Department of Counseling Clinical Training Handbook Fall 2024

CORE FACULTY

Leah Brew, Ph.D.
Joseph Cervantes, Ph.D.
Matt Englar-Carlson, Ph.D., Department Chair
David Hart, Ph.D., Clinical Training Director
Olga Mejia, Ph.D.
Eric Price, Ph.D.
Rebekah Smart, Ph.D.
Edson Andrade Vargas, Ph.D.
Betsy Perez, Ph.D.

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Introduction

Goal of Practicum Field Training in the Master of Science in Counseling Program

The goal of practicum field training is to prepare graduate students to become competent and ethically mature professionals through practical training guided by the integration of classroom instruction and hands-on clinical/counseling work in a variety of settings. These training objectives including the following:

To enhance the ability to apply theoretical constructs to the practical aspects of training.
To consolidate a knowledge base of the critical aspects in the practice of clinical mental health counseling in the domains of clinical evaluation, crisis management, treatment planning, treatment, human diversity, law, and ethic
To become knowledgeable and skilled in working in a wide range of settings with diverse popula
To confront current issues and controversies in the field and to provide effective solutions through a process of exploring one’s own theoretical perspective, utilizing/applying the legal and ethical guidelines in the field, and consulting with supervisors and other key participa
To become engaged with positive role models in the field who will contribute to each student’s professional identity as clinical mental health counselors.

This Clinical Training Handbook

This Clinical Training Handbook is available to all students enrolled in COUN 530 A/B, COUN 584 A/B, COUN 590 and COUN 591, and the content of the handbook will be discussed in the Practicum Orientation that takes place each Fall and Spring semester before students enroll in the respective practicum courses. This handbook will also be available to practicum supervisors at the various sites where students will complete their training requirements and can be found here: Complete Handbook

The purpose of this handbook is to provide information necessary for students to successfully complete the practicum field training requirements that have been established by the Department of Counseling at California State University, Fullerton, and the California State Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS).

The instructions and procedures in this Handbook are based on the laws, regulations, and ethical standards most recently cited by the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS), the Council on Accreditation for Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the American Counseling Association (ACA), and the California Association for Licensed Professional Clinical Counseling (CALPCC). The Chair of the Department of Counseling and the Clinical Training Director are in continual contact with the BBS, CACREP, CALPCC & CAMFT and students will be updated regarding changes and/or amendments to the current rules and regulations pertaining to the training component of the program.

This Handbook also provides pertinent information regarding the requirements and expectations of the Department of Counseling concerning clinical/counseling training, supervision, and professional development. Both students and practicum supervisors are encouraged to comply with the requirements and procedures which are defined and discussed in this handbook, along with any amendments that are forwarded to students and agencies at a later date. Any requests for exceptions to the rules, guidelines, and procedures of this Handbook must be made in writing. All such requests must be reviewed by the Counseling Faculty at their next departmental meeting. The Counseling Faculty will notify students, in writing, of their decision within fifteen (15) working days from the date of that departmental meeting.