FAQs for Clinical Courses: Practicum, Internship, & Field Experience

• 1. What are the Site Supervisor Requirements for Counseling track Practicum and Internships? Are there certain qualifications or experiences my supervisor should have?

  a. A site supervisor must have a minimum of a master’s degree in counseling or a closely related field (e.g. marriage and family therapy, social work, psychology) with the equivalent qualifications.

  b. A site supervisor must have appropriate certifications and/or licenses (e.g., LPC, LCSW, Licensed Psychologist, LMFT, licensed/certified school counselor). These need to be full clinical licenses and not associate/extern licenses. Per CACREP site supervisors do not need to have the additional supervision credential (e.g., LPCS) to be a practicum or internship site supervisor. Please check with your individual state to determine if your state requires site supervisors to have additional credentials.

  c. Site supervisors must also have a minimum of two years of pertinent professional experience (e.g. clinical mental health, school counseling) post-master’s degree in the area they are supervising.

  d. Supervisors must also have relevant training in counseling supervision – the department can provide this training. Site supervisors may contact the Department for resources regarding the clinical supervision process and a brief online module providing an overview of supervision.

  e. It is the student’s responsibility to check with their state’s regulatory agency to determine if additional state requirements for site supervisors of practicum and/or internship experiences are met. If you have questions about your state’s site supervisor regulations please don’t hesitate to contact your advisor or Dr. Emerson.

  f. Site Supervisors must meet with their practicum students for a minimum of 30 minutes and with internship students for a minimum of 1 hour per week for formal site supervision.

  g. Site supervisors and students are expected to have knowledge of the program’s expectations, requirements, and evaluation procedures for students. Site supervisors are also available for consultation on an as-needed basis outside of formal supervision meetings. During the first week on site, the student and his or her site supervisor will complete the Practicum/Internship Learning Agreement Form which includes a time schedule and brief plan of activities. A copy is submitted to the course instructor for approval.

• 2. What are the Site Supervisor/Site Mentor Requirements for Human Services Field Experience? Are there certain qualifications or experiences my supervisor should have?

  a. A site mentor must have a minimum of a master’s degree in a human services related field with equivalent qualifications and have a minimum of two years of pertinent professional experience post-master’s degree. Site mentors may contact the Department for resources regarding the mentoring process.

  b. It is the student’s responsibility to check with their state’s regulatory agency to determine if additional state requirements for site mentors of field experiences are met.

  c. Site Mentors meet with their field experience students for a minimum of one hour each week to provide feedback and review the students work and behaviors and provide at the field experience site for a minimum of 14 hours per semester. Site mentors are also available for consultation on an as-needed basis outside of formal mentoring meetings.

  d. Site mentors and field experience students are expected to have knowledge of the program’s expectations, requirements, and evaluation procedures for students.

• 3. Do I need do have an LPC as a supervisor if I am on the counseling track?

  No, see answer 1 above.

• 4. What should I look for in a site supervisor?

  Beyond the qualifications listed above, look for someone you think you can get along with and work closely with professionally. A site supervisor should be interested and invested in your growth as a professional counselor or human services professional. Someone who is energetic about being a supervisor is a huge plus as well.

• 5. What is the process for coordinating university supervision, which includes both individual and group supervision?

  The Department will reach out to you before the start of the semester in which you are doing practicum, internship or field experience in order to get your availability for individual and group university supervision. Every effort is made to work with student’s schedules. However, you must be able to work with the university supervisor’s schedule and the schedules of a small group of your peers. This is a time in the program when flexibility is needed in order to meet the needs of all who are participating in the process.

• 6. Is it okay to be at a site with no LPC’s?

  Yes, as long as a supervisor meets the qualifications listed above.

• 7. Is it okay to do my practicum or internship at a site where I would only be able to do co-counseling?

  No. Co-counseling is welcome, especially in the beginning; however, you must also be given the opportunity to individually counsel clients in order to develop your counseling skills and be evaluated properly.

• 8. Is it okay to do my practicum or internship at a site where I would only be able to do group counseling?

  No, you must be able to individually counsel in addition to group counseling. You need the experience of individual counseling to develop your skills and be evaluated properly. If you have concerns or questions about the ratio or individual counseling vs. group counseling hours you would get at a site please reach out to Dr. Emerson for consultation.

