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Counseling Services
THE PROGRAM: Personal & Professional Development
Professional Development Activities
Attendance and presentations at national and regional conventions and training workshops are encouraged, and professional development time is provided. The Counseling Services staff is active both regionally and nationally and supports intern participation in professional organizations and research endeavors. Currently, interns are allotted 2 hours per week for professional development activities (e.g. research, dissertation work, independent readings on topics of professional interest, etc.) during the Fall and Spring semesters, and 4 hours per week during winter intercession and Summer semester.
Administration
Interns are involved as fully participating members in staff meetings. Additionally, they are given the opportunity to participate in Counseling Services committees, such as the Quality Assurance Committee, Training Committee, Professional Development Committee, Suicide Prevention Committee, and Research Committee.
Personal Growth
A primary goal of the internship training is to enhance personal and professional growth and development. An emphasis in the formal supervisory process is in helping the intern to develop a greater understanding of herself/himself insofar as they affect the clinical and professional roles. Interns are also encouraged to work cooperatively together, sharing information and experiences toward greater mutual learning and growth. It is the philosophy of the internship training program that interns be supported in the pursuit of a greater sense of independence and personal and professional identity. As part of achieving this goal, the Training Director meets with the intern group weekly to help them process experiences, address and deal with personal and professional issues, and generally monitor their progress, concerns, and needs.
Program Evaluation and Research
The agency is engaged in a continual evaluation of its program and procedures to enhance the quality and effectiveness of the services we provide. Policies and procedures are regularly reviewed, and therapy outcome and client satisfaction data are routinely collected. In addition, each staff member and trainee is expected to monitor his or her own performance on a regular basis.
The professional staff encourages interns to be involved in research activities. Efforts are made to develop collaborations between senior staff and interns on empirical research, theoretical papers, and professional presentations.
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