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The clinic orientation manual will tell most of what you
need to know for practica. There are a
couple of points worth highlighting, however.
• The case notes format is detailed and needs to be
followed.
• All practica will use the same case conceptualization
format.
• Brief models of intervention are emphasized.
• Reviews of literature are expected when selecting
treatment plans.
• Treatments and assessment strategies should be integrated
with the case
conceptualization.
• We are a scientific professional program, thus,
the scientific literature is very important in
practice decision making.
• It is useful to observe others conducting therapy,
particularly early in your training, thus,
you will observe other students regularly in practicum. It
is important to understand,
though, that therapy is not merely a collection of techniques,
but an organized system that
must be individualized for each client. Assessment leads to
conceptualization/diagnosis
(which is ongoing) which impacts treatment planning and outcomes.
You will begin to
learn to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment you provide.
Thus, the focus will not
be merely on watching others and imitating what they do, but
rather learning what to do
under what circumstances with which types of clients with
what characteristics and
relevant environmental influences.
• Good record keeping is essential. This will become
apparent as you apply for internships.
Practicum record forms are available in the clinic and need
to be completed regularly (even
for specialty practica and Assessment Clinic). These completed
forms must be initialed by
your supervisor and filed in your folder at the clinic.
• Practicum performance is not limited to instrumental
aspects of seeing clients and keeping
records. Ethical professional behavior is also required. Be
aware that unethical behavior
is sufficient to result in failure in practicum.
First year doctoral practica include a teaching component
where the student assists (for one
semester, either fall or spring) with some of the instruction
for our undergraduate career
exploration course. It is necessary for students to go through
TA training through the University
prior to teaching this course.
Specialty practicum can be done at a number of sites in the
area. We recommend that this experience come after or near
the end of your clinic practica sequence. This careful, videotaped
supervision provided at the clinic is unusual in its intensity
and allows for a training experience not available at other
sites. In addition, we prefer that you have a good understanding
of EVT/ESTs as well as empirically supported “common
factors” before going out on other sites. We believe
that you will have more to offer these sites if you have developed
an understanding of and skills in treatments that work. Also,
we want you to have adequately developed your ability to think
scientifically and critically within the therapeutic context.
This requires experience in diagnosis/conceptualization, tying
this in to a treatment plan (based on the literature), and
monitoring your progress in treating your clients. As you
will discover, even when EVTs exist for a given disorder,
there is often considerable modification of the approach necessary
to fit the individual needs of the client whether this is
in reference to ethnic or cultural diversity, disabilities,
or life circumstances. The nature of these experiences will
differ depending on the site. All are required to include
at least one hour of supervision per week by a licensed psychologist
(many include case conferences) and the total number of hours
associated with each experience for each semester should approximate
the 135 hours required for clinic practica. The specific breakdown
of time spent at various tasks, however, may differ.
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