• 9. Once I have an interview for an internship – what should I wear? How should I prepare? What kinds of questions will they ask me?

  a. Preparing for the Interview

  i. Know yourself. Be prepared to discuss what lead you to counseling, any past relevant experiences you might have had, your skills, your career goals, your accomplishments

  ii. Theories. Be prepared to speak eloquently about one or two theories to which you are drawn (not just person-centered even though it is a great foundation for your theoretical work be knowledgeable about one other theory)

  iii. Research the site. Familiarize yourself with the history of the site, the population served, etc, and be prepared to discuss what you hope to gain from the site

  b. During the Interview

  i. Arrive 10-15 minutes early

  ii. Dress professionally! (http://career.opcd.wfu.edu/practice-for-an-interview/interview-attire/)

  iii. Bring information on practicum/internship/field experience. This way, you will be prepared to answer any questions your interviewer might have. (http://college.wfu.edu/counseling/forms/forms-for-current-students/)

  iv. Bring a copy of your resume. Make sure it is updated to reflect your coursework and experience in this program. Dr. Emerson will send you a document to help in this process when you begin your site search process or see the link in question 10 below now.

  v. Body language. Make eye contact and maintain it, greet interviewer with a firm handshake at the beginning and end of the interview, sit up straight, and speak in a confident voice.

  vi. Ask questions. To learn more about the organization and to show your interest

  vii. Be prepared for common questions including but not limited to:

  1. What are your strengths?
  2. What are your weaknesses?
  3. What draws you to our organization?
  4. What are your long term career goals?
  5. What is your theoretical orientation?
  6. What do you hope to gain from this experience?
  7. What do you do for self-care?

  viii. Be enthusiastic!

  c. After the Interview

  i. Follow up. Write a thank you note or email to each person with whom you interviewed.

  ii. If offered a position and you decline it, please write the site and thank them for their time and consideration. Remember you are networking with future employers and colleagues during this process.

• 10. My site is asking for a cover letter and a resume. What should I keep in mind?

  Refer to this document: Counseling Cover Letter & Resume Tips

• 11. How quickly will I get to see my own clients?

  This depends on your practicum or internship site. Every site is different. Some sites have students see clients almost right away, while others wait until even halfway through the semester. Know yourself and what your comfort level is with seeing clients quickly or easing into it as this is something to keep in mind while searching for a site and during the interview process. You must be able to see clients on your own during internship.

• 12. How available is the site supervisor?

  a. Your site supervisor (or an appropriate back-up supervisor) should be on-site whenever you are on-site seeing clients for your practicum or internship. He/she will have sessions of their own, so be sure to work out a time that is agreeable for both of you to meet for individual supervision. Counseling track site supervisors meet with their practicum students for a minimum of 30 minutes and with internship students for a minimum of 1 hour per week. Human Services track site mentors meet with their field experience students for a minimum of 1 hour per week. Site supervisors are also available for consultation on an as-needed basis outside of formal supervision meetings. During the first week on site, the student and his or her Site Supervisor will complete the Practicum/Internship Learning Agreement Form, which includes a time schedule and brief plan of activities. A copy is submitted to the course instructor for approval.

  b. Your site supervisor will monitor your work with individual clients/students and projects at the site, as well as provide feedback on your skills, case conceptualization, and site procedures and protocols as they relate to your work with each of the clients/students with whom you are working in practicum/internship. Your site supervisor is your first line of contact for ANY questions regarding your work with clients/students; you may not consult with outside persons without the explicit written consent of your site supervisor. If you have concerns about your site supervision that are not resolved with speaking to your site supervisors please consult with your university supervisor to create a plan to address these concerns.

• 13. Should I gain an understanding of the type of work I will be able to do before I commit to a site?

  Absolutely! While any clinical experience will be valuable to your growth and development, it is important to learn about what type of work potential sites plan to have you do before committing to a site. Keep in mind the hour requirements for individual counseling, group counseling, etc. for both practicum and internship when learning about the type of work you can do on-site. Information can be found in the Clinical Experience Manual.

• 14. Can I stay at my practicum site for internship if it is a good site? Or, do I have to choose a different internship site?

  Yes, you may stay at your practicum site for internship if it’s a good site. It would be a good idea to discuss this with your faculty practicum or internship supervisor before committing to stay at the site. Be sure to consider how staying at the same site might fit into your career goals after the masters program. Also, make sure your site understands the required increase in both direct and indirect hours needed for internship.

