Intern Support Group/Peer Consultation

Interns schedule one hour per week to form their own self-led support group to process their internship experiences throughout the year.  The Training Director is available to join this meeting periodically to address any issues the interns would like to discuss about their personal and professional development and experiences in the training program. Interns are encouraged to schedule this time around a lunch in order to have up to two hours to meet each week.

 

Professional Development

SCC Professional Development Meeting
Speakers from the area are often invited to share information about community resources and topics of interest. All SCC staff members and interns participate in these professional development meetings.

Division of Student Life Meetings
The Division of Student Life schedules a professional staff development breakfast 3 to 4 times a semester, as well as a Coffee House, which also meets several times a semester. These gatherings provide an opportunity for interns to hear pertinent issues discussed, often from a nationally known speaker, as well as to develop cross-departmental professional relationships.

Professional Conferences
Release time is available for interns to attend workshops and conferences. Some funding also may be available.

Staff Meetings
Interns will participate in weekly staff meetings which include client assignment meetings and general staff meetings.

Committee Meetings
Interns have the opportunity to serve on one or more of the SCC or University Committees. Center Committees include Clinical, Community Intervention, Diversity and Training.

Meeting with Training Director
The Training Director meets with the interns on a regular basis to assess how the internship training is meeting the interns’ needs and to solicit feedback about the training program. The Training Director keeps an open door policy and interns are encouraged to meet informally and/or request additional meetings to focus on training concerns.

Case Management/Supervision Prep
Time is provided for other activities such as case management, which includes time to complete paperwork, case notes, review therapy tapes, and complete readings.

Individualized Training Experience (Optional)
During the year, interns have the option to individualize their training experience in the form of a Special Emphasis Area. This option provides interns with greater flexibility in tailoring their internship experience to meet their unique interests and needs. The details of the Special Emphasis Areas are negotiated with members of the training staff and approved by the Training Committee. This is an informal process that is open for renegotiation as the year progresses.

Examples of individualized training experiences at the Student Counseling Center:

• Community Intervention Emphasis
  Assist Director of Community Intervention in administration and program development
  Serve on the Community Intervention Committee and/or VolAware Committee
  Develop and facilitate 1-2 workshops
  Complete assigned readings
• Couples Emphasis
  Select client load of three to four couples per semester
  Work with at least two different senior staff as co-therapists
  Attend conference focusing on couples therapy
  Completion of selected readings
• Training and Supervision Emphasis
  Co-teach the graduate Practicum Class (3 credit hrs)
  Supervision of practicum student(s) in the spring semester
  Meet weekly with Training Committee
  Completion of selected readings