Practicum & Internship Orientation 2025

Check In

Pick up your copy of the Acknowledgement of Receipt.
Enjoy some coffee/tea and snacks!
To follow along, log in to  My CTS  > Counseling > Counseling Knowledge Database(slite) > Counseling > Practicum & Internship Orientation 2025

Opening Prayer and Introductions

Mission and Personal Growth

• Trusting the Lord
• Managing Anxiety
• Freedom to fail - Support
• FFTs -  https://brenebrown.com/podcast/brene-on-ffts/ 

CTS Clinic Protocols and Policies

• Video Introduction
•  https://covenant.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=0f3d2daf-9d66-4b26-9fb2-b003016a23f7 

Practicum Procedures and Handbook



Communication is Key!

Communication is Key!

• Balancing Your Schedule and Priorities
• Grounded Humility and Healthy Boundaries
• Discuss intake and expectations with site
• "Failing Forward": Receiving and Engaging Feedback
• No guarantee for internship
• KPI (Key Performance Indicators) and Evaluations

Program Requirements and Handbook

• Personal Counseling Requirement 
• You are required to attend 12 consecutive counseling sessions (minimum) as a part of this program. This  fillable form⁠  must be signed by your counselor and submitted to Bailey Preib or Donna Coffey before finals week. 

• Group Requirement
• All practicum and internship students of all degree formats (64, 75.1, 75.2) must co-lead a therapeutic group. More information on types of groups and protocol for submitting a proposal to your supervisor can be found  here⁠ .
• Each practicum student will carefully consider and fully outline a proposal for a counseling group that is viable, relevant to our immediate community, and could be implemented during internship. You will consider leadership needs, timings/dates/length of the group, materials and/or structure, and any other practicalities. You will provide A) a justification of why this group would be successful and appealing, B) a short validation of the group premise from recent research/literature, and C) clear details of how you would market the group and recruit participants. You will submit a document (no more than 2 pages) outlining your explanation of the previous points (A, B, & C) to fully articulate practical details and the focus of your group. *Remember, this group must be something that you could implement during your internship.*

• CPCE Exam
• Sign up in November of Internship 
• Take between Jan – April 1

• Acknowledgement of Receipt
• This  📂form ⁠ acts as an informed consent that you, the student, have received all the information listed on the document from the Counseling Department.
• Please note: This form is due immediately following orientation.

Reminders

• Difference Between Practicum & Internship - Not just showing up

• Client Progression Guideline



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Practicum Mechanics

 Evaluations⁠ 

• End of Practicum only
• Midway and End of Internship
• Types: Self-Report, Site Supervisor, Faculty Supervisor

Hours and  Timesheets⁠ 

• Total Hours Needed
• Exposure Hours
• Client Hours​​​​​​​

Skillsetter

• Skillsetter is a "web-based deliberate practice system for interpersonal skill training." You will use this site to hone specific counseling skills and become more comfortable with recording and watching yourself counsel.
• How to access: While Skillsetter will be accessed for assignments via Canvas, you can also access it  here  to watch demonstration videos etc. 

BRAIN AND BODY BREAK

Intake and Room Reservation Process with Donna Coffey

• Intake Process
• Handbook page 36
• Review handbook instructions then email Donna at  Donna.Coffey@covenantseminary.edu 
• Key take-a-ways:

Check-in about current intake at your site
Plan to start with 2 clients by the first week of June
Email me: how many clients you need, client type/issue preference or experience, your availability

• Intake Fee Protocol
• $50 - paid once annually during each new school year. Must be paid before you meet with your client.
• Inform the front desk personnel
• In-person: paid by cash, check, or credit card
• Telehealth: email Donna your client name and email address, and she will send them an electronic invoice via email.
• Discounts or waivers? Conditionally. Refer to the Intake Fee Protocol:

• Room Reservations
• Handbook pages: 38
• To access Room Scheduler, login to  MyCTS   > General > Room Scheduler
• ​If you do not have access to view rooms by Tuesday 5/23, email Shawn Summers:  shawn.summers@covenantseminary.edu 
• Email  counselingreservations@covenantseminary.edu  - to Donna know time/date of session, recurring/one-time, recording/non-recording.
• Zoom and Protocol for VALT Recording
• Handbook pages: 49-53
• To access Zoom, login to  MyCTS  > Counseling > Zoom
• To access Valt, login to  MyCTS  > Counseling > Valt
• Do not use the button in the rooms, unless you need to end a scheduled recording early
• Schedule recordings ahead of time - use your Valt instructions in the handbook!
• Do not schedule recurring recordings in Valt
• Supervisors can use Valt too - roleplay an intervention etc
• If you have questions/issues with Valt, email Kyla or Mary

Therapy Notes with Bailey Preib

• TherapyNotes 
• Handbook page 43-48
• How-to enter a new client into TherapyNotes:

• Minor policy - Verify legal guardians/custody arrangement. Both parents must sign- even if married.
• Couples - both partners must sign
• If in doubt, don't be afraid to ask!
• Documentation
• Refer to guides in your handbook
• Be timely
• Make a treatment plan for every client within 3-5 sessions - see Treatment Planning resource on Canvas
• Do not diagnose (write in N/A or select 'no diagnosis')
• Make a termination note for every client

First Contact and First Session with a Client- CAMS

Walk through a first call with a client making sure to cover: introduction, scheduling, accessing TherapyNotes, and explaining the clinic's annual fee. Use this  script ⁠ for reference.
Walk through the fundamentals of a first session with a new client including: reviewing confidentiality and informed consent, building rapport, goal setting/treatment planning, and scheduling. Use this  script ⁠ for reference.
Suicidality- https://covenantseminary.instructuremedia.com/embed/8bc1fda5-e87e-4a8c-8f17-b24533ae6eae 

• Confidentiality and Client Crisis Situations
• Confidentiality: Handbook page 26
• Honoring your client
• Among your peers: how you are impacted vs. client content/details
• As a professional - access to TherapyNotes
• Crisis/Safety Situations: Handbook pages 28 & 34
• Panic buttons
• SSF-4: copies in the workroom, must watch Suicide Assessment Training video before May 28^th
• Contact your supervisor

Q & A

Closing Announcements and Prayer

Important Dates to Remember

• 2^nd Practicum class
• Monday June 2^nd @ 1pm
• Large Group classes (B111)
• June 16^th - Suicide Assessment and Intervention with Suzanne Bates
• July 7^th - Intake and Assessment with Dr. Paul Loosemore
• Final Practicum class
• Tuesday August 11^th
• First Internship class 
• Monday August 25^th @ 1pm

Department Tours

• If we ran out of time for tours today, please sign up for one of the tours in the back of the classroom

LUNCH BREAK

12:15ish PM-1PM

1PM Practicum Class