• 15. What do I do if I have a spring practicum, and my site wants me to stay on through the summer for continuity with clients, but I can’t do internship in the summer?

  a. Currently, the department does not do summer internship for full time on campus full-time students as there is not an internship course set up over the summer.

  i. If your site requires that you continue over summer breaks or other periods of time outside of the normal short breaks, you will need to acquire: separate or additional professional liability insurance and a GAP form. The hours for on-campus students completed during this GAP period will not apply towards required clinical hours in the program.

  b. Online, part-time students have a little more flexibility in the course sequence and can usually make it work to move an internship course over the summer semester. First, you must talk to Mary Katherine Newsome because your course sequence will need to be rearranged. If you don’t move internship to the summer and you have the semester long gap at your site between clinical semesters then AND you plan to stay on at your site over the gap time between semesters, you need to fill out a GAP form and obtain your own personal liability insurance for this extended period of time.

• 16. What if I start at a practicum site, and it doesn’t work out for reason or another…what do I do?

  Please be in touch with your university supervisor first and Dr. Emerson about this immediately and maintain open communication about what is not working out at the site. We will do our best to help work things out either with the site (best option) or a different site.

• 17. What are direct and indirect hours?

  a. Direct hours include hours that are direct counseling contact with clients/students at your site and indirect hours are those that you are working at your site but not seeing clients.

  b.

  Examples of Direct Service	Examples of Indirect Service
  Conducting individual, couples, family, or group sessions; co-counseling with another clinican	Observation of other clinicians
  Conducting intake interviews	Attending staff meetings, completing paperwork
  Participating in staffing with client/student/family present	Attending trainings, workshops, etc.
  Speaking on phone with client or client’s partner or parent/guardian	Preparing or planning for sessions and activities
  Providing consultation to families, teachers, staff, parents, case managers, other professionals, etc.	Data collection, analysis, etc.
  (School Counselors) Participating in Fair Share responsibilities when interacting with students (e.g. duties everyone shares in, such as recess, lunch, or bus duty)	Attending weekly clinical supervision
  (School Counselors) Conducting classroom guidance activities	Developing Psychoeducation Materials

  c. Additional information can be found in the Clinical Experience Manual on p. 24

• 18. Can any off-site training hours count towards my total hours for the semester?

  a. Yes, but any off-site hours must be pre-approved. For on-campus students, the hours should be pre-approved by their University Supervisor. For online students, the hours should be approved by your PI/University Supervisor AND Lead Faculty.

  b. The chart below outlines the maximum off-site indirect hours per clinical experience.

  Course	Maximum Off-Site Indirect Hours
  Practicum	11 hours
  Internship 300 hour semester	22 hours
  Internship 600 hour semester (online only)	44 hours
  Internship 200 hour semester (online only)	14 hours

  c. See the Clinical Experience Manual p. 26 for more details.

• 19. What are my options for completing Internship (one semester; two semesters, three semesters)?

  a. Full time on campus students: complete Internship I in the fall semester of the second year, and Internship II in the spring semester of the second year. Due to the full time course sequence there are no other options for completing internship.

  b. Online students: students typically have completed internship over the course of two semesters (typically the semesters following practicum), or over three semesters (e.g. 200 hrs in spring, 200 hrs in summer, 200 hrs in fall), and some students have even done it all in one semester by doing 600 hrs – keep in mind that includes at least 44 hrs/week on a site and requires an approval process). Because the online program has rolling admissions the semester you begin internship will depend on the semester you started the program and complete the prerequisite courses. Your cohort’s standard course sequence should be posted in Deacon’s Den for your review.

• 20. How many hours do I need for Practicum/Internship/Field experience?

  a. Practicum (p. 18 of Clinical Experience Manual):

  i. 150 Hours of work in a school or clinical mental health setting over a period of one full semester (approximately 11-12 hours per week across the full 14 week semester)

  1. Should include a minimum of 50 hours of direct contact. SOME hours of which should be group work (See Group Work info below)
  2. 7 hours of supervision by the site supervisor (i.e.approximately 30 minutes per week)

  ii. 14 Hours of individual or paired supervision by a university supervisor (off site)

  iii. 21 Hours of group supervision (1.5 hours per week) by University Supervisor with other students (off site)

  iv. 185 Total Hours (Minimum)

  b. Internship  Standard 300 hour semester (p. 19 of Clinical Experience Manual):

  i. 300 Hours of work in a school or clinical mental health setting over a period of one full semester (approximately 20-22 hours per week for entirety of the 14 week semester)

  ii. Minimum of 120 hours of direct contact. SOME hours of which should be group work if none conducted during practicum (See Group Work info below)

  iii. 14 hours of supervision by the site supervisor (i.e., 1 hour of individual site supervision per week)

  iv. 21 Hours of group supervision (1.5 hours per week) by internship course instructor with other students. These hours are off site but can count toward the total indirect hours.

