Practicum Counselor Training
Our practicum training program offers a full academic year (September–June) of supervised clinical experience for doctoral-level psychology students. Trainees gain hands-on skills in a dynamic university counseling center environment. Each year, CAPS welcomes three practicum trainees to join our team.
Thank you for your interest in our Practicum Training Program. We provide psychology doctoral students with a structured, supportive environment to develop clinical skills and gain experience in a university counseling center. Our program follows a developmental training model that promotes growth by balancing safety with appropriate challenges. It is an excellent way to prepare for internship and is designed for trainees who value intensive individual and group supervision.
Program Highlights
- Commitment & Hours: Approximately 16–17 hours per week on site, including maintaining a caseload of 7–9 individual counseling clients weekly and practicing a short-term therapy model.
- Supervision: 1.5 hours of individual supervision per week and 1.5 hours of group supervision per week (tentatively Monday mornings).
- Orientation: A structured 40-hour orientation across 3 partial workweeks before fall quarter begins.
- Stipend: $500 per quarter for the training year.
Application review begins in January and continues until positions are filled.
- Pei-Chun Hou, PhD, Practicum Coordinator, Licensed Psychologist
About Our Practicum Training Program
Our Commitment to Diversity
The CAPS community is committed to ongoing multicultural growth. Our staff embraces the challenges essential to developing cultural humility as clinicians and as an organization through the consideration of our own complex identities, associated power dynamics, and anti-oppression practice. We are aware that there are different stages in this process. You will be actively engaged in this work during your practicum year.
Practicum students have the opportunity to build self-awareness through the examination of their intersectional identities. Practicum students are encouraged to consider how identity markers such as age, gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, ability, class, and religion shape their worldview and interactions with clients. The training program also supports exploration of biases, systems of oppression, and the role of power and privilege in clinical work.We encourage practicum students to lean into their growth edges as they develop cultural humility and strengthen multicultural competence.
Program Training Values
Self-Reflection: Demonstrates curiosity and thoughtfulness about clinical practice. Reflects on how personal experiences and values influence professional work.
Integration of Science into practice: Uses current research to inform all areas of service. Considers how research can be adapted to the brief therapy model and characteristics of the site. Applies critical thinking in decision-making.
Professionalism: Open to examining one’s unique professional style and values and understanding how these interact with the OSU-CAPS environment.
Multiculturalism: Reflects on personal cultural identity and its impact on interactions. Develops awareness, knowledge, and skills to work effectively across cultures. Recognizes how power dynamics affect relationships. Demonstrates cultural humility and advocates for social justice.
Challenge: Willing to step outside of one’s comfort zone. Takes risks, learns from mistakes, and accepts constructive feedback.
Relational: Values and invests in the professional community. Demonstrates care for colleagues and engages in productive conflict when needed.
Balance: Strives for equilibrium between workload and personal life. Manages work demands while practicing self-care and seeking support when necessary.
Psychotherapy and Counseling
Practicum students spend 8–10 hours per week providing psychotherapy and other clinical services to OSU students. They gain hands-on experience conducting intake assessments (typically one intake per day) and providing individual therapy, with an expected caseload of 7–9 individual clients per week. Practicum students are required to record every individual therapy session.
In addition to individual counseling, practicum students may choose to co-lead group therapy during the term. Evidence of prior group counseling training is required to co-facilitate groups.
Consultation and On-Call Coverage (Optional)
As developmentally appropriate, practicum students may participate in the consultation and/or on-call system through observation and supervised practice. This participation requires familiarity with both on-campus and off-campus resources. Readiness for these duties will be assessed by the Practicum Coordinator and individual supervisors.
Mental Health Promotion (Optional)
Practicum students may choose to participate in campus mental health promotion activities or engage in outreach programming as scheduling allows.
Sample Average Weekly Schedule for Practicum Counselor
| Direct Clinical Services | Approximate Hours |
|---|---|
| Individual Counseling | 8-9 (fluid to match other commitments) |
| Group Therapy (observation/facilitation) | 0-1.5 (optional) |
| Consultation/Triage | 0-1.5 (optional) |
| On-Call (emergencies, crisis intervention, urgent care) | 0-1 (optional; flexible start point depends on readiness) |
| Mental Health Promotion (MHP) | 0-1 (optional) |
| Training Activities | Approximate Hours |
|---|---|
| Individual Supervision | 1.5 |
| Group Supervision/Practicum Seminar | 1.5 |
| Additional Supervision if Co-faciliating a Group | 0-0.5 |
| Administrative Activities | Approximate Hours |
|---|---|
| Paperwork/Preparation Time (e.g. notes, scheduling clients, case management, emails, etc.) | 3-4 |
| Total Hours | 16-17 |
|---|
A variety of supervision methods are available and will be used to monitor and support practicum students’ progress.
Individual Supervision
Each practicum student receives 1.5 hours of individual supervision per week, with additional time provided as needed by the supervisor(s) of record. Typically, supervision during the fall quarter is provided by licensed psychologists, psychology residents, or other licensed mental health professionals. In winter and spring quarters, practicum students are supervised by supervisors-in-training (doctoral interns), whose supervision is overseen by licensed psychologist(s).
Supervisors-in-training record their supervision sessions for training purposes to ensure the highest quality of clinical care. These recordings are reviewed for supervision, consultation, and training purposes. Practicum students’ clinical notes are reviewed and signed by both supervisors-in-training and the licensed psychologist who oversees them.
Practicum Group Supervision (Practicum Seminar)
Practicum students are required to attend weekly practicum seminar/group supervision for 1.5 hours on Monday mornings. Practicum students should arrange their academic schedules to accommodate this meeting. The seminar format combines didactic instruction with discussion and process-oriented learning. Group supervision provides opportunities for practicum students to share experiences, learn collaboratively, and engage in case discussions. Training is tailored to the cohort’s needs and interests, drawing on staff expertise. Throughout the year, practicum students are expected to prepare and present oral and written case presentations during group supervision.
Group Counseling Supervision (If Applicable)
When a practicum student co-facilitates a group with senior staff or serves as a process observer, they receive 0.5 hours of group counseling supervision from their co-facilitator.
Required Qualifications
- Enrollment in a doctoral program in Counseling or Clinical Psychology.
- Successful completion of at least one clinical practicum within your current program.
- Evidence of diagnostic training using the DSM-5-TR.
- Evidence of multicultural counseling training.
Your application must include:
- Application form
- Letter of Interest (maximum 500 words) explaining how a practicum training experience at Counseling & Psychological Services would benefit your professional and academic goals.
- 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.