Practicum Training

Clinical training is scheduled to provide increasing levels of clinical responsibility and to train students in empirically supported approaches to assessment and treatment. In the first year, students receive formal coursework to prepare them for later practicum experiences. The Fall Semester of the Clinical Proseminar provides an introduction to counseling skills, as well as training in structured diagnostic interviewing. Additionally, students complete an introductory course in clinical ethics. Initial clinical experiences are arranged through the student’s research mentor, and are geared to the student’s level of experience as well as the unique clinical challenges presented by the mentor’s target populations.

In the second year, students complete a clinical practicum through the GSAPP Psychological Clinic. The Clinic Director, Don Morgan, Psy.D, coordinates this practicum. Students learn skills in case screening, initial interviews, and individual therapy. Students are provided with intensive clinical supervision, one hour of supervision for each hour of therapy, from faculty or community-based supervisors. Initial clinical supervisors are cognitive-behavioral in orientation and training. As part of the six-credit practicum, the Director of the Psychological Clinic conducts a weekly seminar on issues related to clinical practice. Students receive a formal evaluation by each clinical supervisor.

In the third year, students participate in an off-campus clinical practicum. There is a broad range of practicum training opportunities available to clinical students. Practica are coordinated by Lew Gantwerk, Psy.D., the Director of the GSAPP Center for Applied Psychology, who has developed a network of sites throughout New Jersey. You will be informed about practicum choices through a meeting with the practicum coordinator. A member of the second year class should contact Dr. Gantwerk at the beginning of second semester to arrange a meeting between Dr. Gantwerk and the second year students planning to register for third year practica. Additionally, during February March, all current and potential supervisors are invited to a Practicum Fair held on the campus. Students in both the clinical Ph.D. program and GSAPP who are seeking practica attend the Practicum Fair. The purpose of the Fair is to provide an opportunity for students to meet with a variety of supervisors, to learn about the wide choice of settings, and to begin to narrow their choices for their next practicum experience.

Once students have begun their third year practicum, they should develop a practicum contract with the practicum supervisor. This contract lays out the goals the student sets for the year, describes the kind of work to be done, and serves as an agreement regarding supervision. This contract is used as the basis for the evaluation that the field supervisor submits at the end of the first semester. At the end of the year, the supervisor completes an evaluation form.

Students may also elect to take a fourth year practicum. Although not required by the program, the additional practicum training provides opportunities to diversify experience in working with different populations, or in different clinical settings. Many students also obtain extensive clinical training in standardized assessment and treatment techniques as part of their work with their research mentor. Registration for fourth year practicum is through GSAPP E credits.

Students should carefully record all clinical hours from the beginning of their training. Direct client contact for assessment or treatment, telephone contacts, case conferences, individual and group supervision, scoring of test protocols, and time devoted to maintaining clinical records and writing reports should all be recorded to assist in the internship application and licensure process. An excellent form for the recording of clinical experiences is available at http://www.uky.edu/Education/EDP/cnpsred.html. Students are encouraged to download and use this form from the beginning of their first year.