  v. 300 Total hours each semester internship course

  vi. You will complete two semesters of 300 hours each to meet the minimum 600 hours of internship.

  c. Internship  Alternative Option 200 hour semester:(p. 19 of Clinical Experience Manual): This option is only available for part-time online students.

  i. 200 Hours of work in a school or clinical mental health setting over a period of one full semester (approximately 14-15 hours per week for entirety of the 14 week semester)

  ii. Minimum of 80 hours of direct contact. SOME hours of which should be group work if none conducted during practicum (See Group Work info below)

  iii. 14 hours of supervision by the site supervisor (i.e., 1 hour of individual site supervision per week)

  iv. 21 Hours of group supervision (1.5 hours per week) by internship course instructor with other students. These hours are off site but can count toward the total indirect hours.

  v. 200 Total hours each semester internship course

  vi. You will complete three semesters of 200 hours each for this option to meet the minimum of 600 hours of internship.

  d. Internship  Alternative Option** 600 hour semester:(p. 19 of Clinical Experience Manual): This option is only available for part-time online students.

  i. 600 Hours of work in a school or clinical mental health setting over a period of one full semester (approximately 43-44 hours per week for entirety of the 14 week semester)

  ii. Minimum of 240 hours of direct contact. SOME hours of which should be group work if none conducted during practicum (See Group Work info below)

  iii. 14 hours of supervision by the site supervisor (i.e., 1 hour of individual site supervision per week)

  iv. 21 Hours of group supervision (1.5 hours per week) by internship course instructor with other students. These hours are off site but can count toward the total indirect hours.

  v. 600 Total hours in this single semester internship course

  vi. You will complete one semester of 600 hours for this option to meet the minimum of 600 hours of internship.

  vii. **Please note that while a full time, single-semester internship is an option it requires an application and approval process to determine if it is developmentally appropriate for the student to complete all internship hours in a condensed format. If you are interested in discussing this as an option please reach out to Dr. Emerson to set up a phone call consult on this application and approval process.

• 21. How much group experience is needed for practicum and internship?

  a. Group counseling experience hours: CACREP Section 3.E states “…during either the practicum or internship, students must lead or co-lead a counseling or psychoeducational group.” If you do not get experience leading or co-leading a group in practicum you must get it during internship.

  b. You should aim for a minimum of 5 hours.

• 22. How do I find my google docs?

  a. In your Wake Forest Gmail window click the icon that has 9 dots:

  

  b. Then click on “Drive” symbol (green, yellow and blue triangle)

  c. On the left hand side, click “Shared With Me” and documents that people have shared with you will be in there. Double click on them to open in a new window and edit them. You can also create new documents and folders by clicking “New” in the top left corner.

  

• 23. I have been offered a site placement. How do I get a site agreement?

  a. First, contact Debbie Drost at drostds@wfu.edu with the site’s contact information.

  b. Fill out the “Docusign Contracts” google document that will be shared with you. Be sure to fill out the form in its entirety to make the process go as smoothly as possible. Once you have filled it out, the department will send a Docusign Contract out. Typically these are sent within a week of you filling out the Docusign Contracts doc; however, please keep in mind we do not start sending these until a certain point in the semester. The Docusign contract will be sent from the email address wfuforms@wfu.edu and it will come to you first to complete your section of the agreement. Once you complete your section and electronically sign the forms it will go automatically to your site supervisor(s) to complete and sign as well. After everyone has signed the forms DocuSign will send all parties a completed version of the agreement.

  c. We prefer to use Docusign, the electronic form of site agreements, but can do hard copy agreements if your site prefers.

  d. Some sites may prefer to use their own agreements or MOUs. If this is the case, contact Debbie Drost at drostds@wfu.edu and she will guide you through the process.

• 24. What is a GAP Time form?

  a. A GAP Time form is used when a student plans to stay at their site during a school break (e.g. winter break between semesters or over the summer). The form is signed by the site supervisor and the university representative. It is used to let the site know and understand that the student’s role during the gap time is not connected to WFU and that the student is a volunteer at the site. This is because the student will not be receiving supervision from the university. The hours accrued will not count toward practicum/internship hours for clinical courses.

  b. The GAP form really only covers the time BETWEEN the end of one semester and the beginning of another semester. So if there are breaks DURING the semester (like spring break or Thanksgiving etc) you don’t need a GAP form for those breaks.

  c. Just a friendly reminder that the hours you accumulate during this gap period will not count toward your practicum or internship hours. This is because CACREP says if you aren’t getting your weekly supervision from the university the hours cannot count.

  d. It is fine if you do one at the end of each semester for the upcoming break between the semester you are finishing up and the next semester that is starting. You don’t have to try and get the exact dates for several gap times on one form.

