Expectations of the Agency and the Student

Expectations of the Agency and Individual Site Supervisor:

To provide a complete orientation to the staff, facility, rules, regulations and procedures of the agency. Specific questions related to the agency’s organizational structure will need to be clarified for the student: What are the rules regarding the use of rooms for counseling and administrative purposes? Will office space be shared? How will this be worked out? What days and hours will the student be expected to be at the agency? What are the procedures regarding clients’ files and records? What staff meetings, case conferences, etc., will the student be eligible to attend? The student also needs to be apprised of the purpose and ethos of the agency. Who are the clients whom the agency serves? What services does the agency offer?
To see that the student has a client load commensurate with the requirements for Practicum/Internship experiences (a minimum of five clients during the practicum; ten clients during the internship). It is hoped that all students will gain experience in crisis, short-term and long-term counseling. If there is a difficulty in providing the stipulated number of clients, either because the agency client load is light or the supervisor feels the student isn’t ready, the Faculty Group Supervisor should be notified.
To review tapes, other related materials, intake processes, documentation, and participating activities of the counseling student (i.e. staffing meetings).
To provide one hour of clinical supervision weekly at a set time and on a set day. (Fifteen hours of individual supervision are expected each semester.) It is very important that the supervisory hour is uninterrupted quality time. Supervisors are to give both positive and negative feedback to students, identifying areas of strength, and areas for focus and growth in future supervisory sessions. Supervisors provide weekly feedback (through the student) to the faculty group supervisor.
To “sign off” for the student in full acknowledgment of the supervisor role. Students are required to carry their own student professional liability insurance.
To write an evaluation at the end of each semester and complete the Counselor Assessment Scale Site Supervisor Form, summarize the feedback from the semester, and share this evaluation with the student.

The following statements serve as a list of the expectations of supervisors within the counseling program as well as a format for students’ evaluation of their supervisors at the end of their practicum and internship experiences.

Accepts students in a non-judgmental way.
Enters into the frame of reference of the student.
Elicits essential data from the student.
Assesses and affirms the strengths of the student.
Assesses the weaknesses and"growing edges"of the student.
Points out weaknesses and"growing edges"in a professional manner.
Initiates pertinent discussion in the supervisory sessions.
Helps students to gain insight into transference-counter-transference issues in the counseling relationship.
Facilitates an understanding of the psychodynamics of the client.
Assists the student in dealing with termination and/or referral.
Has sensitivity to ethical issues in the counselor-client interaction.
Facilitates reflections of faith as related to the counseling experience.
Establishes and maintains good inter-professional relations with students.

Expectations of the Student:

Completion of all Professional Practice placement pre-requisites and forms.
To be aware of the necessity of representing the agency to the community in a responsible and knowledgeable manner.
To be involved approximately 5-10 hours per week for the practicum experience (over a 15 week semester; 100 documented hours required), and 10 – 20 hours per week for the internship experience (over 30 weeks; 600 documented hours required). To complete 10 hours of group work within practicum (preferable) or internship (if not available in practicum). The scheduling of the clinical hours is to be negotiated between the student and the agency. This involvement should include: direct clinical services such as individual counseling, marriage counseling, group or family counseling, individual and group supervision, staff meetings, case conferences, intake staffings, administrative responsibilities such as completing records, process notes, etc., and other educational classes and experiences.
To be punctual, responsible, and professional at all times. Since the admission process to the master’s program is selective, and only students of the highest quality, maturity and motivation are accepted, it can be expected that student- agency relationships will function on a high professional level at all times. If transportation problems occur or there is illness, students will be expected to notify the agency as promptly as possible. Students are to be punctual in arriving at their agencies, allowing some extra time for emergencies. Sensitivity to the dress and deportment standards of the agency is necessary as well. It is expected that the ethical conduct of students will be of the highest caliber. Clients should not be discussed casually or at inappropriate times. Confidential records are to be handled with great care and the privacy of the client is to be carefully protected.
To meet with the Individual Site Supervisor for individual supervision one hour each week (for 15 weeks each semester). This is to be at a set time and on a set day. All required preparations and written work are to be completed weekly, according to each supervisor’s specifications. Students will be expected to present recordings of counseling sessions at most supervisory sessions in order that specific feedback can be given. Students are encouraged to let their supervisors know what kinds of feedback will be most helpful to them. Supervision is a dual process involving both supervisors and students.
To maintain their Professional Practice Folder (PPF) at all times during both practicum and internship. All forms and signatures must be up to date and in the PPF for submission of grade.
To write a self-evaluation at the end of each semester, for the purpose of identifying strengths and areas of limitation. Copies of the student’s self-evaluation should be shared with the Individual Site Supervisor and given to the Faculty Group Supervisor.
To evaluate the individual site and site supervision at the end of each school year using a program-supplied form. This evaluation is kept confidential by the faculty.