FO 644 - Practicum

The practicum/internship is a practical, professional experience in counseling related activities. Students have the opportunity to engage in a wide range of professional clinical experiences that include tasks that a clinical professional counselor is expected to perform such as diagnostic interviewing and individual/group/family counseling, as well as case management, advocacy, administrative support, and/or consultation. The training experience requires a minimum of 700 hours over a minimum of nine months of on-site supervised training, including at least one hour of individual supervision per week by a qualified supervisor or qualified clinical supervisor (as defined by Illinois’ Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional Counselor Licensing Act). The first 100 hours of the student’s training experience is considered his/her "practicum" requirement and the subsequent 600 hours his/her "internship." All students enrolled in FO 644 must attend a two-hour weekly seminar. This course sequence provides a small group consultation forum in which students examine relevant clinical and professional development issues that arise as the result of participation in a practicum/internship. Students present material from their practicum cases to gain mastery in the integration of theory and practice. Case conceptualizations consider client/therapist relationship, broader systems (e.g., family, school, community, court, political, and other treatment professionals/programs), and areas of diversity and difference (e.g., race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, and socioeconomic status) as contextual variables. Presentations and discussions are designed to prepare students to successfully complete their Forensic Competency Examination (FCE). (Pass/Fail) (3 credits)