• 25. What is the smartest way to search for clinical sites or field placement sites in my area?

  a. First, review the Site Search Database that will be shared to you via Google Sheets. This database has a list of all sites that have had Wake Forest Counseling students complete either a practicum or internship. If there are not any sites in your immediate location use the Database as a springboard for ideas on the types of sites you can search for in your area.

  b. Google and network! Search for sites in your area online and use your network to find potential clinical placement sites. You don’t have to use a site that has been used before as long as it can provide you with the appropriate experience.

  c. READ THE DO NOT CONTACT LIST! At the beginning of your site search process you will be sent a list of sites that we do not want you to contact. Sometimes these are sites that have been used before and did not work out for students for a variety of reasons and we have chosen to no longer use them. Some of the sites are listed because the site has let us know they aren’t taking students at the time and will be removed from the list when they are ready for more students. Please be sure you refer to this list during your site search process.

• 26. What if my site won’t allow me to record sessions?

  a. Please do your best to find a site that will allow recordings as recordings are immensely helpful in improving your counseling skills during practicum and internship. However, if you absolutely cannot record please let Dr. Emerson and your university site supervisor know and we will discuss alternatives with you.

  b. Currently, there are several steps for the alternative to recordings process:

  1. Students will need to have their site supervisor sit in on a minimum of three client sessions in which the student is serving in the counselor role.  Following each session, the site supervisor should complete Wake Forest’s “Session Rating Form” as a means of evaluating the students’ skill level during the session.  Likewise, immediately following each session, the student should type out as much of the session dialogue that he/she can remember and verbatim whenever possible.  This write-up will serve as the student’s transcript, same as if he/she were doing an actual transcript for a session recording.  As with the regular transcript, students will reflect within the transcript on why they responded the way they did and how they might have responded otherwise.  Along with their “transcript,” they’ll also complete a Recording Review Form.  (Note: The lead instructor will email you a copy of the Session Rating Form upon your request.)
  2. Additionally, students’ site supervisor will need to assign another staff member with whom students can record mock sessions at their site and Recording Review Form. The student will submit three of these over the course of the semester so that they university supervisor can hear the students skills in these mock sessions.
  3. Sometimes, students may be able to do mock sessions with their lead instructor or another Department faculty member or.  This is an option and only applicable if the above option is not possible.  However, if a student is using the above option, a Department faculty member may still do at least one mock session with the student to further evaluate their clinical skills development.
  4. PLEASE KNOW that the alternative to recording process is more work on the student’s part but is necessary for the university supervisor to be able to properly evaluate the student’s skills and development. If a site will not let you record and will not live observe your skills and fill out the review form then it is probably not an appropriate site for your clinical experience. If you have questions about a site that will not allow recording for supervision purposes please contact Dr. Emerson so you can discuss the site and its ability to provide you with an acceptable experience.
• 27. Can I use my place of employment as a practicum, internship or field experience placement?

  Sometimes this can work, but not every time. Please check with Dr. Emerson – it must be reviewed and approved by her. If you want to discuss this as a possibility please email Dr. Emerson emersoch@wfu.edu to set up a time for a phone call to discuss the details.

• 28. My site has specific onboarding requests such as a background check, drug screen, additional pro-liability insurance, how do I complete these tasks?

  a. You can ask them if you can use the background check that the Department did when you started the program. If so you can reach out to Mary Katherine Newsome (newsommk@wfu.edu) or Louise Schatz (schatzla@wfu.edu) to get a copy of that sent to them. Some sites will accept this even though it is about a year and a half old. Some sites will want a current one completed. If they do want a current check for your placement you can reach out to them and ask them who they want you to use and what process they want you to follow. For example, do they want the results sent directly to them by the background check company/site? Every site is a little different so it is important to always check with the site for their preference in who they want you to go through and how they want the info sent to them. Usually a site will have a background check company that they hire to run a check and will send you a link to fill out the necessary information.

  b. Drug Screening: Most hospital settings, larger agencies, and schools will have you drug tested on site, again check with your site contact on this. Employment drug screenings can also be administered at local companies like LabCorp. Follow site’s instructions on this process.

