Practicum Counselor Training

OSU CAPS subscribes to a developmental model of training.  We strive to understand the experiences, strengths, and growth areas of practicum counselors and support them accordingly.  Our clinical and training experiences are designed to have greater structure and oversight early on in the practicum experience, moving toward increased autonomy as the year unfolds.  We find that this progression and the quality of practicum counseling experience equally depend on counselors who are curious, willing to take risks, and are able to manage normative discomfort in the process of discovery.

While CAPS adheres to a brief therapy model, we emphasize evidence-based practice and critical thinking as clinicians.  Through supervision and seminar, we draw on extant research while considering the unique, multicultural identities of our population.  We also strive to be aware of how our own identities and values affect our assumptions and reactions. We recognize that our work is intimately related to the needs of our college population and occurs in partnership with departments throughout Student and Academic Affairs.  Our intent is to provide a training trajectory that allows for success, struggle, and connection.

Self-Reflection: Demonstrates ongoing thoughtfulness and curiosity about professional practice. Considers how personal experiences, values, and identities influence interactions and decision-making in clinical and professional settings.

Integration of Science into Practice: Applies current research to inform all areas of service delivery. Critically evaluates how research can be adapted to suit the brief therapy model and the unique characteristics of the university counseling center. Engages in evidence-based decision-making with a thoughtful and analytical approach.

Professionalism: Exhibits openness to examining personal professional style and values. Reflects on how these intersect with the environment at OSU-CAPS and strives to uphold ethical and professional standards.

Multiculturalism: Explores and considers one’s own cultural identity and how it shapes professional interactions. Seeks to develop awareness, knowledge, and skills to provide culturally responsive care. Recognizes how power dynamics affect relationships and actively advocates for equity, inclusion, and social justice.

Challenge: Demonstrates a willingness to step outside of comfort zones. Embraces opportunities to take risks, learn from mistakes, and grow through constructive feedback.

Relational: Prioritizes building and maintaining a strong professional community. Invests time and effort into fostering collaborative and supportive relationships with colleagues. Approaches conflicts with a constructive and solution-oriented mindset.

Balance: Strives to achieve equilibrium between professional responsibilities and personal well-being. Manages workload effectively, practices self-care, and seeks support when needed to maintain overall health and resilience.

Practicum counselors dedicate approximately 8–12 hours per week to providing psychotherapy and other clinical services for OSU students. In addition to individual therapy, practicum counselors may engage in group therapy, triage/walk-in consultations, or Mental Health Promotion (MHP) activities, as recommended by the Practicum Coordinator, Group Coordinator, Assistant Director of Mental Health Promotion, and Individual Supervisor. We operate within a brief therapy model and provide practicum counselors with the guidance and support needed to develop their clinical skills within this framework.

Psychotherapy and Counseling: Practicum counselors gain hands-on experience conducting intake assessments and providing individual therapy. They are expected to dedicate at least 8 hours per week to individual counseling sessions. Additionally, practicum counselors may have the opportunity to co-facilitate therapy or support groups, provided they have prior group counseling training. For those without prior group training, process observation may be available before the practicum year: begins.

Consultations: As their skills progress, practicum counselors may participate in triage and/or on-call services through supervised observations and practice. During on-call shifts, counselors provide urgent support to OSU students, offering initial assessments and crisis intervention. On-call responsibilities may also include responding to phone consultations from faculty, staff, students, or parents seeking mental health advice.

Mental Health Promotion (MHP): Practicum counselors can dedicate one hour per week to campus mental health promotion and prevention activities. This work often involves building relationships with key campus stakeholders, in collaboration with a senior staff member already facilitating mental health initiatives in that area. This experience provides practicum counselors with the opportunity to contribute to the broader well-being of the university community while honing their outreach and advocacy skills.

Administrative Work: Administrative time is allocated weekly for writing intake and progress notes, preparing for supervision and seminar, and completing administrative tasks, such as scheduling clients, email, and case management.

Supervision Structure: Practicum counselors are paired with two supervisors throughout the year, assigned based on ranked preferences and finalized by the Practicum Coordinator. Weekly supervision requires thorough preparation, including reviewing video recordings, organizing cases, preparing questions, and revisiting goals or relevant literature. Supervisors provide guidance to help counselors build their professional identity as skilled, ethical clinicians.

Individual Supervision: Each practicum counselor receives 1.5 hours of one-on-one individual supervision weekly, with additional time as needed. In the fall, licensed supervisors oversee sessions, while in winter and spring, training supervisors (doctoral interns) assume this role. Training supervisors record sessions for review to enhance clinical care quality.

Group Counseling Supervision: Practicum counselors engaged in group facilitation or observation receive 0.5 hours of supervision weekly from their co-facilitator.

Practicum Seminar/Group Supervision: A required 1.5-hour seminar/group supervision session is held weekly on Monday mornings (10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.), and practicum counselors must adjust their schedules to attend. These sessions blend didactic learning with discussion and collaborative case processing, fostering peer learning and skill development. Topics are tailored to meet the current cohort’s needs and interests, drawing from staff expertise. Practicum counselors present oral and written case studies throughout the year.

Evaluation Process: Feedback is ongoing, with supervisors and practicum counselors collaboratively setting and reviewing goals. Formal evaluations, based on competency-focused forms from the counselor’s academic program, are conducted at the end of each academic quarter or semester. These evaluations assess progress and guide development.

Program and Staff Evaluation: Practicum counselors provide written evaluations of their supervisors and the training program each quarter. Supervisors review these evaluations with counselors to ensure continuous improvement.

Your application must include:

• Application form
• Letter of Interest explaining how a practicum training experience at Counseling & Psychological Services would benefit your professional and academic goals (500 word maximum).
• Current Curriculum Vitae (CV)

For full consideration, apply by January 15. Application review will begin in January and continue until positions are filled. Please send application materials and questions directly to Dr. Hou at [email protected].

Guidelines for former clients as potential trainees: If you are applying to become a Practicum Counselor and have been a client here at CAPS, please notify the Practicum Coordinator. You will not be asked to disclose any information about your treatment other than which CAPS clinicians you have seen. The purpose of this conversation is to help us mitigate any negative consequences from potential multiple relationships.

Equal Opportunity: Equal Opportunity is the opportunity to gain entry to, participate in, and benefit from employment, services, programs, activities, and privileges of the institution regardless of race, national origin, sex, ability or other protected status. OSU's commitment also includes a moral obligation to address the needs of groups historically underrepresented in the institution and those that have faced barriers to equal opportunity, such as discrimination or discriminatory harassment on the basis of protected status.

Required Qualifications:

• Currently enrolled in a doctoral program in Counseling or Clinical Psychology. 
• Successfully completed at least one clinical practicum within your current program.
• Evidence of diagnostic training with DSM-5-TR.
• Evidence of multicultural counseling training.

Preferred Qualifications: Prior practicum work, volunteer clinical work, and/or milieu therapy.