Practicum and Internship

Part 1: Practicum and Internship
Directions: Include in-text citations from the Graduate Field Experience Manual and your state board as needed.
Practicum and Internship
Question
Answer

1. How and when would you begin to search for your practicum and internship site?
   The practicum should be 16 weeks or more prior to the course that would require practicum (pre practicum course). The practicum sites must meet the standards of GCU therefore I would look for the practicum sites through application to the sites. However, in case of no success would ask the Office of Field Experience to help me out? (GCU, 2017)
2. What steps would you take to secure a practicum and internship site?
   To secure a practicum site I will: 1) complete my application to enter practicum, 2) I will apply for the fingerprints cards, 3) locate and arrange for the site 4) ensure the clinical supervisor has independent level license 5) have an interview with the clinical supervisor 6) complete all the requirements and sent to Office of Field Experience department (Grand Canyon University, 2017)
3. What are the top two questions you would ask a supervisor interviewing you?
   I would ask of the credentials to certify if they have the qualification to meet GCU requirements. I would also ask if they are aware that I am operating under certification and that they are responsible for the services that I would offer in their institution.
4. After reviewing your state board licensing requirements, do the following:
    Identify the number of required practicum hours
    List how many practicum and internship hours are required by your state
    List how many practicum and internship hours are required by GCU
   In state of Arizona 700 hours supervised practicum with 3200 hour post masters supervised work experience over 2 years. 1600 hours of direct client plus 100 hours of clinical supervision and must include assessment, diagnosis and treatment.
   GCU- 100 hour clinical work under close supervision of an onsite supervisor during practicum. 40 hours of those must be direct client contact with 1 hour supervision for the 40 clocked hours. Minimum of 150 hours per practicum course ( 60 hours total) with 50 hours direct client contact with 1 hour supervision for the clocked 40 hours (GCU, 2017)
5. What is the difference between direct and indirect hours? How many will you need of each during the practicum and the following internship courses?
   Direct hours are the times spend to provide counseling to the clients, whereas indirect hours are the time spend management, administration or other aspects of counseling service ancillary to direct client contact. Direct hours require at least 40 hours of counseling behavior direct counseling, psycho educational activities.
   Indirect service hours require 100 hours of supervision, performance of clerical jobs, training attending and reviewing of case files ( Counseling interns.com, 2014)
6. What documentation do you need to have in place before you begin your practicum and internship?
   The following forms must be available before practicum or internship: acknowledgement of practicum manual, clinical supervisors evaluation of practicum student in Typhon, application to enter practicum, practicum document submission cover page, site and clinical supervisor information form, students evaluation of clinical supervisor in Typhon, proof of liability insurance, copy of clinical supervisors license, unprofessional conduct acknowledgement form (GCU, 2017)
7. Summarize your goals that you would like to achieve by the time you complete the internship experience.
   I would like to get the in hand experience and employ what I have learnt in class. At the end of the practicum, I would like to be comfortable in applying the knowledge that I have in decision making and improve my skills in my profession. I would like to have the confidence of speaking out my knowledge with other professionals in my field. I would like to be the provider of the knowledge and not just the receiver of it.
8. List at least three of the largest behavioral health resources in your area. Do any of these offer internships for counselors?
   Aurora behavioral health system, southwest Behavioral Health and Services, AZ state hospital. All of the three offer internship for counselor ( State of Arizona)

Part 2: Licensure
Directions: Cite the appropriate state board website information. Please do not contact your state behavioral health board.
Licensure
Question
Answer

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1. What licenses does your Behavioral Health Board cover for counseling?
   The state of Arizona requires qualification from Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or from Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) , The Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiner (AZBBHE) and Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) (Writer, 2019)
2. What are three main differences between two of these licenses covered by the board?
   CACREP accredits master and doctoral degrees in counseling MPCAC accredits counseling, education and psychology
   CACREP is the most approved accreditation agency in states accrediting masters level counselor, MPCAC is the up and coming group accrediting masters in psychology (CACREP vs. MPCAC, 2019)
3. Are there tiered levels between dependent to independent licensure in your state (such as LAC to LPC, LPC to LCPC, or counseling intern to LMHC)? What are the differences between the two tiers in your state?
   In Arizona one applies for license associate counselor (LAC) or licensed professional counselor (LPC). Counselors apply for LAC as there gain supervised practice necessary for the application of LPC (Writer, 2019)
4. What does it take in your state to be a specialist in your field?
   Beside the educational requirement, LPCs should pass National Mental Counseling Examination, the National Examination of Licensure and Certification or Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Exams. They must submit transcripts, legal residency documentation and the proof of the required supervised work experience (Writer, 2019)
5. What is an endorsement/reciprocal license? Briefly discuss endorsement/reciprocal licensure in your state.
   It is the ability of the professional at independent level to transfer their license to another state.
   The state may issue license by endorsement if the person is licensed or certified by other regulatory agencies of one or more states( State of Arizona, n.d)

Part 3: Personal Professional Plan
Personal Professional Plan
Question
Answer

1. Where do you want to be one year after graduation?
   I would like to continue with my career in the area of health. I would like to offer counseling to people faced with trauma and help them regain their life back. I see myself as a counselor for those that are down due to traumatic experience.
2. Do you have plans to be in private practice? If so, what would you need to consider in developing the plan of action?
   I am not planning to be in private practice for the first years after graduation. I would venture into private practice after giving service to the public for the first 10 years. I hope to be in the department of mental health.

References

CACREP vs. MPCAC. (2019, May 14). Retrieved from https://www.counselingdegreesonline.org/faq/cacrep-vs-mpcac
Counseling interns.com. (2014, November 7). LPC interns: what counts as direct and indirect internship hours? Retrieved from https://counselinginterns.com/lpc-interns-what-counts-as-direct-and-indirect-internship-hours/
Grand Canyon University Counseling Practicum Manual. (2017, January 11). Retrieved from https://www.gcu.edu/sites/default/files/media/Documents/legacy/Typhon-%20Practicum%20Manual%20Master’s%20in%20Counseling.pdf
State of Arizona. (n.d.). 32-3274 – Licensure by endorsement. Retrieved from https://www.azleg.gov/ars/32/03274.htm
Writers, S. (2019, August 15). Counseling Licensure Requirements in Arizona. Retrieved from https://counselor-license.com/state-licensure/arizona