• 29. My site wants proof of Professional Liability Insurance. How do I get that?

  a. Contact Kisha Garris (garriska@wfu.edu) for a copy of your Professional Liability Insurance that you purchased through the Department.

  b. If your site is requesting additional insurance please reach out to Dr. Emerson and she will assist you in that process.

• 30. Do I have to join the Department’s Group Professional Liability Insurance policy if I have another professional liability insurance policy already?

  YES. There are no exceptions to this. This is the only way we can track so many students and make sure everyone is covered properly. If you do not join the Department’s group policy you cannot participate in clinical courses. You will be notified via email when you need to purchase your insurance (approximately $16 per year) and when you need to renew it. It must be kept current through graduation.

• 31. Am I able to change sites mid-semester?

  No, students cannot change site mid-semester. If a crisis situation arises (e.g., site closes unexpectedly), please contact Debbie Drost (drostds@wfu.edu) and Dr. Carla Emerson (emersoch@wfu.edu) and they will guide you through next steps for your specific situation.

• 32. If I complete my hours early can I finish at my site early?

  No. It is okay to get more than the minimum hours at your site. For your own developmental purposes, supervisors will need to see your work progress over a full semester in order to accurately evaluate your counseling skills. If you complete the minimum number of hours for your course you will still have to continue at your site for the duration of the semester.

• 33. When do I have to have my site secured and confirmed in order to be able to begin my clinical course on time?

  The site needs to be confirmed and all paperwork and agreements completed one week before the semester begins. If you do not have a site secured by this time you may have to change your course sequence and delay taking the clinical course.

• 34. Can I carry over extra hours from one semester to the next?

  a. Extra Practicum hours: No hours can carry over from practicum to internship. Practicum is a prerequisite course for internship and the hours from practicum are not transferable to internship.

  b. Extra Internship hours: If a student accrues more than the minimum required hours during internship one semester, he/she is able to transfer up to 15 hours from one semester of internship to the next semester of internship.

• 35. What happens if I don’t get my hours completed within the semester?

  You cannot pass the course. For further information on all academic policies, including the policies for adding and dropping a course, requesting a grade of incomplete, academic probation, termination of enrolment, reinstatement, and student and faculty expectations, see the Wake Forest Student Handbook: http://college.wfu.edu/counseling/forms/forms-for-current-students/

• 36. What if I want a site that has evening and weekend hours?

  a. Trying to find sites with evening and weekend hours can be a challenge. You need to look for sites like hospitals, inpatient settings both adult and child, cancer centers, substance abuse centers, Intensive outpatient programs, hospice, residential treatment centers for adolescents, etc. These types of sites typically have hours outside of a 9-5 schedule; however, a site must have both clients and an approved site supervisor present during those times. You may also need to realistically look at your own schedule and think about how much flexibility you have for your clinical experience because these types of sites are harder to secure.

  b. The bottom line is that you need to be able to be on site when clients and your site supervisor are available. If you want to talk about your scheduling and process ideas and options please reach out to Dr. Emerson. She is always happy to help you think outside of the box and assist you in creating a realistic plan to complete your hours at your site.

• 37. What’s the process for applying for a 600-hour, full-time internship?

  a. The full-time, single semester, 600-hour internship is an option but it is not guaranteed that a student will be approved for it. This process requires that the student complete an application form that must be approved by the site, the university practicum supervisor, the student’s skills instructor, and the Department Chair. The application requires a detailed map and planning of how you will obtain your hours, co-created with your internship supervisor, in order to help ensure that you will be able to successfully complete the necessary hours.The form cannot be submitted until after the student has completed at least half of the practicum course, but we encourage students to begin working on it with their internship supervisors midway through practicum, so you have plenty of time to formulate plans carefully and thoughtfully. It must be determined that a condensed internship experience is appropriate for the individual student. this application to Mary Katherine Newsome until the end of practicum,

  b. The site must also agree to take a student for a full-time internship. Not all sites are willing to host students for a 600-hour single semester internship.

  c. The student must also reach out to Mary Katherine Newsome to discuss the course sequencing implications of this option.

  d. A 600-hour internship is full-time hours and very demanding, both in terms of workload and emotional labor. For one’s professional and clinical development, we recommend spreading internship out over two semesters, and again, cannot guarantee that submitting a 600-hour internship application will result in approval.

  e. If you have any questions about a 600-hour single semester internship experience please consult with Dr. Emerson.

• 38. Who do I contact if I need to delay my practicum or internship, or if I want to spread my internship out over three semesters?

  If you want to make changes to your course sequence you need to let Dr. Emerson know and reach out to Mary Katherine Newsome (newsommk@wfu.edu) and she can talk to you about making this change official.

