Josselyn Center
Pioneer Center