Practicum & Internship Orientation 2026

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 2026

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/ 
• Normalize, put it in perspective, reality check expectations

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
• $150 fee

• 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 if able. We must receive this before meeting with clients.

Reminders

• Difference Between Practicum & Internship

• Client Progression Guideline



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Practicum Mechanics

 Evaluations⁠ 

• End of Practicum only
• Midway and End of Internship
• 3 total: Self-Report, Site Supervisor, CTS 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 . 
• Your supervisor will send an invite link for you
• $59 fee for the semester

BRAIN AND BODY BREAK

Intake and Room Reservation Process with Donna Coffey

• Intake Process
• Handbook page 39-41
• 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 Donna: 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: 41
• 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.

• Handbook pages: 52-56
• To access Zoom, login to  MyCTS  > Counseling > Zoom or  https://covenantseminary.zoom.us/ 
• To access Valt, login to  MyCTS  > Counseling > Valt (may take 30 minutes after first login) or  https://valt.covenantseminary.edu/ 
• 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 Bailey

Therapy Notes with Bailey Preib

• TherapyNotes 
• Handbook page 46-47
• How-to enter a new client into TherapyNotes:

• Intake Packet, Emergency Contact Form, and Client Information Form

• 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 34
• 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 31 & 37
• Panic buttons
• SSF-4: copies in the workroom, read canvas suicide articles before meeting with clients
• Contact your supervisor

Q & A

Closing Announcements and Prayer

Important Dates to Remember

• 2^nd Practicum class
• Monday June 1^st @ 1pm
• Large Group classes (B111)
• June 22^nd - Suicide Assessment and Intervention with Suzanne Bates
• July 27^th - Intake and Assessment with Dr. Paul Loosemore
• Final Practicum class
• Monday August 10^th last group class, week of August 17^th individual evaluations
• Last day of Practicum (to see clients)
• Friday August 21^st
• First Internship class 
• Monday August 31^st @ 1pm

Group Department Tour

LUNCH BREAK

12:15ish PM-1PM

1PM Practicum Class