• 39. What are the hours breakdown for a 200-hour internship?

  a. 80 hours of direct contact

  b. 120 hours of indirect hours on site

  c. 1 hour of site supervision a week for a total of 14 hours

  d. 21 hours of group supervision with internship course instructor and other students

  e. Maximum of 14 hours of off-site indirect hours.

• 40. What are the hours breakdown for a 600-hour internship?

  a. 280 hours of direct

  b. 1 hour of site supervision a week

  c. 21 hours of group supervision with internship course instructor and other students

  d. Maximum of 44 hours of off-site indirect hours

  e. There is no additional supervision time required for the 600 hour full time internship. The student will be required to fill out a form explaining how program requirements will be met and that form will need to be approved and signed by her site supervisor.

• 41. How long should I wait before following up with a site if they haven’t responded to me?

  a. It is typically recommended that you wait at least a week before following up with a site who has not responded to your initial contact.

  b. When contacting a potential site, it is recommended that you switch your method of reaching out. This method is called the double tap. For example, the order of contact could look like email first, follow up with a phone call, and then follow up again by email. If you are leaving a voicemail, it can be helpful to add at the end of your message that you will follow up via email in a week in case that is their preferred method of communication or vice versa if you are sending an email. This is a professional way to follow up with switching up contact methods.

  c. It’s always okay to follow up with a polite and professional check in.

  d. Be sure you are not coming across as aggressive or pushy in this process as that could lesson your desirability as an intern.

• 42. Why is my tuition bill so much higher during a clinical semester?

  Please keep in mind that when you begin your practicum/internship/field experience semester, you will be registered for 8 credits in one semester. Up until now, you were probably used to 5 or 6 credits per semester–please be aware that your tuition bill is based on a per-credit tuition rate, and will most likely be higher during your clinical semester(s).

• 43. Should I pick my clinical site based on theoretical orientation?

  Not necessarily– the goal is to have an experience where you can practice basic skills and learn the basics in the field. You should be familiar with a couple of theories that fit with your style and also be open to the theories that your site focuses on.

• 44. Can I complete my clinical field experience at the same place where I have received my own counseling?

  No. This would create a dual relationship that has the potential to be unethical.

• 45. Can I get paid while completing practicum/internship?

  That may be possible, but is not guaranteed. As noted above if you want to do your clinical work at your place of employment a phone call with Dr Emerson required for approval.

• 46. Can I hold multiple positions at a clinical site (e.g., counselor intern and IT employee)?

  That may be possible, but is not guaranteed. As noted above if you want to do your clinical work at your place of employment a phone call with Dr Emerson required for approval.

• 47. Where can I find information about differences in licensure by state?

  a. Every state is a little bit different with what they require for licensure. You need to check with your state’s counseling licensure board to make sure you have the correct information.  Keep in mind that there are typically TWO types of hours that are discussed. The first is the number of hours that you need to have DURING your training program (e.g., practicum and/or internship hours). For most states (not all though) none of these hours transfer over to post graduate licensure hours. These are the second type of hours you need to look for. Licensure are hours typically (but not always) the hours you get AFTER you graduate and are getting supervision toward your actual counseling license in your state. A few states may still count some or all your internship hours toward your license. NC doesn’t count any hours from your program toward your LPC license. You start out at zero. So you need to see what VT counts and doesn’t count and what it requires for hours for internship (during your master’s program) and after you graduate.

  b. If your state says you need 1000 INTERNSHIP HOURS DURING YOUR PROGRAM then let Dr. Emerson know and we can work with you to make a plan to get all the hours that you need. We follow CACREP standards (as most states all follow this) and have 150 for practicum and 600 for internship. If your state is different we need to know that so we can help you plan. States change this type of requirement all the time so it’s good that you are checking now.

• 48. Can I start at my site before the semester begins?

  a. No. You can’t be on site or seeing clients before the semester begins because your course hasn’t started and you are not getting university supervision.

  1. Exception 1: If your site requires you to do a training or orientation that occurs before the semester begins you can attend those and count those indirect hours.
  2. Exception 2: School counseling track students may be able to begin a little early to start when their school semester begins. Contact Dr. Emerson regarding appropriate start dates.
• 49. Do I need to do a drug screening before starting at my site?

  a. This will depend on the rules and regulations at your site, so it may be a good question to ask during your interview or on-boarding process.

  b. You can ask the site to recommend a place near you to get the drug screen. Ask them how they want the results delivered to them. Either directly from the screening place or if they can come to you to bring to them. Each site does it differently. Student’s do pay out of pocket for additional things that sites require like drug screenings. Sometimes larger sites like hospitals cover the cost for the screening as a part of the onboarding process for interns but some sites just have the student do it and send the results back in.

• 50. What counts as direct consultation hours?

  Consultation hours at your site can be either direct or indirect time. IF you are in the EXPERT CONSULTANT role that the time is direct. For example, if someone at your site is seeking out your expertise on a client or issue then it is direct time. If you are asking the question or seeking the consultation it is indirect time. Talk to your university supervisor regarding your consultation time to determine how to log it appropriately in your time log.

• 51. What does co-counseling need to include to be considered “direct hours”?

  If you are co-counseling with another clinician at your site you must be providing a significant amount of the counseling. If you only say one or two things in the counseling session then you are observing the other cousnselor’s work and observation is not direct time. You have to be actively participating and contributing to the process as in the counselor role for the time to be considered direct.

• 52. Does observation count as direct contact?

  No. When you are observing another clinician’s work you are not actively using your counseling skills and it is not direct contact. It is a great way to learn and we encourage you to observe as much as you can but those hours are indirect hours.

• 53. What if my site only offers group counseling and no individual counseling?

  You must be able to get experience doing individual counseling during internship. If a site does only group counseling and does not offer you any opportunity for individual counseling experience it will not be an appropriate site for internship.

• 54. Can I do home visits with clients/students?

  Not alone. Students are not allowed to go to clients/students homes alone. You can go with someone at your site who does this and participate but you cannot go alone. If you are looking at a site that mainly does home visits it may not be able to accommodate you for practicum or internship for this reason.

• 55. Can I see clients or students on site if no one else is on site?

  No, your primary or secondary site supervisor must be on site for you to see clients or students.

• 56. When do I need a separate or additional professional liability insurance policy?

  If you are planning on staying at a site over summer breaks or other periods of time outside of the normal short breaks, you will need separate or additional professional liability insurance.

• 57. Who do I contact regarding verification of my internship hours for licensure?

  Contact Louise Schatz (schatzla@wfu.edu) for assistance regarding licensure verification.

• 58. What if my state has requirements for practicum and internship that are different than the CACREP requirements that the Department follows?

  MOST states follow the CACREP guidelines for counselor training and internship experiences. However, some states do have different or additional requirements. Students need to look at the requirements for licensing in their state to see if additional details need to be considered or covered in practicum or internship (e.g., additional hours needed, specific site supervisor requirements). Sometimes graduates from CACREP programs are exempt from these additional requirements so it is always best to clarify with your state board. If you have questions about the requirements you see for your state you can reach out to Dr. Emerson or your academic advisor. The best way to get clarification is to reach out to your state’s licensing board to get an exact answer.

SPECIFIC TO SCHOOL COUNSELORS

• 1. Should I seek a site at an elementary, middle school or high school?

  This can sometimes be a difficult decision for some students, but keep in mind you will get to experience two levels through practicum and internship. It’s helpful to think about your career goals and this might aid in figuring out at what level you want to spend the most time. Then you can plan to find an internship site at that level (and do practicum at a different level). School track students may also do their practicum at a community site, but must do internship at a school site.

• 2. If my practicum site is at one level, is it ok to continue at that level for internship?

  a. The Counseling department strongly encourages that students do practicum and internship at different levels (e.g. practicum at a middle school and internship at a high school). Internship must be completed all at the same level.

  b. Some states may require experience at different levels during practicum and internship. See below for more information about state specific requirements.

• 3. Where can I find information about licensure by state for becoming a school counselor?

  a. Refer to the ASCA website about certification:

  b. https://www.schoolcounselor.org/school-counselors-members/careers-roles/state-certification-requirements

  c. https://counselor-license.com/resources/state-counselor-license/

• 4. What can I do with my school counseling degree?

  a. The School Counseling track at Wake Forest allows its graduates to apply for dual licensure as both a school counselor and an LPC depending on the state’s requirements for both.

  b. Check with your state licensure requirements for both licenses!

• 5. Can I start at my site before the semester begins if I am on the school counseling track?

  If you are on the SCHOOL COUNSELING track you can start a little early if required. Most schools want their interns to start when the school semester starts. So you can do some hours before the semester begins at your site and you can count those hours. This is only for school counseling track students though. CMHC students can’t do this. Please be sure your site supervisor knows that you won’t be getting university supervision until the semester begins so they are your one and only during this time.